(https://photos.moderncities.com/Cities/Jacksonville/Business/Jacksonville-Landing/i-qJSXgFs/0/d34ab8ca/L/3-L.jpg)
QuoteNow that the City of Jacksonville is moving forward with taking full control of the Jacksonville Landing, here's ten types of uses that should be considered for the site's future before moving forward with complete demolition of a publicly owned turn-key commercial space.
Read More: https://www.thejaxsonmag.com/article/10-potential-uses-for-the-jacksonville-landing/
This should be sent to all 19 current members of the City Council, and the candidates in the May election, as well as to Mayor Curry and the DIA.
Just a picky note, the article could use some editing for typos and to tighten up the text.
I went to the Milwaukee Public Market last summer. It is awesome and, I think, would be a perfect model for the Landing.
Excellent article, thank you for writing it.
At the same time, this hurts to read knowing that our leaders defaulted to a full demo so quickly. The complete lack of an informed vision is so incredibly disheartening.
I would say don't demolish it, and go for something mixed use with inside and outside restaurants and dining, and a large park on the river behind it with boat/marina slips and docks. Completely renovate it, taking out some of it, and leaving a large part of it to support whatever the end use or purpose will be. If there's still businesses there, though there's an attached park, this will also prevent or even in most cases eradicate the possibility of transients and the homeless (and nothing against them I respect them) making camp or residing in the park.
Quote from: DrQue on April 05, 2019, 09:05:39 AM
Excellent article, thank you for writing it.
At the same time, this hurts to read knowing that our leaders defaulted to a full demo so quickly. The complete lack of an informed vision is so incredibly disheartening.
Except that it really isn't the case that 'our leaders defaulted to a full demo so quickly'. This is simply a rehash of former Mayor Peyton's 'Big Idea', which included demolishing the Landing and replacing it with a park, with limited retail along Independent Drive.
See here:
https://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2008-dec-peytons-struggles-the-big-idea (https://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2008-dec-peytons-struggles-the-big-idea)
The guy that produced this (former Planning Director Mike Saylor) in 2006:
(https://www.metrojacksonville.com/photos/plog-content/images/urban-issues/peyton-struggles-the-big-idea/big_idea_1.jpg)
Is the same guy that produced this in 2018:
(https://news.wjct.org/sites/wjct/files/styles/medium/public/201806/LandingParkRendering.png)
The only difference between now and then is that then-Mayor Peyton didn't try to force out a political enemy, he simply stonewalled his political enemy for 8 years by vetoing any request for money that would have benefited the Landing. Current-Mayor Curry was simply more aggressive in removing his political enemy from the equation. The 'vision' is the same now as it was more than a decade ago.
Quote from: fieldafm on April 05, 2019, 09:21:09 AM
Quote from: DrQue on April 05, 2019, 09:05:39 AM
Excellent article, thank you for writing it.
At the same time, this hurts to read knowing that our leaders defaulted to a full demo so quickly. The complete lack of an informed vision is so incredibly disheartening.
Except that it really isn't the case that 'our leaders defaulted to a full demo so quickly'. This is simply a rehash of former Mayor Peyton's 'Big Idea', which included demolishing the Landing and replacing it with a park, with limited retail along Independent Drive.
See here:
https://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2008-dec-peytons-struggles-the-big-idea (https://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2008-dec-peytons-struggles-the-big-idea)
The guy that produced this (former Planning Director Mike Saylor) in 2006:
(https://www.metrojacksonville.com/photos/plog-content/images/urban-issues/peyton-struggles-the-big-idea/big_idea_1.jpg)
Is the same guy that produced this in 2018:
(https://news.wjct.org/sites/wjct/files/styles/medium/public/201806/LandingParkRendering.png)
The only difference between now and then is that then-Mayor Peyton didn't try to force out a political enemy, he simply stonewalled his political enemy for 8 years by vetoing any request for money that would have benefited the Landing. Current-Mayor Curry was simply more aggressive in removing his political enemy from the equation. The 'vision' is the same now as it was more than a decade ago.
