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QuoteJacksonville group hopes to use lasers and lights to boost St. Johns River appeal
Bright lights, big river.
That's the combination a group of Jacksonville architects envisions for downtown's Riverwalk, saying columns of lights spaced like a glittering necklace could turn the St. Johns River into a "river of light."
The concept is in its beginning stages, but it has gained early backing from City Council President Lori Boyer. She is in the midst of a wide-ranging look at how to bring more activity of all kinds to the St. Johns River.
Full story:
http://jacksonville.com/news/2017-02-05/jacksonville-group-hopes-use-lasers-and-lights-boost-st-johns-river-appeal
Damn. this is stupid.
Baby steps... lets figure out how to change light bulbs on bridges before installing lasers all over the river banks... ::)
Quote from: BridgeTroll on February 09, 2017, 08:29:45 AM
Baby steps... lets figure out how to change light bulbs on bridges before installing lasers all over the river banks... ::)
No joke...
I would be happy if they restored the lights on the main street bridge to how it looked during Superbowl and put a new LED board on it . I will admit during the Superbowl, lasers were pointed everywhere and it looked nice.
Interesting.
Of course, if you're looking to "bring more activity of all kinds to the St. Johns River" downtown, the key is to develop downtown. Putting lights on the river might get people to go down there and check it out. But soon they will tire of the novelty.
Pointless unless we commit to maintaining the systems.
And we all know how that will end up.
The article does state a upkeep company will be hired and factored into the price.
Might as well give them some dap for an interesting proposal -- although I'm sure the appearance of competence (The article does state a upkeep company will be hired and factored into the price) won't mean much to some. I'll be very curious to see how this evolves.
So I am supposed to head downtown to see lights and do what after I stare at lights... ? :-\
Quote from: Snufflee on February 09, 2017, 11:07:48 AM
So I am supposed to head downtown to see lights and do what after I stare at lights... ? :-\
Maybe I am reading it wrong, but I believe they want to put the lights near points of interest that are already there. More or less to highlight them and kind of lure people to those areas.
I can't wait until I'm running my boat there and a laser shoots me in the eye!
Quote from: Snufflee on February 09, 2017, 11:07:48 AM
So I am supposed to head downtown to see lights and do what after I stare at lights... ? :-\
Buy a drink and continue to stare at the lights.
Quote from: BridgeTroll on February 09, 2017, 08:29:45 AM
Baby steps... lets figure out how to change light bulbs on bridges before installing lasers all over the river banks... ::)
I walk the northbank riverwalk almost every day. Over the past couple months, someone has been destroying the decorative lights in front of FIS, FNF, Everbank, and Dupont. Smashing the bulbs, pulling the fixtures out of the ground, graffiti, etc... I think they were paid for and installed by the private companies, but it was sad to see them slowly become an eyesore. This past weekend someone removed all of the fixtures and covered the wires protruding from the ground in electrical tape. The overhead lights from the Haskell to the YMCA are out and have been out for months. Considering this is one of the most prominent and populated public spaces in the city, it's sad to see it in such a state of disrepair.
Quote from: Captain Zissou on February 09, 2017, 11:54:06 AM
Quote from: BridgeTroll on February 09, 2017, 08:29:45 AM
Baby steps... lets figure out how to change light bulbs on bridges before installing lasers all over the river banks... ::)
I walk the northbank riverwalk almost every day. Over the past couple months, someone has been destroying the decorative lights in front of FIS, FNF, Everbank, and Dupont. Smashing the bulbs, pulling the fixtures out of the ground, graffiti, etc... I think they were paid for and installed by the private companies, but it was sad to see them slowly become an eyesore. This past weekend someone removed all of the fixtures and covered the wires protruding from the ground in electrical tape. The overhead lights from the Haskell to the YMCA are out and have been out for months. Considering this is one of the most prominent and populated public spaces in the city, it's sad to see it in such a state of disrepair.
Exactly... Even newly refurbished Friendship Fountain has maintenance items being neglected. Sorry... but until Jax figures out how to keep up with the basics we can't really expect nice things...
What can you do about some dumbass kids who break things for fun? ???
Quote from: FlaBoy on February 09, 2017, 12:25:53 PM
What can you do about some dumbass kids who break things for fun? ???
Keep them in school and actually raise them to be decent humans.
Maybe more security or cameras but even then it's still likely going to be events that take place.
When my wife and I were planning our wedding at the now-defunct University Club, which overlooks downtown from the top of the Riverplace Tower, we were trying to figure out how to decorate the tables. The event planner said, "Just keep it simple. Between the Skyline and the St. Johns River, you've already got the best decorations you could ask for. Anything else is just a distraction."
I feel like that same principle applies here.
As anyone driving across the Fuller Warren bridge can attest too, visually, our downtown is pretty damn stunning.
"Acid punk rock" light shows shooting a million lasers across the river or off the bridges and animated trains riding up and down the CSX building only serve to detract from the natural beauty that's already there. Save such gimmicks for cities that need it.
That said, I am intrigued by the idea of using beacons of light at prominent evening locations for wayfinding/placemaking purposes.
I second that KenFSU.
Downtown does need more lighting on the skyline but this would be over doing it
Quote from: Captain Zissou on February 09, 2017, 11:54:06 AM
Quote from: BridgeTroll on February 09, 2017, 08:29:45 AM
Baby steps... lets figure out how to change light bulbs on bridges before installing lasers all over the river banks... ::)
I walk the northbank riverwalk almost every day. Over the past couple months, someone has been destroying the decorative lights in front of FIS, FNF, Everbank, and Dupont. Smashing the bulbs, pulling the fixtures out of the ground, graffiti, etc... I think they were paid for and installed by the private companies, but it was sad to see them slowly become an eyesore. This past weekend someone removed all of the fixtures and covered the wires protruding from the ground in electrical tape. The overhead lights from the Haskell to the YMCA are out and have been out for months. Considering this is one of the most prominent and populated public spaces in the city, it's sad to see it in such a state of disrepair.
I bet if you call Daryl Joseph at Parks and Recreation he will help with this. He owns the Riverwalk and seems dedicated to making it first class.
Lasers - no.
Beacons - yes.
Why don't they fix the neon strip light over Acosta Bridge, restore lights/neon board on Main Street Bridge before spending money on something like this.
You would think Jacksonville would fix what's broken first before bringing in "new" stuff!
I think pretty much everyone here agrees, beacons, fix the Acosta stripe, replace the main Street LEDs. With today's tech it's not that difficult.
Apparently there's $1 million in next year's budget to build the first three nodes that Boyer has been talking about (Friendship Fountain, the Times-Union Center, and the USS Adams site).
Still sounds like they're floating a lot of ideas, but interesting to hear that money has been allocated for this purpose.
http://residentnews.net/2017/11/09/councilwoman-boyer-shares-plans-river-activation/
the real news seems to be that there is $8M available NOW to tear down the old courthouse. If that happens right when the Hyatt and Liberty Street repairs are being wrapped up, that area would be more than ripe for redevelopment. And then there's the pending deal on Berkman 2...
Lighting up the Adams, which is right in front of Berkman 2, will stretch the core toward the Khan plan, if that ever happens.
The good news is that the city is not waiting for a white knight like Khan to make everything happen by magic. It's organic and strategic. I like it.