Recent posts

#11

What is missing and what isn't? / Re: Attractions in Jacksonvill...

Last post by jaxlongtimer - May 22, 2026, 11:28:39 PM

Jax history of both music and Black culture, along with other aspects of Jax history, could be either incorporated into the new MOSH featuring a more sophisticated approach to Jax history than before, or, if not a good fit there, in a museum associated with the Jax History Center, where archives already exist to support museum documentation, etc. and could be further expanded to elevate the museum presentations.

I think combining niche museums into one larger museum would create more visitors to each niche by cross marketing than if they were standalones plus create operating efficiencies. To add others, maybe the Jax fire museum, Norman Studios, Ritz,  Orleck, etc. could be brought under a single administrative umbrella for these same reasons. This approach would also broaden community support, increasing the chances of sustainable success for all of them.

I would offer, as an example, the Ringling Museum in Sarasota.  It is an art museum, circus museum, historic home and elaborate gardens, plus high end restaurant, all rolled into a nearly full day experience.  An unusual mix of interests yet it thrives in a way that I doubt any one element could do so on its own.

This is a very interesting economic and planning dilemma that I've witnessed as a consultant in many historically excluded communities across the country.

Economically, museums are generally money pits. On the other hand, cultural heritage can be a strong economic driver for neighborhood revitalization.

In the Sarasota example, the Ringling contributes very little, if any, economic impact on the nearby New Town neighborhood, which is Sararsota's version of Jax's LaVilla.

In Chicago's Bronzeville neighborhood, the Harold Washington Cultural Center is a major destination in that neighborhood. Like the Ritz, its a museum/live performing arts venue. In Harlem, the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture is a New York Public Library Branch that plays a similar role in that community.

People come to these destinations within the neighborhoods where the exact history was created and they intentionally spend money a shops and restaurants adjacent to them. While it may not benefit downtown, it does get the dollar recycling in the neighborhood before it leaves, creating jobs and new business opportunities birthing real neighborhood level economic revitalization. A side benefit his the cultural heritage becomes active as opposed to being an obituary of what was, in the form of a heritage marker or plaque.

When evaluated from that perspective, perhaps its fine to invest in the Ritz instead of taking LaVilla's story to MOSH to be controlled by a group who's should not be in charge of that story simply because its not theirs to tell.

In Durkeeville, the neighborhood does have a historic ballpark and structures directly linked to people like Hank Aaron. On the surface, it would seem to be an appropriate low hanging fruit for them to take advantage of their stadium and unique story to generate a rebirth of life on Myrtle instead of that story being shifted to the Sports & Entertainment District.

With that said, breaking down the silos, unified promotion and making our various attractions more complimentary seems like another low hanging fruit from a tourism perspective.

All in all, I find the various positions debated in different communities on this subject to be quite interesting.

To be clear, I have no issue with museums being physically scattered in the areas where the history they honor takes place.  I was mostly suggesting that administrative, fund raising and marketing functions be shared under one entity to create both operating efficiencies (especially needed since many lose dollars as you note) and cross promotion.  Many of these niche museums may take as little as an hour to less than a full day to enjoy, so combining them to make a full day of exploration to more fully justify a trip, especially for out of towners, could benefit all of them.  For locals, cross pollination of history enriches all of us.

#12

Riverside/Avondale / Re: Corner Lot planning hotel ...

Last post by jaxlongtimer - May 22, 2026, 11:21:41 PM

FYI, the existing tower was built for Riverside Hospital which eventually was acquired and merged into St. Vincent's, as I recall.

The building was constructed by Jerome and Paul Fletcher, brothers who owned Fletcher and Associates Insurance Agency.

Taylor Hardwick designed the building.

I think you are confusing the Fletcher Building with another Taylor Hardwick-designed building that housed medical offices across the street from Riverside Hospital.  That building called, called 1661 Medical, was basically a commercial condominium that was owned by six doctors, all of which had offices there.  The 1661 Medical building was torn down, and is now the location of the 1661 Riverside mixed use building (condos and ground floor retail)- directly across the street from the Riverside Publix and Memorial Park. 

Neither the Fletcher Building (now owned by Corner Lot) nor the 1661 Medical Building (torn down and replaced with 1661 Riverside) were ever owned or associated with Riverside Hospital (which was torn down, and now is the location of the Riverside Publix).

Thanks for clarifying my memory.  Lots of buildings have been reused and replaced in Jax during my lifetime so it can be a bit muddy keeping all of them straight. 

[Meta, Broadcom and others to launch $125 million semiconductor research hub at UCLA]

#13

Downtown / Re: COJ and UF take first majo...

Last post by Jax_Developer - May 22, 2026, 12:31:11 PM

UF is building its semiconductor institute in Jax.  Will it be getting support like this anytime soon?  Or, is it falling behind/missing out?

Meta, Broadcom and others to launch $125 million semiconductor research hub at UCLA

Broadcom, Meta, Applied Materials, GlobalFoundries and Synopsys are joining forces to launch a $125 million "Semiconductor Hub" at the UCLA Samueli School of Engineering.

