How do you want Jacksonville to grow for the next 50 years? Sponsered by the Urban Land Institute, Reality Check First Coast is a visioning exercise designed to discuss, analyze and develop alternative growth scenarios for our region through the year 2060.
Unfortunately, there is a fear that suburbanites are taking a leading role in the process.
If you want to see a vibrant urban core, sustainable development and viable mass transit options come to exist in Jacksonville during the next century, please take a little time to fill out this survey.http://www.realitycheckfirstcoast.com/survey/
About Reality Check(http://www.realitycheckfirstcoast.com/images/header-image.jpg)
QuoteReality Check First Coast is an exercise that brings nearly 300 leaders from the public, private and nonprofit sectors together in groups of eight to 10 to discuss, analyze and develop alternative growth scenarios for our region.
The exercise is designed to raise awareness of projected levels of region-wide growth and to lay the foundation for the development of a concrete list of next steps to meet the region’s future job, housing, transportation, infrastructure and recreation needs.
(http://www.realitycheckfirstcoast.com/images/planning1.jpg) (http://www.realitycheckfirstcoast.com/images/planning2.jpg)
How should we grow? Where will grow?
By the year 2060, 1.6 million* additional people will be living in our Region, requiring the addition of new jobs and housing to accommodate this growth. As a region, we have choices to make. Where will development occur? How will we maintain open spaces and our natural resources? What will our transportation and infrastructure needs be? Those questions will be considered at Reality Check First Coast.
At the Reality Check event, regional leaders will be challenged to rethink where and how to grow the First Coast in a way that adds value to the local economy, while preserving our environment and quality of life. Participants divided into groups of eight to 10 will discuss and allocate housing and job growth throughout the First Coast. The First Coast consists of seven counties, including Baker, Clay, Duval, Flagler, Nassau, Putnam and St. Johns â€" and their 27 municipalities.
By placing Lego® building blocks on large-scale regional maps, they will construct their scenarios and be able to determine the impact of their collective vision. The results of each team’s map will be tabulated and the collective results presented at an afternoon session with a wider group of regional leaders and interested parties.
To create a regional consensus that includes a variety of viewpoints, participants must reflect both the geography and diversity of the First Coast. Participants will be selected from open nominations and invited to participate in the visioning exercise. They will represent business, economic development, government, academia, environmental and social services, professional and trade organizations, neighborhood and civic groups, and nonprofit and philanthropic organizations.
To nominate yourself or others for the opportunity to participate in Reality Check First Coast, click here to view the nominations form.
for more information: http://www.realitycheckfirstcoast.com/
For more information about any of these events, or to schedule a Reality Check First Coast presentation for your organization, please e-mail Speakersbureau@realitycheckfirstcoast.com and someone will get back in touch with you to schedule the presentation.
Upcoming Events:
Simultaneous Town Hall Meetings
On March 23, 2009, simultaneous one night town hall meeting will be held in each of our seven counties. All interested residents are encouraged to attend and participate by giving feedback on how we should grow as a region answering questions from the “Grow Smart Survey†located here.
If you want to take the survey in person, we will hold “early voting†from 4:00 pm until 6:30 pm at the venues listed below. At 6:30 pm, the Town Hall Meetings will begin, by allowing you to answer questions from the “Grow Smart Survey†as a group. Next there will be a presentation on Reality Check First Coast and Regional Visioning followed by public discussion.
The results of your survey input will be transmitted to our friends at WJCT public television for a broadcast beginning at 8:00 pm. A panel of experts in such areas as land use and development, transportation and natural resources will discuss the survey results and other issues that are most important to you and discuss how a Regional Vision can help us to create the future you want to see.
The activities at the county locations will conclude by 7:30 pm in order to allow participants time to return home to view the program. The broadcast can be viewed by the following methods:
1) Anyone who has a digital television or a digital box on top of their analog television receiver should be capable of receiving the signal for WJCT’s channel 7.4.
2) Most Comcast Digital Cable subscribers will be able to view the program on Channel 212 (WJCTDT4).
3) You can view the telecast by accessing this link where you will find a link to direct you to a live streaming video presentation.
Don’t miss this chance to be involved in shaping the future.
The simultaneous Town Halls will be held at the following venues:
Baker County
Baker County Extension Office (Agricultural Center)
1025 West Macclenny Avenue
Macclenny, FL 32063
Clay County
Clay County Board of County Commission
477 Houston Street
Green Cove Springs, Florida 32043
Duval County
WJCT
100 Festival Park Avenue
Jacksonville, FL 32202
Flagler County
Flagler County Emergency Operations Center
1769 E. Moody Blvd. Bldg #3
Bunnell, Florida 32110
Nassau County
FCCJ Nassau Campus (Betty P. Cook Center)
76346 William Burgess Blvd.
Yulee, FL 32097
Putnam County
Putnam County Commission Building) / Putnam County Governmental Complex
2509 Crill Ave.
Palatka, FL 32177
St. Johns County
SJC Utility Department
1205 SR 16
St. Augustine, FL 32084
For more information, contact 904-279-0885 ext 161
The Going Regional Series: Part 3
Jax Pride Ideas and Action Forum
Theme: Regionalism: "Jacksonville as the region's 800 lb. Gorilla!"
Date: April 16, 2009
Time: 11:30am Registration, Luncheon 12-1:30pm
Location: University Center-UNF
Please contact Susan Harrell for additional information or to register.
By phone: (904) 356-2846 or E-mail: sharrell@jaxpride.org
http://www.realitycheckfirstcoast.com/events-calendar/
wonder what the meeting will be like....