Ive been reading this site for a while now and I notice that there is hardly any writing or commentary on the Port of Jacksonville (JAXPORT)
This is the most important part of the city. Definitely the most important part of the downtown.
All you have to do is look at a map you can easily see that the whole core city is one huge port.
In fact, if you read your history you would know that even where the riverwalk is was all just one big set of wharves and port activity. How can anyone take this site seriously as a central city planning site when you dont have anything about the maritime activity?
Why the absence?
If the Port were properly handled, the Downtown would take care of itself.
Quote from: nomoremyths on November 02, 2008, 01:21:29 AM
Ive been reading this site for a while now and I notice that there is hardly any writing or commentary on the Port of Jacksonville (JAXPORT)
This is the most important part of the city. Definitely the most important part of the downtown.
All you have to do is look at a map you can easily see that the whole core city is one huge port.
In fact, if you read your history you would know that even where the riverwalk is was all just one big set of wharves and port activity. How can anyone take this site seriously as a central city planning site when you dont have anything about the maritime activity?
Why the absence?
If the Port were properly handled, the Downtown would take care of itself.
If you look harder I think you'll find this site has discussed the locations of the new ports as well as the history of the urban core's port activity back in the day. I'm somewhat ignorant on this topic so I say this with a disclaimer, but I believe that most shipping and cruise activity is limited to areas out east and towards the ocean because of (1) the height of the Dames Point Bridge and (2) the reclaimed land on the Northbank that has squeezed much of the width of the river downtown. So, sadly, we probably won't ever be able to bring that same level of activity back to the current downtown.
Thanks for the rapid response to my question PM. I assume you are one of the owners. You guys should take another look at the issue. The only real barrier to trade is the Matthews Bridge. I can tell you firsthand that its being replaced. Its perplexing that everyone interested in the city should be at every planning meeting and every discussion about the redesign because that is the key to the city of Jacksonville.
Trade shipping doesnt have the same height reqs as military or passenger. Most commercial craft could come into the downtown as it is, except that the channel needs to be redug and enhanced. But the cost vs. opportunity loss analysis is substantial
Bottom line is that the State and USDOT arent going to design bridges that accomodate ports if there isnt port activity to design for. Why isnt this site more involved in pushing further commercial and recreational development of the river?
Are you suggesting that they dredge the river, so import/export shipping can travel through the downtown area? They have Talleyrand and Blount Island, which have the best locations for such traffic. http://www.jaxport.com/sea/blount.cfm (http://www.jaxport.com/sea/blount.cfm)
This is from a news report on Jaxport
QuoteThe Jacksonville Port Authority reports it moved a record number of vehicles through the port in 2008. 656,805 vehicles were shipped through JAXPORT breaking a previous record set six years ago of 615,030 in 2002. The vehicles include new and used passenger cars and trucks manufactured by Chysler, Ford, GM, Mazda, Mitsubishi, Nissan, Suzuki and Toyota. Construction equipment, semi-trucks and other heavy machinery are also included in the tally.
The vehicles are exported to Africa, Europe, the Middle East, Puerto Rico and South America. Imported vehicles come from countries such as Germany, Mexico, South Korea and Japan for delivery to dealerships throughout the Southeastern United States.
JAXPORT is the nation’s 2nd busiest vehicle handling port behind the Port of New York/New Jersey.
http://www.cbs47.com/content/topstories/story.aspx?content_id=0790669d-d9d6-4a1a-9b17-3991445e84ed (http://www.cbs47.com/content/topstories/story.aspx?content_id=0790669d-d9d6-4a1a-9b17-3991445e84ed)
First, from what I've seen, no agency has the three-quarter billion dollars needed to build a new Mathews Bridge. Today, the only boats going south of Mathews tie up between the Mathews and Hart. And the Hart is about 10 feet LOWER than the Mathews - so IF the Mathews is replaced as a taller bridge, it will not do one thing for "bringing the port back downtown." Which is not a good idea anyway.
The real needs are to improve the roads and rails to serve Mitsui, Hanjin, and whoever else comes along to the Dames Point and Blount Island ports. And there are cargo ships that can't get under the JEA lines and Dames Point (both 175'). Hopefully, they will be able to move current Blount Island shippers to Talleyrand to accommodate the "big boys" that will come after the wider Panama Canal opens in (what?) 2015 or so.
Exactly Charles! Besides, I for one would NOT want cargo shipping downtown or anywhere near it.
Quote from: nomoremyths on November 02, 2008, 01:21:29 AM
Ive been reading this site for a while now and I notice that there is hardly any writing or commentary on the Port of Jacksonville (JAXPORT)
This is the most important part of the city.
How can anyone take this site seriously as a central city planning site when you dont have anything about the maritime activity?
The military (navy) is the largest employer in the city. I think followed next by the school board. I'm sure JaxPORT is somewhere on the top 10 list, but I wouldn't call it the most important entity in the city. I know being a "maritime" worker you might disagree, but the stats don't lie.
"HOW DO YOU EXPECT THIS SITE TO BE TAKEN SERIOUSLY UNLESS EVERYONE BELIEVES EXACTLY LIKE I DO!!!???!!"
Have no fear, I've got a good one to post later.
