Just a few years ago, the Northbank cityscape was poised to be radically transformed by several major projects. Brooklyn Park and Bay Street Station alone would have created a tremendous venue and new "micro city" if you will for new city dwellers in a place where there was nothing previous. Even motorists passing down 95 south would be able to see that Jax was truly becoming something of interest.
But like many projects before, both were put on hold after years of fanfare, and as the saying goes "the older, the colder". Ditto the Shipyards, which has also been mired in litigation and "fiscal fumbling" shall we say.
Meanwhile, public taxpayer money has funded and built a new Ballpark, Arena, Library, Art Museum, RAM Riverwalk Space, City Hall, Kids Park, and nearing completion, a massive Courthouse. Laura Street is being rebuilt as well. Throw in the biggest of all from years back - a new stadium, and later, massive renovations. But big commercial ventures downtown? Failure, time and again.
How about the Southbank? Kings Ave Station, The Peninsula and The Strand have all successfully gone up. Quite quickly also, and seemingly with little roadblocks. Wolfson is moving forward as well. Money clearly talks on the Southbank and Southside in general. Northbank? A "mysterious force" blocks any big-time attempts time and again.
In summary, Northbank - Only public taxpayer/civic projects gets things done. Southbank - Commercial development gets done.
One project has tremendously succeeded on the Northbank - (well, Riverside technically...) and that is RAM. It is humble, not a monstrous undertaking, involved much private-public partnership, the arts, commerce and many other things. It is the new "anti-Landing". They're going to have a boat dock very shortly, and are also going to double the size of the thing and connect it all the way to Riverside Park.
So what does work on the Northbank?
Public-private partnerships, not for profit ventures, arts-oriented, culture promoting venues, humble plans, ideas that use existing structures (overpass and nearby business parking), patient waiting (took them 15 years).
Going forward....
One of the things I've commented on before is the need to draw tourists into Jacksonville (downtown) more, especially those driving south into Jax. Notice that RAM is smartly right off 95 South - even under it! So, in time, get a huge sign up there that all can see driving south. Maybe one day RAM takes over the building next to it, or that area becomes a park or pier or Fulton Market type building that people can see right from the Interstate.
I'm sure this has been suggested before, but I'd like to see the regular boring green Stockton Street/Riverside exit signs on 95/I-10 replaced with some type of fancy-schmancy brown Riverside-Avondale Historic District exit signs. Let the people driving to or from Disney know they don't have to drive past Jacksonville but can stop by for breakfast or lunch and spend some of their tourist dollars in our little historic district.