Jacksonville's Downtown Action Plan
(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/photos/473755076_hKYEi-600x10000.jpg)
The Downtown Action Plan is the JEDC's 19 point initiative for breathing life into Downtown Jacksonville during the current recession.
Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/content/view/1012
Wow, very bold and ambitious. Let's get it done, some is already underway. The biggest improvement IMO, is the 2-waying of streets.
Shouldn't this be updated?
Well they are behind on their date estimates but if Jax could adhere to these guidelines it would be a good thing.
Where is this gathering dust at city hall?
They could cut the $3,000,000.00 for new parking meters and the relocation of kids kampus and WJCT.
The estimates are probably behind because there are no dedicated funding sources identified for the plan's implementation. In a city that is trying to raid mass transit money to get the courthouse up, it may mean indefinite delays in completing all 19 goals.
Not gathering dust...was gathering momentum before the economy went to the crapper. The thing about it - it is the first time the city has got their wits about them and made a comprehensive plan that details the components that will make downtown friendly. This plan should have been written 20 years ago. It would have saved the city billions in infrastructure improvements and helped the bold new city of south truly breakthrough. Think of what we could be spending that money on? Put that in your light-rail pipe and smoke it.
Wouldn't it be great if the Landing was right in front of the stadium along the river?
Quote from: xian1118 on February 18, 2009, 11:08:08 AM
Wouldn't it be great if the Landing was right in front of the stadium along the river?
What if the Landing was next to the Convention Center?
Quote from: copperfiend on February 18, 2009, 11:38:07 AM
Quote from: xian1118 on February 18, 2009, 11:08:08 AM
Wouldn't it be great if the Landing was right in front of the stadium along the river?
What if the Landing was next to the Convention Center?
Or if all three were relatively centralized?
Quote from: Doctor_K on February 18, 2009, 11:59:59 AM
Quote from: copperfiend on February 18, 2009, 11:38:07 AM
Quote from: xian1118 on February 18, 2009, 11:08:08 AM
Wouldn't it be great if the Landing was right in front of the stadium along the river?
What if the Landing was next to the Convention Center?
Or if all three were relatively centralized?
That is just crazy talk there.
How about... um... er... connected via a streetcar or trolly? :o
Quote from: BridgeTroll on February 18, 2009, 12:33:18 PM
How about... um... er... connected via a streetcar or trolly? :o
With detailed signage so people would know where the streetcars and trolleys were going.
Quote from: xian1118 on February 18, 2009, 11:06:25 AM
Not gathering dust...was gathering momentum before the economy went to the crapper. The thing about it - it is the first time the city has got their wits about them and made a comprehensive plan that details the components that will make downtown friendly. This plan should have been written 20 years ago. It would have saved the city billions in infrastructure improvements and helped the bold new city of south truly breakthrough. Think of what we could be spending that money on? Put that in your light-rail pipe and smoke it.
This is completely not true - Delaney's Downtown Master Plan in 2000 was far more comprehensive (and won awards). My problem with this is it is not a plan - it is a wish list. A plan would have included funding sources. It would be like a business publishing a list of expenditures, without any revenue, and calling it a budget - not exactly the same thing.
Not to mention, it's not like Peyton did anything for downtown while the economy was in the upswing in 2003 and 2004. If he wanted to do this then, fine.
Personally, I don't think this is going to go anywhere, save for possibly the street conversion, and maybe the friendship fountain thing (since he's going to need a legacy project, and the Courthouse isn't going to be it). I think it is a great list created to shut people up, and make people think he cares about downtown.
Quote from: Steve on February 18, 2009, 12:47:35 PM
This is completely not true - Delaney's Downtown Master Plan in 2000 was far more comprehensive (and won awards).
Do you (or does anyone else) have a copy they can share here or a link to where this Master Plan is available online?
Here you go:
http://www.coj.net/Departments/Jacksonville+Economic+Development+Commission/Downtown+Development/Downtown+Maste.htm
Miles Development has officially listed the Brooklyn site for sale. Anyone surprised?
Maybe JEDC can use some of the $24M in incentives it was gifting to Miles/Hallmark (I'm sorry, I meant the $24M for the two development companies to build infrastructure for the city that should cost 1/2 that) to make some of the things in this 2-year-old plan come to fruition?
