Hey all,
I'm new - I'm moving to Jacksonville. I was recently hired by a major bank (it shouldn't be hard to guess which one) and will be working on Gate Pkwy. I'm from Orlando. I used to work for a brokerage there, but they eliminated 97% of the jobs in our office to concentrate on the international offices that I helped set up (I was setting one up in Hong Kong). The Orlando job scene for financial professionals is awful, so I was glad to get the job in Jacksonville.
For the moment I'll be staying in hotels while I look for a place. My girlfriend's work has an office in Jacksonville, so she'll be transferring up once we make sure I'll fit in well at the company. Until then, I'll either be living out of a hotel (like I will next week) or commuting (I'm actually from Altamonte Springs, so it's about a 1.5 hour drive to the office from my place in Orlando).
I'm kind of filled with trepidation about the move.... I'm originally from Pittsburgh, but I've lived in Orlando most of my life, so I was pretty comfortable there. I remember going to the Landing when I was much younger with my parents and for trips, and I was pretty well shocked at what it was like now. So I'm not sure what to expect from Jacksonville, but I figure that at least its a city, unlike Tallahassee, where I also lived for a good chunk of time, or Naples, where I lived in purgatory for about 3 years as a kid. I don't know about most Floridians, but I didn't really think much about Jacksonville - I thought about the major urban centers like Tampa, Orlando, and Miami, but Jacksonville really didn't come into view until I started interviewing there.
There seems to be a lot of potential in Jacksonville, but as I've been reading on MJ, it's been buried under a lot of inaction. Unfortunately, I'm one of those people who tries to be active to improve my community, so I'm sure I'll beat my head against that wall of inaction for a while until I get brain damage.
I look forward to the move and acclimating to a new city.
Great post. Welcome.
You're from Pittsburgh? Great...you'll fit in just fine. Damn.
Just kidding, I mean, there are plenty of Pittsburgh transplants, but what I am trying to say is: welcome!
Quote from: Jax_CK on July 04, 2010, 01:51:19 AM
There seems to be a lot of potential in Jacksonville, but as I've been reading on MJ, it's been buried under a lot of inaction. Unfortunately, I'm one of those people who tries to be active to improve my community, so I'm sure I'll beat my head against that wall of inaction for a while until I get brain damage.
this frustration exists on some level everywhere...I think most people here in Jacksonville (and even most on this site) are happy living here.
Quote from: tufsu1 on July 04, 2010, 09:05:07 AM
this frustration exists on some level everywhere...I think most people here in Jacksonville (and even most on this site) are happy living here.
Been in worse places, but what is more frustrating, is what could be rather than what is! That just irritates me to no end!
QuoteI'm kind of filled with trepidation about the move....
I understand completely. I have always treated moves like this as an adventure... new places to see, people to meet, etc.
Welcome! :)
Quote from: ProjectMaximus on July 04, 2010, 05:19:33 AM
You're from Pittsburgh? Great...you'll fit in just fine. Damn.
Ha! Yeah, there are no shortages of Pittsburgh people (and Steelers bars) around here.
Jax_CK - if you can handle life in Altamonte Springs, you'll be just fine in Jax. I think we have a better quality of life here overall, and the only real sacrifice is the lack of the tourist industry all of the shopping (which depending on the person, isn't really a sacrifice at all).
I too am from Pittsburgh and am moving to Jacksonville with my wife. Both of us are relocating due to job changes. I have been following MJ for about two month now. Great site and probably the best way to familiarize us with our new area! I really love Pittsburgh very much, but Jax really seems like a place that is very welcoming. I too see so much potential in Jax and would like to see where the city will be in the next 10 years. From MJ it seems like the city has been struggling with certain issues for some time, but there is so many things that makes Jax in city in an amazing location/ climate/ and placement to really take off! We look forward to our move and really hope the mass transit and commuter train lines become a reality.
-Jason
You're gonna find that Jacksonville is a combination of old southern hospitality and big city ambitions. You can find brighter lights and more to do in other cities in Fl but I have found that it is the down-to-earth friendliness of Jacksonville and absence of stress that make this city what it is.
Welcome.
Welcome CK. I was born in Jax, lived there as a Child, lived there again through most of my naval career, and now live in West Central Florida in the Tampa Bay Region (Sarasota-Bradenton), but, Jax is still my home and when the opportunity presents itself, I am moving! To put it raw, Jax is a large City, on par (relative to big city status) with Orlando, Tampa and Miami, however, being #1 up until the 1960's when the decline began I guess put a kind of "inferiority complex" in the minds of Jacksonvillians. But, of late we are the big city that can! You WILL enjoy the big city appearance, but will embrace and take in the small town atmosphere! Also you can't beat the river running right through the heart of the City (as in Pittsburgh), beaches just a stone's throw away, oak trees, palm trees, lush greenery and brush all around the City (something that is sorely lacking in Miami and Orlando or even in big cities up North), and oh, as someone pointed out in a previous post, ahhhhhh...southern hospitality! And...don't let no one fool you...there is lots and lots of STUFF to do! YOU WILL ENJOY JACKSONVILLE! Welcome my friend!
