The JBJ has a draft version of the DIA's Downtown Development Investment Strategy.
QuoteThe first draft of the long-awaited Downtown redevelopment plans outlines some lofty ambitions for urban revitalization — everything from redeveloping the Jacksonville Landing to creating affordable live-work studios for artists — but few that are new or surprising.
The plans, which cover Downtown's Northbank and Southbank, provide the framework for development efforts for years to come. The Business Journal on Friday obtained a draft of the plans given to board members this week
http://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/news/2014/02/28/downtown-jacksonville-redevelopment-plan.html
Here's a break down of items and timelines. If things work out as planned, many of us probably won't be around to enjoy it.
http://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/news/2014/02/28/downtown-jacksonville-redevelopment-plan.html?s=image_gallery
2014-2019Creative placemaking and public art
Hemming Plaza programming and Snyder Memorial Church reuse
Jacksonville Landing repositioning
Increased bicycle parking
Improved wayfarer signage
Retail enhancement grant program
Lighting improvements
Homeless assistance program
2020-2030Friendship Park Redesign
Northbank East-West Circulator (a bus)
"Park Once Promotion"
Live-work spaces for artists
Housing incentives and finance (5,000 additional housing units by 2025)
Reinforce the branding of the Elbow
Water launch network
2021-2045Redesign Metropolitan Park
Improve links to the Emerald Necklace (bike trails between DT and urban neighborhoods)
Improvements to Jesse Ball DuPont Park
Wow! I'm all for setting realistically achievable timelines for our goals but this schedule seems a bit drawn out. Half of the items on the list could be done in half the time or less if the powers-that-be were motivated to make it happen.
So basically, no major plans for another 6 years at least. Great...
Noone, Noone, paging Noone:
Water launch network
Priority: Mid-term, 2020-2030
Northbank and Southbank
''The plan update recommends the creation of a network of sustainable water launches and accesses for those who enjoy our waters in non-motorized boats. The network would help non-motorized boating Downtown be a less anxious experience; not just kayaks, but providing river access paddlers, rowers and small sail boat owners.''
Would have also been nice to see something about returning most of the one way streets to two way. Never have an issue with parking, but those one-ways are what I find especially infuriating about driving downtown, especially if you miss your turn and have to go several blocks out of your way to backtrack.
Please tell me if I am reading this wrong but we paid $120,000 to a group of consultants to provide no original ideas but simply take existing ideas and format it into a report.
It seems completely ridiculous but then again, its Jacksonville. Is there like a central depository for the millions of dollars worth of studies and plans we've paid consultants to prepare?
If anything happens downtown, it will be inspite of our City leaders instead of because of them.
Yeah we paid them that much to steal all the ideas on MJ and then turn around and say... Well maybe we can wait for the city to get out of the way to let this happen. NO SHIT! I like the ideas, but most of them have been discussed on here since the site started. We are still waiting for saving grace leadership and the numbskulls to step aside.
Well we might as well wait for Riverside to grow into Brooklyn and Brooklyn to grow into Lavilla and.... Eventually downtown. Things have been happening organic here and I guess that is how it will have to happen.
To be fair, it is entirely possible that the consultant team recommended some other projects and/or different timelines, and their suggestions were negated.
Quote from: Tacachale on February 28, 2014, 04:59:59 PM
So basically, no major plans for another 6 years at least. Great...
+1
Quote from: jcjohnpaint on February 28, 2014, 06:14:22 PM
Yeah we paid them that much to steal all the ideas on MJ and then turn around and say... Well maybe we can wait for the city to get out of the way to let this happen. NO SHIT! I like the ideas, but most of them have been discussed on here since the site started. We are still waiting for saving grace leadership and the numbskulls to step aside.
Well we might as well wait for Riverside to grow into Brooklyn and Brooklyn to grow into Lavilla and.... Eventually downtown. Things have been happening organic here and I guess that is how it will have to happen.
Organic and lean is the way to go. Centralized, grandiose development strategies are doomed to fail. Maybe the DIA should build that "catalyst" project themselves. Imagine what just $400,000 (almost as much as parts 1 and 2 of the study costs) could do on empty land in LaVilla or Brooklyn. A few rowhouses, a small two story artist work-live loft, or maybe a half block of Katrina cottages....Those are catalyst projects that would open the door for new development. Small, but tangible projects that pack a lot of punch. Easy to finance, easy to build. And what really irks me is this timeline. Our timeline to get to the moon was shorter. All but two or three of these strategies should be happening right now. 2020-2030 for a "Park Once Promotion?!!? Can't that be done Monday morning before finishing your first cup of coffee? Jacksonville needs to wake up if it wants to survive. Many, many cities around the world, including many in the third world, are moving much faster and getting things done. It's not just competition from Charlotte, Atlanta, Greenville, etc, it's the second and third tier cities in Central/South America, Africa and Asia that will be eating Jacksonville's lunch.
I was walking up Laura st the other day and I saw some guys taking the wood off of the bottom floor windows. I asked them if they were finally getting the go ahead to start revitalizing the building. They said that they were. does anyone else know what's going on? I remain doubtful they're actually doing anything that we would be wanting them to do.
