I'm filling in for Stephen today.
I'm down at City Hall in the Mayor's Office. In the next few minutes he will be giving the details on the city's latest plan for downtown. Right now, the screen says:
Investing in Jacksonville's Future
The press conference has not started but the rumor is this has something to do with Metropolitan Park and perhaps the Friendship Fountain area. Soon we'll all find out if that rumor is right.
Now Joey from Urbanjacksonville.info has joined me. He overheard Tia Mitchell say that it has something to do with the riverfront and Metropolitan Park.
The press conference has started. Mayor Peyton is now speaking.
He plans to focus on this plan for the next two years.
The Mayor is now going over the budget scenerio. He says things are currently flat. We're about $16 million off of where we were last year. Our expenses are down, due to a cut in the amount of fuel we use.
Our city's revenue will be down between $10-$20 million next year. Our expenses are increasing between $25-$40 million.
The Mayor plans to tackle pension reform this year.
Developing A Vision
- The River Accord
- Dedicated Stormwater Funding Source
- Downtown Open Space and Pedestrian Committee
- Downtown Action Plan
- Metropolitan Park visioning charrette
The Mayor just mentioned the Peninsula as a development that wants the Riverwalk. That was a hint.
He would like to see the Northbank and Southbank riverwalks be extended to Memorial Park (see hint above) and San Marco.
(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/photos/453320063_RRrQQ-M.jpg)
He wants Friendship Park to be similar to Millenium Park in Chicago.
(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/photos/474987909_M7CFA-M.jpg)
The Mayor just said its safe to assume the Shipyards will be returned to the city.
(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/photos/453492897_t9xqA-M-1.jpg)
Anything on the fountain?
Now he is talking about Brooklyn Park and the project (Hallmark) next door. It will have office space and a hotel. Its expected to come out of the ground before the end of the year.
(http://www.metrojacksonville.com/photos/thumbs/lrg-1638-brooklyn-park-501-a.jpg)
Quote from: BridgeTroll on May 21, 2009, 03:27:39 PM
Anything on the fountain?
Not yet. He's now talking about a need for Flex Space for future festivals, in regards to Metropolitan Park.
I have cautious optimism
Picnic shelters, open spaces for families and play areas for a revitalized Kids Kampus. The fences at Metropolitan Park to also come down to open area up for Flex Space.
(http://www.metrojacksonville.com/images/mayors_legacy_project/salvage_big_idea/KidsKampus.jpg)
Although funding for everything is not there, the plan is to phase as the money comes along.
The Mayor wants to focus his next two years on developing a community vision for the downtown riverfront. With a focus on the sites mentioned in previous posts. He mentioned Chattanooga, Charlotte, Asheville and Norfolk as good examples to follow.
Roadtrip: Chattanooga
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2008-jan-roadtrip-chattanooga
Elements of Urbanism: Charlotte
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2008-aug-elements-of-urbanism-charlotte
Learning from Asheville?
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2007-apr-learning-from-asheville
A Lesson for Jacksonville: Norfolk's Tide Light Rail
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2009-apr-a-lesson-for-jacksonville-norfolks-tide-light-rail
The Mayor has been inspired by the Riverside Arts Market. He wants our riverfront to be the best. He is now taking questions.
(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/photos/507103466_J9zJM-M.jpg)
Tri Vu: Thinks the plan is great. He wants to know if the mayor has plans to use the actual river.
A lady is know giving the crowd the idea of dragonboat races.
I guess all of these things will be discussed as this community visioning process takes place for the next two years.
Quote from: thelakelander on May 21, 2009, 03:26:11 PM
He wants Friendship Park to be similar to Millenium Park in Chicago.
Unfortunately the surrounding area is full of office and residential building, where Chicago has dining, shopping, entertainment, etc... surrounding the park.
No word on what will happen with the fountain. From what the Mayor has described, this will probably be determined during a two year visioning plan for the urban riverfront.
Now the Mayor is mentioning the convention center issue. He said that we will not have another hotel the size of the Hyatt come to downtown for a while.
There was a small article in the most recent ARBUS magazine on an architectural firm that showed a concept of that park... there was a large grassy area where the fountain once was...
