Mayor Alvin Brown:Now Is the Time to Invest in Downtown
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City of Jacksonville Mayor Alvin Brown shares his thoughts with Metro Jacksonville on why now is the time to invest in downtown.
Read More: http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2014-aug-mayor-alvin-brownnow-is-the-time-to-invest-in-downtown
Still not seeing the opportunity for everyone on our Waterways Downtown. Just ask the Baltimore guys about that one. The contract expired. They get kicked out because they didn't meet the 350 seat RFP they had a 346 seat capacity. So they get sent packing and we have 2014-412 and the illegal unauthorized purchase of two water taxis by the Executive Branch (Mayor) circumventing the Legislative Branch (City Council) And at a Jacksonville Waterway Commission meeting and the next one is just 5 hours out Tera Meeks, Chief of Waterfront Management and Programming tells everyone that the 350 RFP seat capacity is now 120 and anything goes. This has to be positive.
Mayor Brown, At the 4/2/14 Noticed meeting on new docking Rules and Penalties it was announced that the new yet to be built floating dock on the Southbank that was going to be 900' short but thanks to 2014-190 it will be a completed Southbank Riverwalk to the Duval County Public School building will have one vendor with a 10 year no compete clause. This can't be positive. Will you truly open up opportunity on our 4.8 mile Waterfront zone and why not start with this new dock. When complete if a watercraft pulls up and drops off a passenger so that they can go eat at the Charthouse that watercraft for hire is immediately in violation and that watercraft can be impounded like a car. Please ask your COJ Waterways Coordinator Capt. Jim Suber if that is the rule. This doesn't say to the world Visit Jacksonville!
Right now the CRA/DIA is before the Jacksonville city council. Will you support legislation and amendments that will create a sustainable opportunity for everyone and not just picking winners and losers in our new 4.8 mile Waterfront zone that extends from the Fuller Warren Bridge to the Mathews Bridge on our St. Johns River an American Heritage River a FEDERAL Initiative?
Let's truly make Downtown a Destination and not a pass through.
"We must maximize every opportunity for people – residents and visitors alike – to see our Downtown as a signature destination. Because that's what a great Downtown needs – people.
We need people working Downtown. We need people living Downtown. We need people visiting Downtown – whether it's for entertainment or sports, conventions or special events, dining or shopping, or simply enjoying our scenic river."
Workers in the core.
Residents in the core.
Visitors in the core.
Absolutely the most important emphasis for achieving what is called a threshold toward revitalizing the core.
Nothing happens until these populations increase.
With their increase, everything happens.
Overall, I thought Brown's words to be quite encouraging ... balanced. And I've had only one midnight beer.
Questions/comments:
1) Is there a finalized plan for the Landing in place?
2) Aren't the street signs already unified?
3) Two way streets sound good, wish he had done it sooner.
4) Don't tear down the courthouse until something else is firm to go in it's place.
5) I wish I could believe this isn't just electioneering
It seems to me that based on the available evidence, the only way we are going to see the Mayor of Jacksonville truly set us down a path towards a truly vibrant Downtown and Urban Core is to vote in someone other than Alvin Brown next year.
Quote from: vicupstate on August 13, 2014, 05:16:15 AM
Questions/comments:
1) Is there a finalized plan for the Landing in place?
I don't believe so. However, a study was done that suggested the original redevelopment concept be scaled down.
Quote2) Aren't the street signs already unified?
This is for wayfaring signage. It's something that should have been done during Peyton's administration.
Quote3) Two way streets sound good, wish he had done it sooner.
Something else that should have been done a decade ago. Better late than never.
Quote4) Don't tear down the courthouse until something else is firm to go in it's place.
I agree. I still can't believe we've known over 10 years that courthouse would be sitting empty and still don't have a plan for it. IMO, figure out how to build a new convention center (something debated over the last decade) and if it's not feasible, RFP the property to the private sector, reinvest that cash in to downtown and move on.
Quote5) I wish I could believe this isn't just electioneering
We'll find out soon enough. All of this is a part of the Mayor's budget proposal. I'm waiting to hear council's take on this.