2046-2099
Hand sanitizer stations.
Rehearse native dances for invading alien overlords meet and greet.
My short list would be a bit more ambitious.
3+ diversely located splash fountains. (perhaps in pocket parks?)
SHADE - Hanging gardens under the Hogan Street Monorail
Optical Illusion - a street diet somewhere in the East Bay AREA entertainment district (not Bay St. ) where a large sidewalk would be painted with occasionally changing optical illusions as an attraction.
Aquarium, but not a monolithic building, 'fish pods' along the riverwalk similar to the old mushrooms in the original Dallas Thomas (FRIENDSHIP PARK). The more you walk - the more you see.
JACKSONVILLE STARS - add the famous and the infamous historical Jacksonville figures in life-size bronze all along the riverwalk system. Have your photo taken with the Creature, Babe Hardy, Al Capone and 'the runners' all on the same day.
Trash 75% of all parking meters.
Lose the stop light cameras before the rear ender accident attorneys figure out that is what is causing the epidemic of whiplash suits.
Make the downtown east-west shuttle bus ELECTRIC with induction charged batteries.
World destination signpost for a 'world port' city... all sister cities and major trade partner cities + 'mandatory' locations such as 'Tipperary' and 'Timbuktu.'
Holographic Fountain on Northbank Shipyards park area with children's stories, music, Jacksonville PR ad's and dramatic 3-d renditions of our amazing history in 5-10 minute shows.
Make the Fuller Warren America's 'Bridge of Light.'
Laura Streetscape x URBAN CORE!
Did anyone mention streetcar?
Wow Ock, I like your ideas much better. I wonder if we can find their idea book, and do a switcheroo.
Quote from: urbaknight on March 01, 2014, 10:30:34 AM
I was walking up Laura st the other day and I saw some guys taking the wood off of the bottom floor windows. I asked them if they were finally getting the go ahead to start revitalizing the building. They said that they were. does anyone else know what's going on? I remain doubtful they're actually doing anything that we would be wanting them to do.
the building will be open for One Spark
but, are they going to get to work restoring the building anytime soon?
I've lived DT for over 10 years now and I can't think of anything beyond the jazz fest moving to the core and the superbowl that COJ has been involved with and has enhanced the DT living experience. 99% of the improvements have been by entrepreneurs risking their own money and NGO's like DVI. I'm not holding my breath until DIA makes a difference.
Having lived here for the past thirty years and having visited numerous other cities around the United States I make the following observations.
Tourism is essential to developing more restaurants, hotels, clubs and art galleys.......all you have to do is look at St. Augustine. St. Augustine has a myriad of attractions, none of them huge or overly dominate and they are somewhat concentrated in one general area.
I-95 brings thousands of tourist through Jacksonville every week. We have to give them reasons to stop downtown. Things that will attract tourist will also attract locals and day trippers. The city needs to show some commitment to some projects, once the some commitments are made private developers will follow. One project by it's self ( i.e. redeveloping the landing) will not stimulate enough immediate activity and will not be a significant enough tourist draw. Therefore, the city should commit to several large projects over an extended time period....say ten years, but not longer or people will not believe the projects will ever be started.
1) Old court house property should be cleared for development of a state-of-the-art convention center. This location will lead to more activity at the Landing, on East Bay Street and on the north bank Riverwalk.
2) A portion of the Prime Osbourne is already planned to be part of an Amtrak Station. Turn the remainder into a Transportation Museum. Jacksonville is a significant multimodal transportation hub. Rail and transportation via ocean and river have been very active here for over a hundred years. This museum should focus on the history and future of rail in Florida and Jacksonville (need to acquire some locomotives for display), history and future of cruise lines and ocean going shipping in Jacksonville, air transport and the interstate highway system. Get corporate sponsors, we have numerous transportation companies headquartered here or with significant operations here; CSX, Florida East Coast RR, Landstar, Carnival Cruises, Crowley, Sea Star Line, J.B. Hunt Transport Services, JaxPort and Jacksonville Airport Authority.
3)Fix the amphitheater at Metro Park so its as nice as the amphitheater in St. Augustine and figure out how to creatively minimize the noise problem effecting the St. Nicolas area. St. Augustine is bringing thousands of locals and tourists every month to it's amphitheater. Improving this facility and the frequency and quality performers will bring a lot more people to downtown hotels and restaurants.
4) Do something with the Jacksonville Fire Museum. Needs more large and unique fire trucks, maybe a firefighting boat, maybe a gift shop, maybe a firefighter training tower or an old forest fire lookout tower; Florida has 160 still standing and most are idle. Add exhibits on different types of fire fighting, fire fighting technology and significant fires in Jacksonville's history. Ask Firehouse Subs to be a sponsor of some sort. This is an existing attraction that needs to be much further developed and marketed......it's downtown, next to the river and Metro Park.
5) Move the School Board off the river and relocate those jobs to the downtown core. Sell the land for retail and residential condo tower development. Make sure the south bank Riverwalk extends down to it.
