Really nice article about Ennis with complimentary quotes from city notables. And some good pics.
Congratulations Lakelander!
http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2013-07-26/story/ennis-davis-looks-forward-while-promoting-respect-jacksonvilles-history
Quote... Davis has been part of countless boards and commissions around the city specifically focusing on transportation. It was his awarding-winning work with Ghyabi and Associates, where he authored the Jacksonville mobility plan, that has had the most impact on the daily lives of First Coast residents.
"Cities grow organically," Davis, 36, said. "If you see how the trends happen, you can take advantage of that."
Putting that into practice, the mobility plan calls for developers to contribute to transportation and infrastructure costs rather than city taxpayers fronting the whole burden. The mobility study, completed in 2010, has won industry awards and national recognition.
His efforts are bringing personal recognition, as well. Normally someone who works from behind the scenes, Davis was to be one of 40 attendees at Vanguard, an annual conference held in June for some of the top young urban advocates from around the country. Participants spend time troubleshooting and comparing notes from their home cities.
"He came back surprised that other people were looking at the Better Jax plan," said Mike Field, who worked with Davis at Metro Jacksonville. "Other representatives wanted to know from Ennis how they could do something like that."
Read more at Jacksonville.com: http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2013-07-26/story/ennis-davis-looks-forward-while-promoting-respect-jacksonvilles-history#ixzz2a9VfJHlV
Ennis making it happen!
Thanks. I'm in DC and I haven't had a chance to read the article. However, I do want to say that I did not author the mobility plan mentioned in the quote above. I was a part of the consulting team that assisted the City of Jacksonville's Planning and Department. With that said, I'm thankful to the staff of COJ and previous planning director Bill Killingsworth for giving me the opportunity to be a part of the team.
yay! Ennis!
Here's the full article to read in DC and elsewhere.
Quote
A few weeks ago, as "Antiques Roadshow" pulled into town, people were excitedly going through their garages and attics separating out that perfect antique that would prove infinitely valuable and full of rich family history.
How does a community do the same when it comes to its buildings and neighborhoods, embracing the past and yet moving into the future?
That's the dilemma that inspires Ennis Davis — a planner, developer, historian and social media blogger. For him, that cliche that says that you have to know where you have been to know where you are going isn't a cliche. It's a road map to making Jacksonville the best city it can be.
Davis recently sat down to talk about his upcoming book, the two books he's written in the last year ("Reclaiming Jacksonville" and "Cohen Brothers: the Big Store"), his role as co-founder of Metro Jacksonville, the start of Jax Food Truckies, city preservation and how we (as a city) fit into the changing national urban scene.
Davis has been part of countless boards and commissions around the city specifically focusing on transportation. It was his awarding-winning work with Ghyabi and Associates, where he authored the Jacksonville mobility plan, that has had the most impact on the daily lives of First Coast residents.
"Cities grow organically," Davis, 36, said. "If you see how the trends happen, you can take advantage of that."
Putting that into practice, the mobility plan calls for developers to contribute to transportation and infrastructure costs rather than city taxpayers fronting the whole burden. The mobility study, completed in 2010, has won industry awards and national recognition.
His efforts are bringing personal recognition, as well. Normally someone who works from behind the scenes, Davis was to be one of 40 attendees at Vanguard, an annual conference held in June for some of the top young urban advocates from around the country. Participants spend time troubleshooting and comparing notes from their home cities.
"He came back surprised that other people were looking at the Better Jax plan," said Mike Field, who worked with Davis at Metro Jacksonville. "Other representatives wanted to know from Ennis how they could do something like that."
Field and Davis recently worked together on a lighter project, the Food Truck Rally. Capitalizing on a nationwide trend, they brought together food truck vendors in friendly competition.
"Last year, we had a food truck industry that was really struggling. We did the groundwork and organized the rallies. Everybody likes it," Davis said. "Since we started Jax Truckies, the city has grown to having 40 trucks."
Some of those have also become brick-and-mortar restaurants and some brick-and-mortar restaurants now have food trucks.
Tony Allegretti, director of downtown engagement for JAX Chamber, said Davis "sees the opportunity that Jacksonville has ... his urban core advocacy, using his own time and own treasure, trying to make it better stands out."
Interestingly enough, Davis is a fairly new resident of the Jacksonville area, having moved here in 2003 to be a planner with Powers Design and Associates. A graduate of Florida A&M University, he has a strong background in urban planning, architecture and transportation issues.
Diverse voices
Davis said he doesn't let an opportunity, especially an opportunity to learn, pass him by. He sees himself as someone who is able to make a difference by creating a platform for discussion and activism.
He firmly believes that by pulling different voices together, creative ideas and solutions to city issues will come about. It is the methodology behind what some call "Tactical Urbanism" — finding quick, low-cost solutions to city issues.
"He keeps talking about what other cities were doing, breaking through the inertia," said Mike Clark, editorial page editor of the Florida Times-Union.
Clark said the use of the Metro Jacksonville website to discuss what was happening around the country pushed others in the city to make changes. Davis said the website is a way of allowing greater citizen participation in news gathering and information sharing. "Cluster people together who want to see change, who can push for change and it will happen," he said.
