QuoteNaval museum proponents still pushing project
05/02/2008
by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
Backers of a plan to bring the U.S.S. Adams to the Southbank to serve as a Naval Museum, tourist attraction and event site were back in front of the Jacksonville Waterways Commission Thursday.
Bert Watson, government relations coordinator for the Adams, told the Commission there are three major hurdles â€" a suitable city and location, approval from the Navy and funding â€" that must be overcome in order to secure the retired ship and moor it just east of the Acosta Bridge. Watson said progress is being made on all three fronts, however there is still plenty to do before the Adams becomes a mainstay of the Downtown neighborhood.
“The first is critical and we’re done with that,†said Watson. “City Council unanimously approved a resolution endorsing the project.â€
According to Watson, it will take between $3.5 million and $4 million to bring the ship to town. That cost includes towing, renovations and a location to display the Adams. Watson said he has started the initial fundraising, but expects it to take at least a year to raise the money and prove to the Navy the Jacksonville community is serious about the project. He said a similar project in San Diego involving the U.S.S. Midway was funded primarily â€" about three-quarters â€" through in-kind donations
full article: http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=49962
WONDERFUL!! This will be a nice addition downtwn.
I'd love to see RCBC gone and the parking lot there turned into a nice green area/park.
Wouldn't a wide, meandering brick walk up to the ship be nice through it. What if along the walk there could be an old trolley car, an old navy plane (a one seater --- there's really interesting ones on Rte 1 going into St. Augustine), and a salvaged row/shotgun house (there's still a few in downtown, which I'm sure will be demolished). Plaques in front of them discussing the history, etc. Anything else that could be cool but not very big and distracting to the downtown. Jacksonville History Park. That's cool.
Just something different...ties into the old navy ship.
Quote from: David6600 on May 03, 2008, 10:35:53 AM
I'd love to see RCBC gone
Why would you love too see it gone?
RCBC has a 99 year lease on the property. Its a successful asset that should be kept and incorporated into whatever is done with that property, imo. A successful local restaurant anchoring a waterfront park is more attractive than a waterfront park with no restaurant or dining options at all.
RCBC Gone? Oh hell no! As Lake has stated, incorporate it into whatever we do with the rest of the site. REALIZE this is Jacksonville (for Petes sake), San Diego has the MIDWAY, Pearl Harbor got the MISSOURI, Jacksonville NC got the NORTH CAROLINA, and Mobile has the ALABAMA... We're after the Adams? Perhaps after enough trips to that RCBC bar, we can convince the tourists they REALLY toured the IJN YAMATO!
(http://static.flickr.com/1197/1221920206_adf60eec7c.jpg)
Maybe a PT boat would be more our speed, I understand Commander McHale has one for sale.
Ocklawaha
Quote from: thelakelander on May 04, 2008, 11:52:31 PM
RCBC has a 99 year lease on the property. Its a successful asset that should be kept and incorporated into whatever is done with that property, imo. A successful local restaurant anchoring a waterfront park is more attractive than a waterfront park with no restaurant or dining options at all.
Echo that - if we had to do it over again, I'd love to see a different physical structure there, but this is the challenge of urban development that some don't seem to get - you can't do it with a blank sheet of paper and a crayola.
Hi Copperfiend,
A little overstatement; mainly just don't like that big parking lot. I like RCBC and don't mean to speak bad about them. It's good to have that activity there. I just wrote a little too quick.
But I think the ship is going near the Acosta -- it just seems a little awkward there won't be a little bit better of an entrance way to it.
I'm also aware of city obligations regarding the lease --- didn't know I'd be chided to put back the crayola crayons though. Mom? Dad?
One thing that is regrettable though - and the city's paying the price for it already - was not capitalizing with the pedestrian pier.
With the riverwalk improvements and the marina by the Aetna building there would have been a nice stroll from the ship to the pier. Perhaps you would get a nice view of the ship walking out on the pier (I don't know).
Maybe it wouldn't have been a spectacular accomplishment but it would have nevertheless been some sort of synergy. Would have made people linger and given them an ambience and some sort of a feeling that there is reason to be downtown (not just park, go on a ship and leave).
Downtown is quite often dead. You take your opportunities when you can get them. Bad move on the pier.