In the artist's conception or rendering of the park, what are those buildings on either side of the entrance to the park? Anyone know?
It's mind boggling that a city with miles and miles of riverfront has virtually no waterfront dining, and then is considering demolishing one of the best opportunties to create waterfront dining/entertainment. I believe my current city of 65,000 people (Jupiter) has more waterfront restaurants (7) than the entire COJ, and has 3 more on the way.
If Jax does decide to convert it to a public space, I hope that they bring in a renowned landscape architecture firm, not whoever designed the Southbank Riverwalk, which is an absolute joke. Either be bold or do nothing at all. West Palm Beach is repurposing a 14 acre waterfront park and is bringing in the same firm that did the Highline, Underline, and several other good projects.
https://www.fieldoperations.net/projects.html
IMO, residents of Jax need to let the City know that if the Landing does go, there better be a strong plan in place with serious $ backing it.
Quote from: heights unknown on April 05, 2019, 09:24:12 AMIn the artist's conception or rendering of the park, what are those buildings on either side of the entrance to the park? Anyone know?
About 30,000 square feet of possible new construction undetermined office or retail space.
Quote from: Charles Hunter on April 05, 2019, 08:52:45 AM
Just a picky note, the article could use some editing for typos and to tighten up the text.
Thanks! No worries. We'll go back and clean it up. Got caught up trying to throw it together within a time limit and didn't have much time to go back over it last night.
Quote from: thelakelander on April 05, 2019, 09:34:34 AM
Quote from: Charles Hunter on April 05, 2019, 08:52:45 AM
Just a picky note, the article could use some editing for typos and to tighten up the text.
Thanks! No worries. We'll go back and clean it up. Got caught up trying to throw it together within a time limit and didn't have much time to go back over it last night.
I'm on it. :)
Quote from: CityLife on April 05, 2019, 09:27:30 AM
It's mind boggling that a city with miles and miles of riverfront has virtually no waterfront dining, and then is considering demolishing one of the best opportunties to create waterfront dining/entertainment. I believe my current city of 65,000 people (Jupiter) has more waterfront restaurants (7) than the entire COJ, and has 3 more on the way.
If Jax does decide to convert it to a public space, I hope that they bring in a renowned landscape architecture firm, not whoever designed the Southbank Riverwalk, which is an absolute joke. Either be bold or do nothing at all. West Palm Beach is repurposing a 14 acre waterfront park and is bringing in the same firm that did the Highline, Underline, and several other good projects.
https://www.fieldoperations.net/projects.html
IMO, residents of Jax need to let the City know that if the Landing does go, there better be a strong plan in place with serious $ backing it.
Awesome post; right on mark, and I agree. Don't just bring in anybody to do the job, or someone on the council sketch on a napkin on what they think the park should look like; do it in the professional and right way...look at several proposals and propositions, vote on it or have the citizens vote on it, and go from there. Even if a park is put in there, I still say there should be some type of dining, restaurants, and some offices or retail, albeit minimal, in there as well. IMO that would curtail or even stop the possibility of anyone lounging, loitering, hanging out, or camping there (that's what security is for as well).
Crazy idea. What if Aqua Jax used the existing Landing structure for its aquarium?
It would be better than a front lawn filled with vagrants.
Only 10? Have you not noticed that the buildings curve in a semi-circle? Topgolf! With edible fish bait as the balls of course! ;D
I am not a downtown dweller, but I can see where some limited retail (drugstore, hardware, maybe a smaller Pbx or something, and maybe a dry cleaner?) would make good sense. It's just a heckuva wasted view of the river, tho. Also, there is not a Panera downtown, nor any Chinese restaurants that I know of. Thinking of more stuff to serve downtown workers / jurors / downtown and Springfield residents. Sometimes everybody needs quick, cheap meals somewhere; a can of paint; more aspirin...and those things don't seem readily available downtown. Yet.
Just had another observation - can anyone tell me where, in this city, there is any mention made of the Great Fire and the rebuilding of Jacksonville by Klutho? It would be nice if there were space dedicated somewhere, maybe in whatever the soon to be former Landing site becomes, detailing this with photos and some stories about our history. Maybe just start from the Cowford era and everything else along the way. Signing off, thanks for allowing me a nickels' worth today.