Preservation SOS (Save Our Springfield) has been an active voice on the website. They have called into question preservation and removal tactics used by the city. Recently, they have called attention to the demolition of buildings in the historic Springfield area.
Their outcries raised the attention of City Council member Robin Lumb and Bill Killingsworth, city planning director, at the time to create what is known as "mothball legislation," giving people a five-year window to fix up the property in a safe way.
Respect for history
For all of his being part of modern technological news gathering, Davis is also someone who is highly respected by organizations like the Jacksonville Historical Society for digging into the layers of the past and encouraging others to do so.
His two books focused on hidden treasures in the city's architectural history. Buildings that are full of history yet sit idle — like Annie Lytle Elementary School, visible to all who drive by it on Interstate 95 — are statements to the city's triumphs and tragedies, he said.
"He is contributing in a significant way to the body of knowledge [about the city]," said Emily Lisska, executive director of the Historical Society.
She said it was exciting that someone so young was taking an interest into the city's history and bringing other young people to history.
"A planner is always thinking about what is going to work," she said. "He brings a unique perspective."
Davis is writing another book focused on the neighborhoods of the city before consolidation. By digging through layers of history and myth (like was the city really named "Cowford" before becoming Jacksonville), he looks to find little-known facts and to shore up interest in Jacksonville's rich history in music and the arts. The book is due out in November.
"There are stories that haven't been shared or need revising; a black history, our influence on unions, jazz, the blues," said Davis. "We have a musical heritage here. If you go back to the '70s the Southern rock scene, we have a music scene here now that hasn't been told."
Wayne Wood, founder of Riverside Avondale Preservation and the Riverside Arts Market, called Davis "a bright and shining star."
He has worked with Davis on promoting pop-up history events that focus on a historical experience or re-enactment. Davis sees the way the Riverside organization has helped to protect space that allows commerce to change and progress in a different way than downtown Jacksonville has.
"Everybody has a passion. I like cities. I want a city my boys can grow up in," Davis said. "If I don't do it, then why should I expect someone else to do it?
"I go on vacation to a city like Montgomery and take my camera," he said. "There are lessons there; there are 20 bad lessons and 20 good lessons."
Read more at Jacksonville.com: http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2013-07-26/story/ennis-davis-looks-forward-while-promoting-respect-jacksonvilles-history#ixzz2a9gdpQcD
Good man – his work is worth Celebrating.
Absolutely Love it! Congrats Ennis! 8)
Great write up. Congrats Ennis!
While Ennis is a really smart individual (one of the smartest people I know) I think what I've learned the most from him and Metrojacksonville as a whole is that anyone can contribute. If you really want to make a difference, you absolutely can... just get involved.
This website was a lifeline when my wife and I moved here from NYC and we felt like no else cared about city life. Thanks for all your work!
Congrats on the great write-up man.
Can't think of anyone who deserves it more.
Ennis for mayor! Ennis for mayor!
Can we clone him and replace several dunderheads currently on city council with him too?
Congrats Congrats Congrats!!!! Lake!
Please run for mayor!
Ennis, you know how highly I have always thought of you as well as the value I place on your skills. I am so pleased that the community of Jacksonville is now getting to see what so many of us have known for a long time now. You are one of the people who make Jacksonville a great place to live and inspire hope for our collective future. Proud of you man! :)
Congratulations Ennis!
Great to see this!
Thank you Ennis for all you have indeed done and been an important part of. We all, this city and this forum, would be less without you.
The article and photo is front page of the Metro section...not that many read the hard copy anymore.
That was a pretty good write up ont he kid, I remember when I had that much passion for Jacksonville, and this site popped up right after I decided to move from Duval. Ill give Lake his props, dude has way more patience than me. Hopefully many of his ideas come to pass, especially Skyway extention. Lake you could be the next Klutho...or not, but I like what you doing down there man and appreciate ya from a distance.
Quote from: thelakelander on July 26, 2013, 08:09:23 AM
Thanks. I'm in DC and I haven't had a chance to read the article. However, I do want to say that I did not author the mobility plan mentioned in the quote above. I was a part of the consulting team that assisted the City of Jacksonville's Planning and Department. With that said, I'm thankful to the staff of COJ and previous planning director Bill Killingsworth for giving me the opportunity to be a part of the team.
Finally can put a face with the name :P
Congratulations, Ennis!
Ennis ..... calm, with feet on the ground. Always with good thoughts...... on target for the challenge. Consistent positive thinking ..... always working...... looking both to history and to the future. We need more like you.
Quote from: ronchamblin on July 26, 2013, 11:08:48 PM
Ennis ..... calm, with feet on the ground. Always with good thoughts...... on target for the challenge. Consistent positive thinking ..... always working...... looking both to history and to the future. We need more like you.
Well said.
Thanks everyone. I appreciate the kind words.
You've just gotta love this one...
Quotenorth miami 07/27/13 - 10:30 pm 10
DATA MINE Metro Jax Avondale
Metro Jax Avondale issues discourse basically a dull thud
F-T-U
Perhaps that thud was upside somebody's thick head? Bravo MJ! 'Mellow Mushroom' Pizza and 'Guzzlepipes and Guttyworks,' fried green beans for everyone.
'MAYOR DAVIS,' HAS A RING TO IT! GO FOR IT ENNIS!
Kudos , Ennis!!!
Great Article :)