I agree. The destroying the old Fuller Warren was a bad move. It would have also been nice if the old Acosta Bridge (torn down in the 1990s) could have been kept and converted into a pedestrian bridge.
Quote from: thelakelander on May 06, 2008, 09:16:30 PM
I agree. The destroying the old Fuller Warren was a bad move. It would have also been nice if the old Acosta Bridge (torn down in the 1990s) could have been kept and converted into a pedestrian bridge.
Except the the New Acosta is in the same place as the Old Acosta, so that would have been difficult, or they could have torn down more of downtown/Brooklyn/Southbank to accommodate both bridges.
Actually, Ock, a PT Boat for the Maritime Museum (next to the Adams) isn't a bad idea - I remember taking a tour boat years ago that pointed out that during WW2, PT Boats were built in a shipyard on the southbank, near the Gulf Life ... oops Wachovia .. Building.
The new Acosta could have been built to the south, possibly as a double decker, or on either side of the old Acosta. There could have been room if it were a goal. We just wouldn't have ended up with the Acosta Bridge design we have today.
Good point, thelakelander, double deck to the north (toward downtown) I could see. Else it would have to be south of the FEC bridge, since I don't think there was room between Old Acosta and FEC for anything.
Hmmm, south of FEC would have put it right through the Times Union building ....
opportunities lost ...
https://www.facebook.com/photo.php?fbid=594265147261803&set=a.113601395328183.12073.107140799307576&type=1&relevant_count=1&ref=nf
What you guys think about this?
i like it better there than next to the Acosta Bridge.
More info from their site:
http://www.adamsclassmuseum.org/
If this ever gets done, I'd love to see extra dock space near there to show off other interesting boats too. In just the past few months Jax has had the OCEARCH Boat and Shad Khan's yacht. St. Augustine also had a 170' replica of an old Spanish galleon for about 2 weeks recently. It would be great to have a revolving door of unique and interesting boats.
This museum and a brewery would bridge the gap nicely between the entertainment district and stadium district....and lets not forget Hogan's Creek either.
Thanks Citylife. The site might answer some questions I've posted below. I'll check it out.
I wonder why the north bank, using the old dry docks as a base, is not being seriously considered -- presuming it has not been? Having the Adams there would certainly be closer to the center core, thus adding a “draw†there instead of on the south bank.
It seems like any significant building activity continues to be a moderate or short distance away from the city core. There are reasons for this I suppose. But it would sure be nice to have somebody get “into†the core instead of Lavilla... King Street.... South Side etc etc.
The library purchase is one of the very few seemingly active core projects. Perhaps the trio and the Barnett will get off the ground... adding more action to the core.
The Adams is going to be great in any case. I hope that there will be emphasis on the technologies on the ship. Given that most of it has been surpassed by newer technology, there would be an opportunity to convey to youngsters the unclassified basics covering the method of building the ship, the technology involved in steering, propulsion, gun fire control, missile firing and guidance, navigation etc etc.
Some cutaways could be performed to illustrate the innards. One display might show a flow of the technologies from earlier centuries to current --- for example .. the growth of navigation and propulsion methods -- and aiming or fire control.
Creative emphasis on conveying technology, with its associated science, would be great way to entice visitors who are curious and wish to engage tech systems. This could be a great “continuous†draw for the core.
But also, if designed with some thought, the Adams displays and technology would be a great place for schools to offer students a view of the tech/science aspects of the ship.
I do hope that enough consideration has been given to the placement of the ship on the north bank. Does anyone know the reasoning behind the seeming focus on the south bank, as apposed to the north bank?
I talked to these guys during OneSpark, and they still have a ways to go with fundraising. I definitely think the new location is much better than the previous one.
Mayor Brown touted public-private partnerships when he campaigned and Shad Khan has already expressed interest in this area of the urban core. Wouldn't it be nice if all "players" gathered around one table and worked to come up with a revitalization plan? There are other investors in this city that might be interested in joining the conversation. With one vision, each partnership could agree to complete one piece and together something might actually happen. If people believed something could be accomplished, they might be more motivated to invest. I can't remember the exact dollar amount, but I know the Adams Naval Museum could use a sizeable "boost" from someone who really wants to leave a mark on Jacksonville.