Quote from: strider on August 13, 2014, 08:34:31 AM
It seems to me that based on the available evidence, the only way we are going to see the Mayor of Jacksonville truly set us down a path towards a truly vibrant Downtown and Urban Core is to vote in someone other than Alvin Brown next year.
not that I am thrilled with the Mayor, but is there even a hint from Lenny Curry that he cares about downtown?
Quote from: tufsu1 on August 13, 2014, 11:13:34 AM
Quote from: strider on August 13, 2014, 08:34:31 AM
It seems to me that based on the available evidence, the only way we are going to see the Mayor of Jacksonville truly set us down a path towards a truly vibrant Downtown and Urban Core is to vote in someone other than Alvin Brown next year.
not that I am thrilled with the Mayor, but is there even a hint from Lenny Curry that he cares about downtown?
Perhaps not, but is Lenny Curry the only other person running for Mayor? Bishop made a reasonable showing at the HobNob, will/ can he do better than either Brown or Curry? Or are you and everyone else already writing off anyone but Brown and Curry?
My issue with Brown is one of trust and credibility. While there may be something in the idea of dealing with the devil you know, sometimes it is so bad that change for change sake is more than worth the risk. This seems like one of those times.
What downtown project do you think Brown has gotten in the way of?
I personally don't think Brown has been terrible for downtown. At least he seems to understand that it is important and at has the word in his vocabulary. However, with that being said, he brings so much other negatives with his lack of leadership which causes so many other issues. And that same lack of leadership will most likely make it difficult to work with the city council, which is needed, to do anything significant for downtown under his watch. I can hope it will be different but I just don't see it. Therefore, he probably needs to go.
Quote from: strider on August 13, 2014, 12:31:23 PM
Quote from: tufsu1 on August 13, 2014, 11:13:34 AM
Quote from: strider on August 13, 2014, 08:34:31 AM
It seems to me that based on the available evidence, the only way we are going to see the Mayor of Jacksonville truly set us down a path towards a truly vibrant Downtown and Urban Core is to vote in someone other than Alvin Brown next year.
not that I am thrilled with the Mayor, but is there even a hint from Lenny Curry that he cares about downtown?
Perhaps not, but is Lenny Curry the only other person running for Mayor? Bishop made a reasonable showing at the HobNob, will/ can he do better than either Brown or Curry? Or are you and everyone else already writing off anyone but Brown and Curry?
hardly..and the campaign contributions I have made reflect it.
That said, you implied that everyone else would be better for downtown than Brown...I'm just asking what makes you think that Curry would be better.
As for Mayor Brown's plans for downtown, they will be discussed tomorrow (Friday) morning during budget hearings on the Capital Improvements Plan (CIP). I believe the meeting is at City Hall and starts at 9am. If you feel strongly about downtown and are available, I encourage you to attend and speak up.
Quote from: JeffreyS on August 13, 2014, 01:25:52 PM
What downtown project do you think Brown has gotten in the way of?
What projects has he actually spearheaded & gotten his weight behind??
And "now is the time", in 2014? Where ya been, Alvin??
Quote from: tufsu1 on August 13, 2014, 10:13:01 PM
Quote from: strider on August 13, 2014, 12:31:23 PM
Quote from: tufsu1 on August 13, 2014, 11:13:34 AM
Quote from: strider on August 13, 2014, 08:34:31 AM
It seems to me that based on the available evidence, the only way we are going to see the Mayor of Jacksonville truly set us down a path towards a truly vibrant Downtown and Urban Core is to vote in someone other than Alvin Brown next year.
not that I am thrilled with the Mayor, but is there even a hint from Lenny Curry that he cares about downtown?
Perhaps not, but is Lenny Curry the only other person running for Mayor? Bishop made a reasonable showing at the HobNob, will/ can he do better than either Brown or Curry? Or are you and everyone else already writing off anyone but Brown and Curry?
hardly..and the campaign contributions I have made reflect it.
That said, you implied that everyone else would be better for downtown than Brown...I'm just asking what makes you think that Curry would be better.
