Is there hope for the city? Mr Halverson made an interesting point during this Q&A with the Daily Record. My repeated theme when talking to people is that we need to start living up to our namesake 'The Bold New City of the South'. As BCBC would say 'Be Bold'.
http://jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=531401 (http://jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=531401)
Mr Halverson heads the Jacksonville Civic Council... a group that partially stemmed from lessons learned on the Chamber's trip to Kansas City.
Of particular note from this interview....
QuoteThe second issue that is increasingly on my mind is we don’t have a common community point of view about whether we should be in investment mode or in cost-cutting mode as a city and I find that a fascinating reality.
This won’t sound very Republican, and I am, but I think the city is underinvested in itself in pretty fundamental ways.
We would do well to create a large caliber vision of the city, calculate what that means and figure out, year over year, what it costs and, in all likelihood, that would lead to increased investment, which would mean increased taxes.
further...
QuoteWe tried to keep the community stitched together and keep the schools relatively funded and keep crime relatively at bay and that’s about all you could expect. We are emerging out of that now and I don’t think it’s healthy to stay in that bunker mentality.
I think it’s time to get our head above the hedge-rows a little bit, look out and say, ‘OK, the earth is trembling, but it stopped shaking.’ It’s time to move on.
It's hard to stay optimistic sometimes. The economy sucks, a great cultural center downtown has been demolished, and our fair city has experienced a rash of brain drain while the rest of our peer cities our experiencing an urban revitilization.... but take a bike ride down to the riverwalk and remember the beauty of our community again. We have the assets to be great again. Perhaps with the mayoral race forthcoming, and leaders like Mr Halverson that want our city to be BOLD again... a little optimism will sweep over you.
Ok, back to work.
I love his reference to 14 Ports in the state of Florida. Using a container on our 680' Landmar Pier for Public Access and economic stimulus would be BOLD.
I do not like Mr. Halverson for personal reasons, but almost anyone else on the same board is OK by me and should be quoted more often.
Quote from: Noone on July 09, 2010, 11:16:44 AM
I love his reference to 14 Ports in the state of Florida. Using a container on our 680' Landmar Pier for Public Access and economic stimulus would be BOLD.
Noone, what stake do you have in the pier? You've mentioned it, or the Landmar property, in 16 of your 21 posts. Why?
I liked reading the interview. It sounds like the Civic Council is gearing up to have a full time staff and be able to really create positive change in our city. If our current Mayor can't do it on his own, maybe the Civic Council will pick up the baton and run with it. As Mr. Halverson said, '
I don’t know that we live in traditional times and maybe that conversation needs to be started elsewhere'.
Why?
Because this may be the last time to get it right. I don't know if you were around for the OFWB ( Old Fuller Warren Bridge) and the potential to use that structure for Public Access but the Administration completely missed that one as well as the council. Ord.2005-207 never voted on. A study completely ignored. Another study by Downtown Vision by Chan Krieger and Associates that said that it should be saved and used.
I don't have any stake in it. Remember that Shipyards was 16 acres of Public Space and 150 slip private marina.
Landmar took over and the 16 acres of Public Space was reduced to 8 acres and the 150 slip private marina. They were also granted the option to shut down the Riverwalk 12 times during the year for special events. Example, Florida/Georgia
Right now its just dumb luck that we are getting back the 44 acre property because of bankruptcy. I'll I'm saying is focus on the 680' Public Pier. As for the 5 other posts that I failed to mention the Landmar or Shipyards property let me know which ones they are and I'll go back and spin something into the thread to make a connection. Captain, I'm saying that in a friendly way. I appreciate your response back. If someone else has an idea for the Pier lets hear it. If the Civic Council wants to persue it then great. Mr. Halverson has me fired up.
The people of Jacksonville got Ripped off. I plan on asking every council and mayoral candidate what there position is on this issue. Do they have a plan? Or do we need another study to study it more? Eventually I plan on contacting all the ports in the state of Florida as well as the Chamber of Commerce in those cities. The feedback that I have had outside of Duval county has been fantastic.
As Mr. Halverson said "maybe the conversation needs to be started elsewhere."
^ Sorry, I was more curious about the container idea you keep advocating.
The container idea kicked in for me when a few years back I was on Talleyrand and Crowley had received in all these brand new Blue containers and it was about this time that Mayor Peyton was announcing his Blueprint for Prosperity. There were 100's of these new Blue containers.
Combine that with our Port expansion, the Panama Canal opening up, 14 Ports in Florida, Landmar going into bankruptcy and that Public Space reverting back to the people of Jacksonville and an opportunity that I had to hear Fred Kent speak and the power of 10. Create 10 things to do then watch the growth grow outwards.
There are different size containers. A Blue Crowley container could be an anchor container. A smaller one like SAM Store and Move can be used for a small business. These private companies are not only willing to donate one container but all 10 if necessary.
The status of this idea moving forward right now is with the city councilman Dr. Johnny Gaffney in Dist.7. Its in his District. I've met with him. He likes the idea. After the council break he is going to make a decision about sponsoring a resolution to use the 680' Public Pier for Public Access and economic opportunity when it reverts back to the city after the Landmar bankruptcy is resolved. If he sponsors a resolution then it will go to the city council for a vote.
The group that wants to bring the USS Adams to Downtown as an attraction has received a resolution of support from the city council so its not premature to start the conversation. It should also be at the forefront as a campaign issue. The group with the USS Adams also wants to use the 680' Public Pier. Maybe you can have both.
As for a container. Show up and open the door and you are in business. Think of an Exercise container that could be tied into the Y on the Northbank. The Art container can be used in a rotation with the RAM Riverside Arts Market. The Marine Taxi has indicated that it would be no big deal to loop over after leaving the Chart House (Southbank and then go over to the Northbank) Instant connectivity.
I've spoken with people who said that solar and wind could be used to offset electric demand. Imagine this structure being illuminated as well as the bridges.
A container is worldwide. If its not being done anywhere else. Then Jacksonville can be first and show the world how we create vibrancy within our Downtown Jacksonville Overlay Zoning District and more importantly build on the theme of living, working, and playing on our St. Johns River our American Heritage River.