I think someone knows something... 8)
Tony Allegretti is now throwing the idea of extending the skyway to the shipyards site. Like the rest of the ideas mentioned, I guess we'll attack this during the visioning process.
I think we need an IKEA downtown, it would bring people to the core.
The discussion is now about the Bay Street signalization project. Long term Peyton believes opening the street grid back up is key. In the short term, we'll have to work to find ways to accommodate game traffic flow. Chris Flagg believes the mindset of how we view game evacuation will have to change.
(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/photos/516035054_Hukjc-M.jpg)
Peyton views the Bay Street signalization project is a temporary solution to the traffic situation while working for long term solutions (opening the street grid back up).
Quote from: TPC on May 21, 2009, 03:48:04 PM
I think we need an IKEA downtown, it would bring people to the core.
I vote Ikea, I'm spending to much money to drive to Orlando now. :)
Question asked. What do we need to do to help move this process along? The Mayor says the community needs to engage council to move forward, have dialouge and settle on a plan so things will be ready for the next mayor.
I guess this is our chance to poison the discussion with investing in rail as a key component of a future vision.
The first phase of redeveloping Kids Kampus will be in the budget this year. The graphic shown has a public courtyard and interactive fountain with the fire museum as the centerpiece.
Definetly need to ask about the fountain.
Metpark is a go. Its in the budget. The Mayor wants the community to encourage the council to move forward. Kids Kampus appears to be staying in the same spot. The conference is now over.
Quote from: thelakelander on May 21, 2009, 03:23:50 PM
He would like to see the Northbank and Southbank riverwalks be extended to Memorial Park (see hint above) and San Marco.
That would be fantastic. Extending the Riverwalk on both sides of the river would have a greater impact than all these proposed renovations to Met Park, Kids Kampus, and Friendship Park combined.
There's no particular reason that the Northbank Riverwalk couldn't be extended all the way to St. Vincents, and the Southbank all the way to Landon Ave. There are minimal obstacles along such a route.
Once you get past Memorial Park though, you have private residential docks. The biggest problem is Villa Riva, which owns fthe property along it's river frontage.
Let's make it easier for nightlife to cluster in the Bay Street "town center.". Sorry, but four venues would not compel me to drive from Orange Park.
Enough with the studies already. Commit and take action. There can be a balance between suburbanites in the cookie cutter neighborhoods and those who have traveled outside the city and wish for culture, nightlife and non-chain restaurants. Oh, yeah. Walkability would be nice.
Extending the riverwalks are excellent ideas, any ideas on timelines?
Quote from: TPC on May 21, 2009, 03:48:04 PM
I think we need an IKEA downtown, it would bring people to the core.
really....and how would that fit with the street grid?
Quote from: thelakelander on May 21, 2009, 03:58:31 PM
Question asked. What do we need to do to help move this process along? The Mayor says the community needs to engage council to move forward, have dialouge and settle on a plan so things will be ready for the next mayor.
I guess this is our chance to poison the discussion with investing in rail as a key component of a future vision.
freudian slip...I assume you meant "position"?
Quote from: TPC on May 21, 2009, 03:48:04 PM
I think we need an IKEA downtown, it would bring people to the core.
get a million of your mates to move downtown and Ikea would most likely take you up on your idea.
Where the hell would an Ikea fit downtown? I thought this group was against tearing down existing buildings downtown.
I don't think anyone seriously thinks that we'll ever have an ikea at all, let alone one downtown. Nice thought though.
Quote from: JaxNole on May 21, 2009, 04:40:19 PM
Enough with the studies already. Commit and take action.
To a degree, the problem is there is currently no unified plan to take action on anything. It seemed like the Mayor's office has finally realized that its better to create projects that lead to an overall goal than those that have nothing to do with other improvements.
Anyway, outside of two years of creating a public community vision for the entire waterfront (ex. JEA, Shipyards, Metropolitan Park, Friendship Park, the Prime Osborn, the current courthouse site, etc.) the only thing they will be moving forward on is Kids Kampus/Metropolitan Park improvements.