"HU"
Thank you all for the warm welcome. I drove up today from Orlando to a hotel near the new office... I start tomorrow. My girlfriend is going to wait to move up and transfer her job until I make sure everything is going to work out.
What's odd is that my brother was living in Jacksonville and moved out about a month ago, but I'm trying not to go by anything he says because we're polar opposites on living conditions and such.
As for the Pittsburgh people - we're EVERYWHERE! I was born in Allegheny General, most of my family is from around McKees Rocks, and I lived for a long while in Butler County north of the city. My dad was one of the lead engineers on the construction of the PPG Building there.
I have a question tho - near Gate Pkwy, we're looking at a bunch of apartments/townhouses to rent out for a while because we're not ready to buy yet so soon after a move. I was wondering though what areas I should be avoiding. I can look up a crime map (based on others' recommendations), but I was wondering if there were obvious areas I should know right off the bat.
Quote from: Jax_CK on July 05, 2010, 10:50:22 PM
Thank you all for the warm welcome. I drove up today from Orlando to a hotel near the new office... I start tomorrow. My girlfriend is going to wait to move up and transfer her job until I make sure everything is going to work out.
What's odd is that my brother was living in Jacksonville and moved out about a month ago, but I'm trying not to go by anything he says because we're polar opposites on living conditions and such.
As for the Pittsburgh people - we're EVERYWHERE! I was born in Allegheny General, most of my family is from around McKees Rocks, and I lived for a long while in Butler County north of the city. My dad was one of the lead engineers on the construction of the PPG Building there.
I have a question tho - near Gate Pkwy, we're looking at a bunch of apartments/townhouses to rent out for a while because we're not ready to buy yet so soon after a move. I was wondering though what areas I should be avoiding. I can look up a crime map (based on others' recommendations), but I was wondering if there were obvious areas I should know right off the bat.
Well to be honest most apartments/townhouses near Gate Parkway are all rather nice. There is really nowhere you need to avoid in that area. They are all pretty nice, but some are quite pricey. And you made the right choice by relocating here. I have worked in Insurance and Financial services since I was 16 years old. Jacksonville is the Insurance and Financial Professional Capitol of Florida. LOL There are a slew of jobs in these fields here in Jacksonville.
I just recently moved to the Southside area because I wanted to be closer to UNF. It really is a nice area with a lot of options. Unfortunately there are only small pockets with walkable areas. Where I live I can walk to Publix and a few other restaurants which is great. Tapestry park is pretty nice with a street design. Sadly Tinseltown is just a lot of asphalt with no sidewalks or paths to walk on so that usually means driving across the street. I would search around. You might be able to find some great condos for rent along Touchton or Gate. There are quite a few vacancies so get yourselves a great deal. Good luck!
Quote from: Jax_CK on July 05, 2010, 10:50:22 PM
...I lived for a long while in Butler County north of the city...
Welcome Jax_CK. I was born in Butler county and spent many of my summers up there as a kid. I still have family living there.You will feel right at home rooting for the Steelers in this town. I have been doing it for years, and when the Steelers aren't playing them, the Jags are a great team to support.
If I were working at Gate Parkway and wanted an appartment I'd look around Gate Parkway, Tinseltown, Southside Blvd down to the Avenues, Baymeadows east of Southside, and/or the Beaches.
If I was looking for temporary I'd check the beaches cause ................. it could be fun for a little while. Or the San Pablo, Kernan area. But JTB traffic can be frustrating.
Quote from: tufsu1 on July 04, 2010, 09:05:07 AM
Quote from: Jax_CK on July 04, 2010, 01:51:19 AM
There seems to be a lot of potential in Jacksonville, but as I've been reading on MJ, it's been buried under a lot of inaction. Unfortunately, I'm one of those people who tries to be active to improve my community, so I'm sure I'll beat my head against that wall of inaction for a while until I get brain damage.
this frustration exists on some level everywhere...I think most people here in Jacksonville (and even most on this site) are happy living here.
The great thing about Jacksonville is its potential! There is so much that needs fixing, plenty opportunity!
Im glad to see you are coming here with a positive attitude and outlook. We need more of that positive engery here :)
Welcome Jax_CK.. Apts in the SS and Tinseltown area are nice and in a safe area. Also off Kernan/JTB anywhere pretty much is ok.. Avoid Baymeadows WEST of Southside ..it used to be a really nice area , now its awful. Apts around the St John's Town Center / University of N . Fla are not bad. We live in an area in East Arlington or West Mayport (Intercoastal Waterway ) that is a nice area.. Hope you and your GF make the transition and settle in Jax and find yourselves a suitable place to call home. :)