Metro Jacksonville

Jacksonville by Neighborhood => Urban Neighborhoods => Springfield => Topic started by: stephendare on November 14, 2009, 02:32:24 PM

Title: Connect Eastside and Springfield?
Post by: stephendare on November 14, 2009, 02:32:24 PM
In light of Joey Marchy's question, (  http://www.metrojacksonville.com/forum/index.php/topic,6752.0.html) would it be possible to reconnect the two neighborhoods by visually celebrating the connection down second to A Phillip Randolph?
Title: Re: Reconnect Eastside and Springfield?
Post by: urbanjacksonville on November 14, 2009, 04:04:35 PM
Good idea. Some banners on light poles might help connect the two neighborhoods pride-wise. I feel there is an especially strong connection between the neighborhoods during football season b/c I use 1st to APR so often getting to the stadium and back.

But why down second and not first?
Title: Re: Reconnect Eastside and Springfield?
Post by: thelakelander on November 14, 2009, 04:18:08 PM
(http://www.vabike.org/wp-content/uploads/2009/04/rail-with-trail-crossing.jpg)

Long term, look at the old rail lines that ran between the communities.  Something that has historically separated them, could unify them through creative urban design.  It could potentially become a linear urban greenway, stretching into downtown or a mix of linear urban park space and mass transit.
Title: Re: Reconnect Eastside and Springfield?
Post by: Lunican on November 14, 2009, 05:31:00 PM
The old railroad right of way parallels Palmetto St. The tracks end around 4th street.
Title: Re: Reconnect Eastside and Springfield?
Post by: thelakelander on November 14, 2009, 07:31:23 PM
Quote from: Lunican on November 14, 2009, 05:31:00 PM
The old railroad right of way parallels Palmetto St. The tracks end around 4th street.

There are actually two railroad right-of-ways running right next to each other.  The active track is owned by NS and dies out around 4th Street.  The other is just to the east of it and like the S-Line, is now owned by COJ.  It runs from 8th down to the Hogans Creek/Duval Street viaduct area.

With little effort, it could easily become something like Detroit's Dequindre Cut.  The Cut was an abandoned rail corridor that was recently converted into a multi-use path.  However, unlike our S-Line trail, they designed it in a way that leaves room for a future light rail or streetcar line.

(http://www.treehugger.com/dequindre-cut-detroit-before-after.jpg)
Title: Re: Reconnect Eastside and Springfield?
Post by: sheclown on November 14, 2009, 08:02:51 PM
It never occurred to me, but now that you are talking about it, it seems like such a great idea.

Title: Re: Reconnect Eastside and Springfield?
Post by: urbanjacksonville on November 14, 2009, 08:05:16 PM
I like the greenway idea. Are there any numbers on the cost per mile of the durkeeville greenway?
Title: Re: Reconnect Eastside and Springfield?
Post by: sheclown on November 14, 2009, 08:27:57 PM
wow.  it sure makes a difference, doesn't it?
Title: Re: Reconnect Eastside and Springfield?
Post by: thelakelander on November 14, 2009, 08:37:57 PM
Quote from: urbanjacksonville on November 14, 2009, 08:05:16 PM
I like the greenway idea. Are there any numbers on the cost per mile of the durkeeville greenway?

Don't know about the S-Line but according to FDOT, a 12' wide multi-use path costs $199,638.66 (on average) per mile to construct.

You can use this link to get the generic cost estimates for a ton of road/sidewalk/bikeway conditions:

http://www2.dot.state.fl.us/SpecificationsEstimates/costpermile.aspx?PageAddr=lt;a%20hrefeq;qt;http://www.dot.state.fl.us/specificationsofficeqt;gt;Specifications%20and%20Estimateslt;/agt;%20gt;%20lt;a%20hrefeq;qt;http://www.dot.state.fl.us/specificationsoffice/Estimatesqt;gt;Estimateslt;/agt;%20gt;%20lt;a%20hrefeq;qt;http://www.dot.state.fl.us/specificationsoffice/Estimates/LREqt;gt;LRElt;/agt;%20gt;%20lt;a%20hrefeq;qt;http://www.dot.state.fl.us/specificationsoffice/Estimates/LRE/LaneMileCostqt;gt;LaneMileCostlt;/agt;


Also, Stephen, its basically the pink streetcar line in this picture Ock drew a few months back, from the warehouse district to DT.
(http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa111/Ocklawaha/CRITICAL%20Maps/GreenwayStreetcarLine.jpg)

During the Jim Crow era, rail lines were used as dividing lines between white and black neighborhoods.  From the looks of it, I'd expect this was the case in the Springfield/Eastside situation.  However, if the right-of-way is used as a shared public amenity between the two hoods, what served as a divider (and where the lowest property values were/are at), becomes a unifier and a shared amenity for both communities (along the length of their entire border, as opposed to a single street connection), thus bringing them closer together.
Title: Re: Connect Eastside and Springfield?
Post by: urbanjacksonville on November 15, 2009, 10:57:53 AM
Check out the 6-Point Community Initiative from Fresh Ministries as it relates to the Eastside:
http://www.freshministries.org/content/view/71/87/ (http://www.freshministries.org/content/view/71/87/)

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvaaK7CIvmo&feature=player_embedded (http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QvaaK7CIvmo&feature=player_embedded)
Title: Re: Connect Eastside and Springfield?
Post by: Dan B on November 18, 2009, 12:58:26 PM
I firmly doubt JEA wwill move the stuff on the SW corner (not sure about the fencing on the SE corner) because of homeland security issues. It falls under Homeland security because its a water supply, and has very strict rules about access.

For those not aware, there is a reservoir at the corner of 1st and Main. It is one of two on that JEA site, the second being on the raised area on the other side of Hogans Creek by the FSCJ parking lot.

Anyway, I agree, it would make it look a lot better, but your going to play hell getting it done.
Title: Re: Connect Eastside and Springfield?
Post by: Dan B on November 18, 2009, 01:21:22 PM
Im pretty sure that entire area is a reservoir.

http://maps.google.com/?ie=UTF8&hq=&hnear=Jacksonville,+Duval,+Florida&ll=30.336095,-81.655621&spn=0.001146,0.002411&t=h&z=19