Visions of Vibrancy: London
(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/photos/1650965922_nRDmNJf-M.jpg)
The vibrancy of cities comes in all shapes and sizes. Many believe that what works in internationally known cosmopolitan settings may not be applicable for cities such as Jacksonville, that have struggled with embracing walkability. If we look hard enough, we may realize that this type of view should be challenged. Despite the diversity around the globe, all lively cities, downtowns and urban cores have something in common: being pedestrian friendly.
Read More: http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2014-jan-visions-of-vibrancy-london
Great pictures!
I've been to London three times, the last time being July 2013.
Quite the city, obviously one of the "best" in the world (by any standards).
Did someone from MJ get to go recently? I know one of MJs posters (Adam W) lives in London now.
"When it comes to identifying a place where historic preservation, modern iconic architecture, color and streetscape lighting schemes seamlessly come together, London is hard to beat. If one desires to see the impact of lighting on the pedestrian environment, this article is a great place to start. Here is a visual opportunity illustrating lively street scenes full of innovative concepts and ideas that can be absorbed locally without major public investments in studies and transatlantic trips."
Jacksonville can definitely learn a lot and emulate some of these successful ideas.
"Despite the diversity around the globe, all lively cities, downtowns and urban cores have something in common: being pedestrian friendly."
Could not of said it better than myself!
London is fabulous! If you've never been, you really owe it to yourself to check it out.
"Why, Sir, you find no man, at all intellectual, who is willing to leave London. No, Sir, when a man is tired of London, he is tired of life; for there is in London all that life can afford."
— Samuel Johnson
Quote from: ben says on January 24, 2014, 10:06:34 AM
Great pictures!
I've been to London three times, the last time being July 2013.
Quite the city, obviously one of the "best" in the world (by any standards).
Did someone from MJ get to go recently? I know one of MJs posters (Adam W) lives in London now.
Yes I went to the Jags game, it was an awesome trip.
Quote from: Keith-N-Jax on January 24, 2014, 03:47:43 PM
Quote from: ben says on January 24, 2014, 10:06:34 AM
Great pictures!
I've been to London three times, the last time being July 2013.
Quite the city, obviously one of the "best" in the world (by any standards).
Did someone from MJ get to go recently? I know one of MJs posters (Adam W) lives in London now.
Yes I went to the Jags game, it was an awesome trip.
Are these your pictures?
No I don't know how to post pics, but I do have some good ones on my flicker page if you want to see. I even got a few pics of the Jags at the pep rally.
The pictures were taken by Lunican.
Quote from: Keith-N-Jax on January 24, 2014, 04:19:53 PM
No I don't know how to post pics, but I do have some good ones on my flicker page if you want to see. I even got a few pics of the Jags at the pep rally.
Great pics. I see you're a European traveler. Any trips planned in the near future?
Quote from: ben says on January 24, 2014, 06:25:51 PM
Quote from: Keith-N-Jax on January 24, 2014, 04:19:53 PM
No I don't know how to post pics, but I do have some good ones on my flicker page if you want to see. I even got a few pics of the Jags at the pep rally.
Great pics. I see you're a European traveler. Any trips planned in the near future?
Well I am actually working here at the US ARMY hospital in Landstuhl Germany, so its easy and much cheaper to travel from my location. In March ROME, then Amsterdam in May. Belgium, then my mom will be here this summer for two weeks so where ever I take her. I may be here 3 more years so I should get to see quite a bit.
London is an awesome city and they have some ideas that we can use easily to become more pedestrian friendly. One of the neatest is the placement of pedestrian crossing in the middle of a block rather than the corners. Drivers aren't making turns and looking for oncoming traffic and looking for pedestrians all at the same time.
In London you put one toe onto the zebra crossing and the traffic comes to an instant stop until you are completely across. Amazing to anyone used to trying to cross a street in Jacksonville.
London has had quite a head start on Jacksonville and it clearly shows. The criteria for something to be considered historic in the U.S. is laughable compared to London. I went into a bar that had been in operation continuously for 120 years, definitely notable, but it had been a jail for the SIX HUNDRED years prior to that. Cathedrals built several thousand years ago. It is unlike anything that can be found in the U.S.
When the term 'world class' gets tossed around in Jacksonville for the next big gimmick, it is rightfully met with laughter. Not to say we can't improve, but 'world class' doesn't come with a Ferris wheel.
^ agreed...the latest laugh is something I heard at World Class Jax meeting a few weeks ago...our downtown can be world class by 2025 if it is equal to Charlotte's downtown today :)
As for world (and ancient) cities, I'm headed to Rome and Athens in a few weeks....with a "side trip" to Israel.
New York City is probably a better American success story when it comes to the speed at which a 'world class' city can be built. The jury is still out on Jacksonville.
They grew by 10 million people while we mowed the grass at the shipyards property.
But simply "growing" does not make a city world class. There are plenty of smaller, slow growth cities around the world that are far more world class than all but a few American cities, and they attract more international visitors, have globally important economies and/or culturally significant histories.
Prague
Stuttgart
Munich
Marrakesh
Seville
Jerusalem
Cartagena, Col.