Quote from: Seraphs on May 21, 2009, 04:56:13 PM
Extending the riverwalks are excellent ideas, any ideas on timelines?
Those were things he would like to see. However, there is no funding to do either. Work at Kids kampus/Metropolitan Park was the only new project mentioned today. Everything else was ideas that will be tossed around during the upcoming two year visioning process.
It was kinda a joke but at the same time I feel that if downtown could somehow get larger stores like IKEA, H&M, etc.. downtown and not at the Town Center it could bring people to the core.
Quote from: tufsu1 on May 21, 2009, 05:03:21 PM
Quote from: TPC on May 21, 2009, 03:48:04 PM
I think we need an IKEA downtown, it would bring people to the core.
really....and how would that fit with the street grid?
They could take over a block and build underground parking like the one in Atlanta.
Quote from: TPC on May 21, 2009, 05:25:56 PM
It was kinda a joke but at the same time I feel that if downtown could somehow get larger stores like IKEA, H&M, etc.. downtown and not at the Town Center it could bring people to the core.
Quote from: tufsu1 on May 21, 2009, 05:03:21 PM
Quote from: TPC on May 21, 2009, 03:48:04 PM
I think we need an IKEA downtown, it would bring people to the core.
really....and how would that fit with the street grid?
They could take over a block and build underground parking like the one in Atlanta.
Or we could build some of it over the river like the one in Brooklyn(Red Hook). That one even has water taxi access......
I'm just saying.... ;)
seriously, Ikea stores are ugly and should be in the suburbs for city kids to take day trips too. What we really should be wanting is a downtown that could support a business like Ikea.
Images from the press conference:
(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/photos/542521016_xBKGc-M.jpg)
(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/photos/542521058_eEXyS-M.jpg)
(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/photos/542526472_DVkkr-M.jpg)
Is it possible that John Peyton wasn't really at this news conference at all? Could this be an imposter? Could the real Peyton be tied up in a warehouse somewhere, while the imposter actually spouts off things that have been the agenda of Metrojax for years? Is that why Stephen Dare was AWOL? Is Stephen guarding Peyton until this charette is done and the next mayor HAS to act on it?
It might sound far-fetched, but the only other explanation is that Peyton had a bigger conversion that Saul on the road to Damascus.
Whatever the explanation, I'll take it. Of course, it doesn't take too much effort to hold some meetings and let the next guy pay for it all. But frankly, if he truly 'gets it' now, and leaves with a decent plan in place for his successor, he will have redeemed himself in my eyes, at least to a significant degree.
I think the Mayor may have chosen to do this to coincide with the regional Reality Check proigram....apparently he was there for the morning event and may have even stayed for some of the lunch....and many folks from the Planning Department, JEDC, and JTA were there for the whole event....as said during his press conference, the data from comparble cities says that we must invest in our public spaces...and the urban core.
I know most conservatives don't like to hear this because "the market" should decide, but the bottom line is urban investments provide the best return...primarily because the infratsructure is already in place.
The big point from today's Reality Check is that all great cities/metro areas have great downtowns....and just about all have major transit systems (meaning rail).....maybe Peyton and the other elected officials heard that message too!
Really? I'm that's the case then great, but was it really playing with legos that made him get it?
I know he has a soft spot for kids, but the legos? Really?
IMO, we need to really follow Charlotte's latest moves in rail and downtown development. They seem to be doing a lot right and is a city we compete with. I'm jsut waiting for a Nashville Elements of Urbanism of Learning from on here. I can put a lot into that discussion.
Here's a summary of what happened at Reality Check today
http://www.jacksonville.com/business/2009-05-21/story/reality_check_participants_get_down_to_business_with_legos
Quote from: reednavy on May 21, 2009, 09:00:47 PM
IMO, we need to really follow Charlotte's latest moves in rail and downtown development. They seem to be doing a lot right and is a city we compete with. I'm jsut waiting for a Nashville Elements of Urbanism of Learning from on here. I can put a lot into that discussion.