6) Develop a world class botanical gardens on the vacant JEA owned property next to the existing School Board building. It should include one or more unique glass conservatories visible from I-95, and make sure the south bank Riverwalk extends to it. Numerous cities smaller then Jacksonville have world class botanical gardens. Co-op with the University of Florida to develop and operate. Conduct research on rare and medicinal plants. Highlight carnivorous plants, bonsai, Florida native flora, a hedge maze, Koi ponds, Japanese zen gardens etc etc. Some how include the Treaty Oak Park as a component of the botanical gardens, even-though they won't be physically connected. The Treaty Oak is a very impressive specimen that should be better showcased and protected.
7) Develop a world class aquarium on a portion of the Shipyards property near the Jacksonville Fire Museum.
8) There's space for a giant Ferris wheel at Metro Park, but it won't be successful without having numerous attractions around it.
9) Persuade the Alhambra Dinner Theater to relocate to someplace on the southbank.
10) Get state and Federal funds to expand the Skyway so it goes farther.
11) Commit to extend the northbank Riverwalk to Memorial Park, which would help integrate the Five Points area and the Cummer Museum complex into the mix of attractions, retail and restaurants sites accessible from the north bank of the Riverwalk.
12) Get the State of Florida to allow a floating casino, styled as an old Paddle Wheeler and accessible from the Riverwalk, to sit on the river in front of the tiered building and parking lot located between the Main St Bridge and the Hyatt Hotel.
13 Get the Berkman Plaza tower #2 finished or torn-down.
14) Discus the possibility of locating the US Navy aircraft carrier John F. Kennedy(JFK) on the riverfront between Metro Park and the Hart Bridge. The JFK is the last super carrier that will be available for conversion into a museum/ public use facility because it was not built as a nuclear powered aircraft carrier. Checkout these sites if you want to see the potential that exists for developing an attraction that will definitely pull a lot of tourist of I-95;
www.intrepidmuseum.org or www.midway.org or www.patriotspoint.org The JFK is still available, the one group in Rhode Island (www.ussjfkri.org) is far from raising the money necessary to convince the Navy it can maintain the ship. Jacksonville should request some funds from the State of Florida and use crowd funding to raise the $25 to $30 million that will be needed to bring the ship here and develop a respectable museum facility. $25 to $30 million is not really a big number when you consider that the City of Jacksonville just provided $63 million to further improve Everbank Stadium, and it's highly questionable whether that will really bring many additional visitors to Jacksonville. Jacksonville has a long history as a Navy town, the JFK's last home-port was Mayport NAS and Jacksonville is still vying for a nuclear powered carrier to be stationed at Mayport NAS in the near future.
14) Yes, the Landing needs to be redeveloped.
15) Put lighted fountains in the five retention ponds that will boarder I-95 when the road construction is completed just south of the Fuller Warren Bridge, see www.i95overlandbridge.com/images/2012-12-phase-6-large.jpg
Nice list
It is a nice list, but most of what is listed there has been discussed over and over!!!!
Even if Mayor Brown gets a public-private partnership for a convention center, aquarium, etc., where does the city get the money for it's share considering the police/fire pension obligations we have and the huge number of parks we aren't maintaining.
Will MJ be covering the upcoming seminar on the Northbank (held by ULI/AIA at the Hyatt)?
^ some regular posters will be there
Quote from: L.P. Hovercraft on February 28, 2014, 05:16:01 PM
Noone, Noone, paging Noone:
Water launch network
Priority: Mid-term, 2020-2030
Northbank and Southbank
''The plan update recommends the creation of a network of sustainable water launches and accesses for those who enjoy our waters in non-motorized boats. The network would help non-motorized boating Downtown be a less anxious experience; not just kayaks, but providing river access paddlers, rowers and small sail boat owners.''
We are so LOST.
2020- 6 years from now!!! What a joke. Open the RAM dock!!!! LPS- Let People Succeed!!!!
What the hell is the DIA? Downtown Investment Annuity!!! 10 year options. Pre Aundra Wallace.
2013-384 the armory for a buck a year and zero access to Hogans Creek.
2010-604-Shipyards III
Palms Fish Camp!! Palms Fish Camp!!! Palms Fish Camp!!! 10 year option. it's about time to cash in that bad boy for a million plus.
Will there be a kayak launch at MOSH?
My state of Florida favorite. The Jim Love, Kevin Kuzel, 26' Berkman floating dock compromise (Shipyards III) misrepresented by OGC during the 2013 FIND grant application process to Waterways. I will swear to that under oath in any court of law. It is BRILLIANT! And I had absolutely nothing to do with it. And a super duper follow up by councilwoman Lori Boyer.
$15,000,000 Southbank Riverwalk Project and we are ripping out and not replacing the Riverwalk behind the Duval County Public Schools building. WOW!
2007-451 needs to be amended.
And this is all happening on our St. Johns River our American Heritage River a FEDERAL Initiative in our super restricted (Food Truck, Kayak) DIA zone.
But on another positive note.
Mobro guys- Let's sing
No Shoes
No Shirt
No Money
No Problem
Visit Jacksonville! Paul Astleford is a hero.
A new Authority
Embrace It
Or
it will Embrace Us
Ben-JCCI we need to kayak Downtown before 2020