Malaga
Lisbon
Kyoto (if you don't include it as part of Tokyo)
Perth
Brisbane
Vancouver
Ottawa
Zurich
Florence
Venice
Stockholm
Copenhagen
Edinburgh
Really, the list could go on and on and on to incorporate cities such as Nantes, Toulouse, Lyon, Marseilles, and that's just France.
The only "smaller" world class cities in America, in my opinion, are New Orleans (though arguably more of an "American" treasure than a world class city), San Francisco, Boston, Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, Washington DC, and Miami Beach. The other world class cities would obviously be NYC, Chicago, and LA. Philadelphia is great for Americans and for American history, but I'm pretty sure the rest of the world could give a shit.
Jax will never be world class, at least in our lifetimes, but we can strive to be a better city for ourselves, the residents, and for the stream of domestic visitors we do have at our disposal. I echo Lake in defining QoL and going after what we feel will best increase QoL. Who cares about gimmicks? We aren't big, we aren't culturally significant, and we don't have real history, but we do have a wonderful location, setting, climate, and other perks to use to our advantage.
Snobbish cosmopolitan hippie: London has reliable transit, great dining options, blah blah blah; A city like Jax will NEVER reach that level of world class...
Normal American guy: No sh*t!
______________________________________________________________
Normal American guy: There are some things that the Old World can learn from certain American cities.
Snobbish cosmopolitan hippie: You can't compare the world class cities in Europe to American cities!!!That's apples and oranges!! *Then proceeds with a two minute rant*.
Normal American guy: *Sigh*
Quote from: simms3 on January 25, 2014, 01:57:13 PM
But simply "growing" does not make a city world class. There are plenty of smaller, slow growth cities around the world that are far more world class than all but a few American cities, and they attract more international visitors, have globally important economies and/or culturally significant histories.
Prague
Stuttgart
Munich
Marrakesh
Seville
Jerusalem
Cartagena, Col.
Malaga
Lisbon
Kyoto (if you don't include it as part of Tokyo)
Perth
Brisbane
Vancouver
Ottawa
Zurich
Florence
Venice
Stockholm
Copenhagen
Edinburgh
Really, the list could go on and on and on to incorporate cities such as Nantes, Toulouse, Lyon, Marseilles, and that's just France.
The only "smaller" world class cities in America, in my opinion, are New Orleans (though arguably more of an "American" treasure than a world class city), San Francisco, Boston, Montreal, Toronto, Vancouver, Washington DC, and Miami Beach. The other world class cities would obviously be NYC, Chicago, and LA. Philadelphia is great for Americans and for American history, but I'm pretty sure the rest of the world could give a shit.
Jax will never be world class, at least in our lifetimes, but we can strive to be a better city for ourselves, the residents, and for the stream of domestic visitors we do have at our disposal. I echo Lake in defining QoL and going after what we feel will best increase QoL. Who cares about gimmicks? We aren't big, we aren't culturally significant, and we don't have real history, but we do have a wonderful location, setting, climate, and other perks to use to our advantage.
As much as I give simms a hard time, I gotta agree with him here.
To be frank, I don't live in Jax expecting that one day it'll be a "world class city" (not even going to attempt to define that). It takes more than "getting ones act in gear" to be a world class city. Think Canberra: good transportation, good weather, beautiful place, burgeoning hipster scene...and easily the most boring place in the world.
I live in Jax because I like it...the climate, the people (most of them, anyway), the beach and the river, and most of all: its potential. I like that Jax has problems. I like that Jax is facing an uphill battle. But that's kinda the fun part...watching the city (maybe the people of the city) attempt to raise the QofL and better themselves. Perfect example: when I moved back to Jax, there was no such thing as Bold Bean. 5 Points Theatre was defunct. 13 Gypsies had just opened up. Taverna, too. All the things that I've seen grow in the past 4 years: that's why I live in Jax.
On a technical note, Kyoto is not considered part of Tokyo. Not sure where you got that from. That's like saying Miami or ATL is part of Jax. 5.5 hour drives apart, 3.5 hours via train.
Honestly, I don't look at these threads because I want to learn about foreign places and apply what they're doing to Jax. I look at them because I have serious wanderlust. ;D I think you really have to see London to get any idea what they're doing right/wrong.
On technical note #2: Perth is the perfect example of what should be a Jacksonville sister city. More in common than they have differences. Perth is blowing up right now. Jacksonville's growth, well...we know enough about that.
Hey Ben I agree with you also about looking at these threads. I like to travel so sometimes looking at the learning from serious is almost like a mini vacation. I am sure no one expects Jax to become a London or a NY nor should it try. But there's nothing wrong with looking at these places and gathering a few ideas. Not sure why certain posters seem to get upset over people wanting Jax to strive for better.
Quote from: Keith-N-Jax on January 25, 2014, 07:18:38 PM
Hey Ben I agree with you also about looking at these threads. I like to travel so sometimes looking at the learning from serious is almost like a mini vacation. I am sure no one expects Jax to become a London or a NY nor should it try. But there's nothing wrong with looking at these places and gathering a few ideas. Not sure why certain posters seem to get upset over people wanting Jax to strive for better.
Couldn't agree more!
It seems like every time I go abroad, I come back with a new idea I want to try in Jax. Now, if only I can pull the trigger on one of these ideas!