If my plans don't change, I plan to do a photo tour of urban Nashville in early June. Right now, for this road trip, I'm planning to hit Lexington, Cincinnati, Detroit, Chicago, Louisville, Nashville, Huntsville, Birmingham and Atlanta. The next one (early July) will cover Baltimore, Harrisburg, Pittsburgh, Youngstown, Akron and Cleveland.
Quote from: tufsu1 on May 21, 2009, 09:33:10 PM
Here's a summary of what happened at Reality Check today
http://www.Jacksonville.com/business/2009-05-21/story/reality_check_participants_get_down_to_business_with_legos
So what was the general consensus of the 31 groups? How critical was mass transit in their growth scenarios?
http://www.jacksonville.com/news/metro/2009-05-21/story/peyton_shifting_priority_to_downtown_riverfront
QuoteJacksonville Mayor John Peyton set out Thursday with big ideas and essentially no money to sell city officials and business leaders on a plan to spruce up the city’s riverfront and develop downtown.
He told tales of fist fights breaking out over a lack of picnic tables at Metropolitan Park and lamented that one of the city’s crown jewels â€" Friendship Fountainâ€" can barely draw a summertime crowd because there’s no shade.
Peyton said improving public areas along the river could be a boon for business development and even help reduce childhood obesity.
But the idea comes at a time when the city is scraping by financially.
A full-blown reworking of 30-year-old Metropolitan Park alone could cost more than $100 million, the mayor said, although he’d rather start small and pay cash for projects as the city can afford.
Peyton acknowledged the city is going through tough times, though, and this might not be the best time for park construction.
He didn’t have cost estimates for the wide array of projects, which are still conceptual. They range from developing a downtown gateway from the Brooklyn area to extending the Northbank and Southbank riverwalks.
Also, there’s a lingering question about what to do with the Shipyards property, a riverbank gem with a troubled development history. It stands a chance to be in the city’s hands soon, as the depressed housing market has thrust the developer into default.
The mayor said his goal Thursday â€" the day he made his sales pitch to the City Council Finance Committee and again to a group of downtown business leaders â€" was to drum up public dialogue about the need to revitalize downtown.
“We don’t have a lot of money. Let’s use the next two years [the remainder of his term] to figure out how public space should be used,†Peyton said. “I’m excited about it. To me, this is the fun part of the job.â€
In principle, everyone who heard the plan Thursday appeared to be on board.
“I appreciate your enthusiasm,†said Finance Committee Chairman Michael Corrigan.
Parks and gathering spaces are good windows for development, Peyton said, adding that the recent success of the Riverside Arts Market is proof that the city’s notoriously sleepy downtown can be a crucial component in Northeast Florida’s identity.
The trick is to build more venues and host events more often.
With Jacksonville’s population expected to surge in the coming decades, the mayor said developing downtown makes sense infrastructure-wise.
“You do not have to build the roads. You do not have to put in schools and fire stations. You don’t have to bring it like you do in suburban sprawl. It’s there,†Peyton said.
He also referenced the short walk to churches, sports arenas and the city’s premiere library that downtown residents enjoy.
Peyton rattled off the names of cities that he said have built a better quality of life with public spaces. But how Jacksonville will ever compare to Norfolk, Charlotte and Chattanooga, to name a few, is in question.
Peyton said it may never happen if something doesn’t change.
“Take Metropolitan Park. It predated the ballpark, the arena and the Jaguars. This park is tired,†he said during one of his Thursday meetings.
Later that day, to another group, he said: “That park is a graveyard of ideas, many of them not good.â€
david.hunt@jacksonville.com,
(904) 359-4025
Quote from: thelakelander on May 21, 2009, 10:15:28 PM
So what was the general consensus of the 31 groups? How critical was mass transit in their growth scenarios?
It was not completely clear, but I think they results were very similar to those developed by the stakeholders in the Envision 2035 LRTP scenario visioning process...although this was a 7-county vision (versus 4 for the TPO).
The 31 tables came up with 4 general ovearching concepts....corridors, multiple growth centers, dispersed, and urban compact growth....based on the quick survey done ion the afternoon the corridors and multiple centers were the most popular.