... to sort of repeat myself:
My issue with Brown is one of trust and credibility (with many things, not just downtown). While there may be something in the idea of dealing with the devil you know (because I do not know at this time if Curry or Bishop will indeed be better for both the DT and the urban core) , sometimes it is so bad that change for change sake is more than worth the risk. This seems like one of those times. (As you can tell, I really do not like Brown nor do I like those in his posse.)
Quote from: tufsu1 on August 14, 2014, 02:15:11 PM
As for Mayor Brown's plans for downtown, they will be discussed tomorrow (Friday) morning during budget hearings on the Capital Improvements Plan (CIP). I believe the meeting is at City Hall and starts at 9am. If you feel strongly about downtown and are available, I encourage you to attend and speak up.
Good to know.
Quote from: tufsu1 on August 14, 2014, 02:15:11 PM
As for Mayor Brown's plans for downtown, they will be discussed tomorrow (Friday) morning during budget hearings on the Capital Improvements Plan (CIP). I believe the meeting is at City Hall and starts at 9am. If you feel strongly about downtown and are available, I encourage you to attend and speak up.
Be sure to ride the RIO St. Johns as you are transported from one illegal side of the River to the other Illegal side of the River.
Support Environmental Ethics- Vince Seibold.
DIA Board meeting 8/20/14 1st floor city hall at 4pm. Always plenty of seats.
A new Authority
Embrace It
Or
It will Embrace Us
Another item I would propose is something I have seen in Charlotte. There are large Interstate signs listing all DT attractions and the sector of town where they are located. There it is N,S,E,W Uptown. I believe the color codes then relate to exits and signs to get you to that location. In Jax this could be Northbank, Southbank, Sports Complex, Riverside. Somehow they could be tied to the new wayfarer sign system. Both helpful for people looking for a venue BUT it also advertises what is DT to people traveling thought the city. Today no one would know about Science Museum, Cummer Museum, etc. DOT would do this as part of the new signage with the overland bridge and interchange upgrade. No big deal.
Hearing a Jax mayor talk about "vision" or "a plan" makes me kinda nervous - isn't this what has messed up downtown in the first place ?
Not that I mind visions or plans (they can be good, after all), but if they tried to not mess things up for once that would be a nice start.
Quote from: jaxjags on August 15, 2014, 09:37:55 AM
Another item I would propose is something I have seen in Charlotte. There are large Interstate signs listing all DT attractions and the sector of town where they are located. There it is N,S,E,W Uptown. I believe the color codes then relate to exits and signs to get you to that location. In Jax this could be Northbank, Southbank, Sports Complex, Riverside. Somehow they could be tied to the new wayfarer sign system. Both helpful for people looking for a venue BUT it also advertises what is DT to people traveling thought the city. Today no one would know about Science Museum, Cummer Museum, etc. DOT would do this as part of the new signage with the overland bridge and interchange upgrade. No big deal.
Since these are Interstate signs, does the DOT pay for them? Can we get some informational and attraction-directing signage from the FDOT while they're building upgrades to the Overland Bridge?
I have heard that the Mayor's investment plans for downtown will be the subject of budget hearings again Friday morning....9am at City Hall...there may not be an opportunity for public comment, but even showing up sends a message.
The Chamber of Commerce is endorsing spending over $11 million dollars on the Jacksonville Landing.
http://members.jacksonville.com/news/metro/2014-08-21/story/jax-chamber-urges-city-council-back-118-million-redevelop-jacksonville
Sleiman apparently now wants to tear the whole thing down, and build anew.
Council Finance Committee is still looking at how much debt the Mayor's budget proposes, with an eye toward trimming the amount. And is concerned about a lack of specifics in the plan for the Landing (from the linked article).
QuoteIn regard to the Landing, Davis said the $11.8 million could go into a City Council contingency fund that would be a "lockbox" until there is a viable plan for private construction of new buildings on the site. The $11.8 million from the city would be for improvements to public spaces on the city-owned site.
"Before you get a key to the lockbox, you prove that the vertical development is legitimate and financed," Davis said. "That way you prove to the community that you're willing to do this, but you're going to force the private sector to show that it's able and capable to do it."