Maybe since it is now confirmed that Brooklyn is not going to happen in the foreseeable future, which I believe has been mentioned for at least a year-and-a-half on this site, JTA should re-look at its phasing for streetcar, as well?
I'll give JEDC credit for trying, and they have made strides in other areas they target for biz dev -- JTB corridor, Cecil Field, Port, JIA -- but I have to chuckle-with-a-knee-slap every time I think about what they have "achieved" as the master developer for Downtown...
So it looks like the pre Great Fire of 1901 Mt. Moriah Church, in Brooklyn, was torn down for no reason. I guess the fire station will be next.
BTW, I see they got rid of the welcome letter that was the original page 2 of the plan - it was an intro letter from Delaney. A couple of years ago, I got a printed copy, and Peyton replaced Delaney's Pic with his own, and changed the letter. One of tackiest moves that I've seen him do.
No plan of any kind serves no purpose when you dont actually follow it. Haven't we seen this before, creative ideas, bold statements, downtown on the move etc
what about moving all homeless, jobless, dangerous people and shelters out of the Downtown and then talk about creating and implementing some plans?
I just got around to scanning this plan and while I appreciate the time that many respected people supposedly contributed to it (based on the names listed) -thank you! - it appears to me (1) almost all of it is a re-hash of previous ideas and plans (2) it is posed in a manner as to be politically correct (i.e. offend the fewest number of currently vested interests or causes) (3) lacks any real definition of bold, imaginative, and distinctive ideas that just pop off the page as "why didn't I think of that!?" (4) is very weak on providing rationales for the specific items recommended (most ideas lack any substantive commentary or comparison to other possibilities or support for why these recommendations are superior to others) (5) appears to be mostly driven by staff or city employee ideas or agendas - not a real and fresh brainstorming session by the citizen "volunteers" (6) is mostly common sense that has been continuously ignored or overlooked. I don't think we needed this level of talent to make this kind of effort to tell us this.
Example: It refers to both a desire to create more events downtown (now, where have I heard that before?) and later says that Metropolitan Park should be a mega-site with no mention of even considering other options such as the Shipyards or JEA property. Without any investigation, how do they conclude that this site is superior or has more future potential than others? And, did they compute the cost of moving the Kids Campus and WJCT as stated? Just moving WJCT is likely to match a large portion of the cost of buying the JEA or Shipyards property! Did anyone discuss this? WJCT buildings and land, alone, are listed by the property appraiser at $9.5 million (exclusive of valuable specialized improvements, I'm sure). And, as a depreciated value, you can bet replacement cost could be several times that amount. Add moving costs, and I bet the number would be north of $20 million for WJCT alone.
IMHO, the City really doesn't desire and/or know how to seek and execute creative and thoughtful solutions - just validation of what it already has on its agenda. The intentions may be good but the process is broken.
One suggestion would be to have a strategic planning blue ribbon committee of fresh pure-of-heart CITIZENS under the guidance of an experienced strategic planning facilitator. The committee should tell City staff - not the other way around - what information they want or need to formulate desired goals and strategies. Thoughts, comments, and ideas regarding goals and strategies should be sought from the committee members, the citizenry at large via town hall forums, surveys, and web site solicitations, interested city and independent professionals having appropriate expertise , etc. The committee, through investigation, inquiry, and vigorous discussion and debate should synthesize and prioritize into a final list the best key strategies that lead to achieving the desired goals without regard to cost or funding. Once this is done, the final strategic plan should be presented to the Mayor and City Council for adoption and support.
Upon approval, the plan should then be passed on to an implementation blue ribbon committee to focus on tactics, feasibility, funding, scheduling, implementation processes and methods, etc. needed to attain successful execution.
This process both builds support and consensus while recognizing that the creative mode is a distinctly different mode from the implementation mode. This is also the approximate and time tested standard for strategic planning and implementation but seems to be foreign to the City of Jacksonville. The absence of it may explain why so many of the hoped for goals of these "plans" and "reports" are never achieved.
QuoteOne suggestion would be to have a strategic planning blue ribbon committee of fresh pure-of-heart CITIZENS under the guidance of an experienced strategic planning facilitator.
Where oh where could such a committee be found?? :-X