I think the desire for more mobility options was clear...most tables appeared to add both new roads (ranged from 50 to 200 miles) and new transit lines (100-200 miles)...from what I could see, everyone had the southern Outer Beltway.
So what is the next, real concrete step towards action? Ideas are supposed to lead to action.
Either we have too few or we have enough but the unwillingness to execute.
For action you need money to pay for the ideas. How to get money for some of the projects that would help some Reality Check ideas was being discussed by the big players down in Orlando today. Luckily, Metro Jacksonville was there to keep our region in the discussion.
What are some possible revenue sources that were discussed?
I suppose re-examining the city's budget is another option, but I don't trust that. Let's say the budget is as lean as possible.
Are enough Duval citizens dissatisfied with the quality of life to support a tax increase? Under leadership similar to Mayor Delaney's?
Mayor-President Delaney has under his belt an impressive record with raising capital for the UNF expansion. He had the constituent (business) acumen to ensure the Better Jacksonville Plan offered value to almost everyone.
^Just to be clear. Are we talking about the Mayor's plan or funding mass transit?
Mayor Peyton's plan.
The only concrete thing the Mayor plans to move forward is the flex space idea at Metropolitan Park. Everything else will come out of visioning efforts over the next two years. Without knowing the final components, its difficult to know how much money will be needed or what the funding sources could be. For example, if that vision ends up being a streetcar line connecting downtown to Five Points, it could be paid for with the $100 million BJP rapid transit funds. If its a new convention center, it could be partially funded by Hyatt, for all we know. I think funding should be a part of the visioning discussion.
Let me get this straight, the mayor held a press conference to announce that he plans to gather a consensus vision over the next 2 years as to what the next Mayor should do in terms of the downtown plan? He's had 6 years to figure this out on his own. Peyton would not last 6 minutes in his own business.
Where is the talk of the aquarium? We could run light rail to it, make it a carival for everyday tourists. FYI the Atlanta Aquarium was financed by a $250 MILLION gift by Arthur Blank and Bernie Marcus, along with donations from Coca-Cola, Home Depot, UPS, and a number of large corporate sponsors. Jacksonville would be lucky to raise enough money for the water in the building, given the corporate donation track record in this town.
If the mayor has real vision, he would seek out the corportations left in town, get them involved in this grand plan, get them to donate to the worthy cause and make this a private/public solution. I am ashamed that he held a news conference for such drivel.
Jim Bailey, if you know what is right for you (you are too good a man) do not think of taking a run at mayor.
Quote from: thelakelander on May 21, 2009, 03:26:40 PM
The Mayor just said its safe to assume the Shipyards will be returned to the city.
(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/photos/453492897_t9xqA-M-1.jpg)
2010-604
2010-675
4 days out from the next Jacksonville Waterways Commission meeting that is in the middle of the 2013 FIND grant application process and the Jim Love, Kevin Kuzel Berkman Plaza Floating Dock Riverwalk compromise was misrepresented by OGC to the Waterway Commission members and will and should have an immediate affect on the pending full city council vote 2012-402.
The Jim Love Compromise has nothing to do with Shipyards III.
Anybody want to make a donation to 2009-442 and the 6 new artificial reefs in the river south of the Fuller Warren?
One day out. Anyone going? Haven't received a notice. Is the meeting still at 8 am to go over the final FIND projects that are to be submitted for the full city council. Will Councilmembers Boyer and Love challenge the OGC in the misrepresentation at the last meeting of the Love, Kuzel Compromise. How will this be reflected in the minutes?
Downtown Jacksonville one big 501-C
The misrepresentation by OGC on the Jim Love, Kevin Kuzel floating dock riverwalk compromise next to the Shipyards III pier should be up for reconsideration again be before the Jacksonville Waterways Commission in 3 hours. Anyone going? Be concerned.
The Public Trust has been destroyed in this community. The Jim Love, Kevin Kuzel compromise needs to be reintroduced if not by Waterways then the full Jacksonville city council and this can happen because of 2012-402.
Hey Governor Scott! Let's Get to work on our St. Johns River our American Heritage River a Federal Initiative in our newly created Downtown DIA zone.