^The MOSH has a pretty extensive exhibit detailing what you describe.
It's pretty cool, well worth a visit.
Currents of Time captures white history in this town up till about the 1960s/70s. The history of people of color and immigrants....which made up the majority of the city for most of its years prior to consolidation.....not so much. With that in mind, there's a great temporary exhibit about black masonic history in town that's currently at the Ritz. For anyone wanting to know more about Jax's history on the other side of the tracks, it's a must see.
Other side of the tracks?
It's a reference back to small southern city development patterns during Jim Crow. It means the black side of town, which was typically located on the other side of the railroad tracks from the white side of town. A good example is Parramore and DT Orlando or Overtown (originally Colored Town) in Miami.
I knew what it meant. I wanted to see if you really knew what it was, and still is in some parts of the United States. I'm black, so I've lived it, and know all about it; believe it. Carry on my Friend.
Quote from: sandyshoes on April 06, 2019, 10:54:51 AM
Just had another observation - can anyone tell me where, in this city, there is any mention made of the Great Fire and the rebuilding of Jacksonville by Klutho? It would be nice if there were space dedicated somewhere, maybe in whatever the soon to be former Landing site becomes, detailing this with photos and some stories about our history. Maybe just start from the Cowford era and everything else along the way. Signing off, thanks for allowing me a nickels' worth today.
It would be nice to have more historical markers around downtown. At one time Jacksonville was a walled city. I always thought it would be neat to have some kind of line on the ground that marked the wall location.
Quote from: heights unknown on April 06, 2019, 03:14:17 PM
I knew what it meant. I wanted to see if you really knew what it was, and still is in some parts of the United States. I'm black, so I've lived it, and know all about it; believe it. Carry on my Friend.
Of course I know! I grew up across tracks and lived it as well. :)
Until they started removing the old Court House parking lot, there was a sculpture on the River Walk dedicated to the Great Fire.
https://www.publicartarchive.org/work/memorial-great-fire-jacksonville
Any idea of what happened to it?
hopefully just in storage while they rebuild the riverwalk
Quote from: thelakelander on April 06, 2019, 04:26:58 PM
Quote from: heights unknown on April 06, 2019, 03:14:17 PM
I knew what it meant. I wanted to see if you really knew what it was, and still is in some parts of the United States. I'm black, so I've lived it, and know all about it; believe it. Carry on my Friend.
Of course I know! I grew up across tracks and lived it as well. :)
Yeah right!!!
I'm a six generation black Floridian with multiple lines of family ties tracing back to plantations in the Panhandle, GA and SC. Personally, not the Jim Crow part. That's my parent's, grandparent's and older neighbor's stories who beat their experiences into us as kids and continue to do so today. My generation got to live in the same hoods through the crack cocaine epidemic and after the economic foundation of them had fallen apart after desegregation. We didn't get the heyday of black-owned theatres, shops and restaurants. We got the drugs, joblessness, decay and stories of what was.
I've seen on FaceBook a couple bits about a new reproduction WWII PT boat. Would love to see 2 of those picking up riders at The Landing and taking them on a fun trip around the St Johns river, ending at The Shipyards where REAL Liberty Ships were built, before docking back at The Landing.
I remember taking a river tour back in the 80s where they mentioned that WW2 PT boats were built at a shipyard on the Southbank. Don't know how true that is.
Liberty ships were built at the St. Johns River Shipbuilding Company. The shipyard is current day Metropolitan Park, which is west of the old Jacksonville Shipyards site. The office is the white and green office building across from the ballpark and IAW. PT Boats were built by Huckins Yachts. Huckins was located in the Eastside on East 4th Street at the time. During WWI, A. Bentley & Son's shipyard built concrete ships for the war effort. That shipyard is located in the area where the Mathews Bridge and old Ford Motor Company assembly plant are now located.
Container Park?
https://downtowncontainerpark.com/
Containers are great when you don't have actual buildings!