Quote from: brainstormer on July 01, 2013, 05:17:12 PM
I talked to these guys during OneSpark, and they still have a ways to go with fundraising. I definitely think the new location is much better than the previous one.
Mayor Brown touted public-private partnerships when he campaigned and Shad Khan has already expressed interest in this area of the urban core. Wouldn't it be nice if all "players" gathered around one table and worked to come up with a revitalization plan? There are other investors in this city that might be interested in joining the conversation. With one vision, each partnership could agree to complete one piece and together something might actually happen. If people believed something could be accomplished, they might be more motivated to invest. I can't remember the exact dollar amount, but I know the Adams Naval Museum could use a sizeable "boost" from someone who really wants to leave a mark on Jacksonville.
Just a sec. Let me check my wallet.
Were they represented @ One Spark this year as well - or, do the rules not allow for back to back efforts?
They were....sort of. Chris Flagg had his venue in the Adams Class museum, so it got plenty of pub.
Quote from: blizz01 on April 14, 2014, 04:18:18 PM
Were they represented @ One Spark this year as well - or, do the rules not allow for back to back efforts?
the rules require that you present something different...so they changed it up some
The USS Charles F. Adams is a positive project for Jacksonville.
Longtime volunteer and board member Joe Snowberger has been named CEO of the USS Adams Museum effort.
www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=542778
QuoteLongtime volunteer and board member Joe Snowberger has been named CEO of the USS Adams Museum effort.
He is going to give Allegretti a run for his money as Joe is the spokesman/CEO for One Spark too, head of Downtown Chamber council. He is a man of downtown, for sure!
Quote from: mtraininjax on April 24, 2014, 01:31:44 AM
Joe is the spokesman/CEO for One Spark too
perhaps you are confusing him with Joe Sampson
http://vimeo.com/96202134
Great job on this video. Nice to see that the mayor has finally, after years of no action, stepped up to endorse the project.
To me this idea is a no-brainer. It's just a matter of money; basically every major group seems to be behind it, and the popularity of touring ships is very high. Especially in a Navy town.
Bring the Adams!
The USS Irv Adams. :)
Awesome presentation!!!
Legislation was introduced to the City Council concerning the USS Adams effort.
www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=543273
I really liked the presentation video! This will be a good thing for Jacksonville.
I did get a chuckle when the now defunct water taxi did a photo bomb.
Sounds good!
Where is the USS Adams now?
What is holding this up?
Would be a great start to enhancing the old Shipyards. Is there room for an old Liberty Ship there, too?
Add a WW II submarine (walk aboard as well) and you have something unique with broad appeal.
^^If you read the article that was attached you have the answers to your first two questions.
This is very doable and has a relatively short time schedule. Sounds very positive, and looks like its going to happen, soon. Cool.
I wish that we had leadership actively seeking to integrate this into a larger plan for the Shipyards. Are we going to end up with a Naval Museum, parking lot, and visitor center disconnected from everything else? That is kind of our thing isn't it. ::)
Why aren't we thinking about how to connect multiple projects together to support walkability and synergy? If Kahn wants to do a practice field, or we want to leave space for the Armada Soccer stadium, shouldn't those be fore-thoughts and not after-thoughts?
It would be kind of cool if the Shipyards took on a theme. You have the U.S.S Adams, a naval museum, the Armada soccer stadium, add a public plaza lined with restaurants, a Water Taxi stop. Why doesn't the mayor bring all of these key players with ideas together and come up with a plan that is realistic and financially viable?
^^Maybe Mayor Brown will read this thread. Very good ideas.
We have to start somewhere. The starting gun has gone off; the Adams is an excellent jump out of the gate.
That's an excellent video.
The answer to "what's taking so long" is a big fat US. They have been clear that there is no white knight, and no government pile to make it happen. In their recent facebook post they point out that it gets done if 200,000 citizens pony up $25 each. If, on the other hand, we wait for the other guy to do our share, it may never happen.
I think it's a safe bet that Khan has factored the ship into his vision. And I love the theme someone came up with. USS Adams, Shipyards, Armada...
What I'd really like to see is a tall ship or two. Once we get started, who knows how far it will go.