OCKLAWAHA
This is the most recent listing I found so far...of which it lists CSX, but not Jaxport
Quote
Largest Employers in Jacksonville Area
1. Jacksonville Naval Air Station (U.S. Navy) 25,245
2. Duval County public schools (public education) 14,284
3. Mayport Naval Station (U.S. Navy) 15,293
4. City of Jacksonville (government) 8,828
5. State of Florida (government) 7,056
6. Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Florida (health insurance) 7,000
6. Baptist Health System (healthcare) 7,000
8. Publix Distribution Center (supermarket distribution) 6,615
9. Winn-Dixie Stores (supermarket) 6,200
10. Wal-Mart (retail) 5,800
11. Mayo Clinic/St. Luke’s Hospital (healthcare) 5,000
12. United Parcel Service (parcel delivery) 4,970
13. CSX Corp. (railroad, intermodal) 4,400
14. Citibank (credit card services) 4,200
15. Bank of America (banking) 4,000
16. U.S. Postal Service (mail) 3,797
17. St. Vincent’s Health System (healthcare) 3,796
18. Naval Aviation Depot (maintenance/repair overhaul) 3,766
19. Shands Jacksonville (healthcare) 3,500
19. Gate Maritime Properties (port services) 3,500
21. BellSouth Communications (telecommunications) 3,320
22. Wachovia (banking) 3,300
22. Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (public safety) 3,300
24. Florida Community College at Jacksonville (education) 3,209
25. Convergys (credit card services) 2,000
http://www.jacksonville.com/hotjobs/largest_employers_in_jacksonville.shtml (http://www.jacksonville.com/hotjobs/largest_employers_in_jacksonville.shtml)
Quote from: jbm32206 on November 02, 2008, 09:17:10 AM
This is the most recent listing I found so far...of which it lists CSX, but not Jaxport
Quote
Largest Employers in Jacksonville Area
1. Jacksonville Naval Air Station (U.S. Navy) 25,245
2. Duval County public schools (public education) 14,284
3. Mayport Naval Station (U.S. Navy) 15,293
4. City of Jacksonville (government) 8,828
5. State of Florida (government) 7,056
6. Blue Cross/Blue Shield of Florida (health insurance) 7,000
6. Baptist Health System (healthcare) 7,000
8. Publix Distribution Center (supermarket distribution) 6,615
9. Winn-Dixie Stores (supermarket) 6,200
10. Wal-Mart (retail) 5,800
11. Mayo Clinic/St. Luke’s Hospital (healthcare) 5,000
12. United Parcel Service (parcel delivery) 4,970
13. CSX Corp. (railroad, intermodal) 4,400
14. Citibank (credit card services) 4,200
15. Bank of America (banking) 4,000
16. U.S. Postal Service (mail) 3,797
17. St. Vincent’s Health System (healthcare) 3,796
18. Naval Aviation Depot (maintenance/repair overhaul) 3,766
19. Shands Jacksonville (healthcare) 3,500
19. Gate Maritime Properties (port services) 3,500
21. BellSouth Communications (telecommunications) 3,320
22. Wachovia (banking) 3,300
22. Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office (public safety) 3,300
24. Florida Community College at Jacksonville (education) 3,209
25. Convergys (credit card services) 2,000
http://www.jacksonville.com/hotjobs/largest_employers_in_jacksonville.shtml (http://www.jacksonville.com/hotjobs/largest_employers_in_jacksonville.shtml)
thanks...i had gone looking for that but could not find it. good find.
Exactly. MayPORT naval station.
Sorry, but you can't count mayport naval station as part of jaxport...good try though ;)
That's true. My work revolves around the water. The river is a huge geographical feature, and the port should be the most important part of the economy, is what I should have said.
I agree, that the port is and should be a major factor in our economy and feel that it can be made better than what it is.
The site, or at least the comment portion of it, has been hijacked by partisans who would rather argue national issues, than keep the pressure on city hall. The people who run this site, at least a few of them, are great guys who know alot and have a lot of great ideas and information, but it is just a couple of them providing the vast majority of the content aside from their family's and jobs.
I would love to see the site refocus on local issues after Tuesday, but I am not holding my breath.
I do find it interesting, however, that rather than post a lot of information about all of this history you know, you are instead baiting other posters on issues of religion and national level issues. What gives?
Im sorry are you talking about my post? This is my first day posting and I don't have anything to do with the partisanship you are talking about. Im a liberal Democrat and an atheist, and Im with you. Most of this stuff is silly and unreadable. No one really wants to hear most of it.
Im only a poster and cant contribute to the site anyways though. You would have to talk to the people that run the site.
One reason you will not see the port listed as a top employer is because the port doesn't employ all that many people. They are like a giant landlord, leasing land to Toyota, Crowley, and many other tenants.
That's true, and I wasn't able to post those figures....
The site has a lot of material about citywide transportation, and a trolley system or train system without those things being in existence. My question is why there hasnt been much thought about the Port and how to expand maritime activity in ways that are not already being utilized.
Bring us up to speed.
What speed are you referring to?
Is the lack of material from a lack of interest or a lack of knowledge?
I suspect anything I know would be challenged anyway, so please, bring the rest of us up to speed. What is being done right, what is being done wrong, what isnt being done, and what shouldnt be done.
Quote from: nomoremyths on November 02, 2008, 04:46:12 PM
What speed are you referring to?
Is the lack of material from a lack of interest or a lack of knowledge?
Its probably a mixture of both. This site works best when we (all members who post) become a part of the problem solving mix. I would assume this may be an area where you have more knowledge than the majority of the posters on this specific issue. What are some of the solutions on your mind?
Well said Lake. We do tend to aim our focus at an issue, leaving others to sit. That said, it is kinda hard to fix everything at once, and the port seems to be well managed and able to take care of its own. Maybe that's why transportation has been the major focus of late.
JaxPort as a single entity may not be one of the largest employers in the area, however, Jacksonville's port facilities as an entire industry is one of the largest and provides an enormous economic boost for our economy.
Quote from: nomoremyths on November 02, 2008, 02:22:02 AM
Thanks for the rapid response to my question PM. I assume you are one of the owners.
haha, no im not one of the owners. i just generally tend to check the site late at night.