The new partnership will support research across chip design, equipment, software, manufacturing and other parts of the semiconductor ecosystem, according to a UCLA press release.

Faculty and student researchers will work with the companies to help shorten the timeline for new chip innovations to reach a rapidly changing market, Ah-Hyung "Alissa" Park, dean of engineering at UCLA Samueli, told CNBC.

Full article at:
https://www.cnbc.com/2026/05/21/meta-broadcom-others-to-launch-125-million-semiconductor-research-hub-at-ucla.html

Florida is not well positioned for semiconductor investment. The few companies in the state that have satellite offices are primarily tied to Melbourne for obvious reasons.

#14

Science and Technology / Re: Wordle?

Last post by Charles Hunter - May 22, 2026, 10:43:33 AM

Wordle 1,798 5/6

⬜🟨🟨⬜⬜  76 remaining words
🟨🟨⬜🟨⬜  13
🟨⬜🟨⬜🟩   4
⬜🟩⬜🟩🟩   2
🟩🟩🟩🟩🟩


Connections
Puzzle #1076
🟨🟨🟨🟨
🟦🟦🟪🟦
🟦🟦🟦🟦
🟩🟩🟩🟩
🟪🟪🟪🟪
Dumb guess on line 2
Purple was leftovers


Strands #810
"Put down your ruler"
🟡🔵🔵🔵
🔵🔵🔵


PIPS
Pips #278 Easy 🟢
1:20

Pips #278 Medium 🟡
1:18
Medium quicker (by 2 seconds) than Easy

#15

What is missing and what isn't? / Re: Attractions in Jacksonvill...

Last post by thelakelander - May 22, 2026, 10:22:41 AM

Jax history of both music and Black culture, along with other aspects of Jax history, could be either incorporated into the new MOSH featuring a more sophisticated approach to Jax history than before, or, if not a good fit there, in a museum associated with the Jax History Center, where archives already exist to support museum documentation, etc. and could be further expanded to elevate the museum presentations.

I think combining niche museums into one larger museum would create more visitors to each niche by cross marketing than if they were standalones plus create operating efficiencies. To add others, maybe the Jax fire museum, Norman Studios, Ritz,  Orleck, etc. could be brought under a single administrative umbrella for these same reasons. This approach would also broaden community support, increasing the chances of sustainable success for all of them.

I would offer, as an example, the Ringling Museum in Sarasota.  It is an art museum, circus museum, historic home and elaborate gardens, plus high end restaurant, all rolled into a nearly full day experience.  An unusual mix of interests yet it thrives in a way that I doubt any one element could do so on its own.

This is a very interesting economic and planning dilemma that I've witnessed as a consultant in many historically excluded communities across the country.

Economically, museums are generally money pits. On the other hand, cultural heritage can be a strong economic driver for neighborhood revitalization.

In the Sarasota example, the Ringling contributes very little, if any, economic impact on the nearby New Town neighborhood, which is Sararsota's version of Jax's LaVilla.

In Chicago's Bronzeville neighborhood, the Harold Washington Cultural Center is a major destination in that neighborhood. Like the Ritz, its a museum/live performing arts venue. In Harlem, the Schomburg Center for Research in Black Culture is a New York Public Library Branch that plays a similar role in that community.

People come to these destinations within the neighborhoods where the exact history was created and they intentionally spend money a shops and restaurants adjacent to them. While it may not benefit downtown, it does get the dollar recycling in the neighborhood before it leaves, creating jobs and new business opportunities birthing real neighborhood level economic revitalization. A side benefit his the cultural heritage becomes active as opposed to being an obituary of what was, in the form of a heritage marker or plaque.

When evaluated from that perspective, perhaps its fine to invest in the Ritz instead of taking LaVilla's story to MOSH to be controlled by a group who's should not be in charge of that story simply because its not theirs to tell.

In Durkeeville, the neighborhood does have a historic ballpark and structures directly linked to people like Hank Aaron. On the surface, it would seem to be an appropriate low hanging fruit for them to take advantage of their stadium and unique story to generate a rebirth of life on Myrtle instead of that story being shifted to the Sports & Entertainment District.

With that said, breaking down the silos, unified promotion and making our various attractions more complimentary seems like another low hanging fruit from a tourism perspective.

All in all, I find the various positions debated in different communities on this subject to be quite interesting.

#16

Riverside/Avondale / Re: Corner Lot planning hotel ...

Last post by fieldafm - May 22, 2026, 09:39:52 AM

FYI, the existing tower was built for Riverside Hospital which eventually was acquired and merged into St. Vincent's, as I recall.

The building was constructed by Jerome and Paul Fletcher, brothers who owned Fletcher and Associates Insurance Agency.

Taylor Hardwick designed the building.

I think you are confusing the Fletcher Building with another Taylor Hardwick-designed building that housed medical offices across the street from Riverside Hospital.  That building called, called 1661 Medical, was basically a commercial condominium that was owned by six doctors, all of which had offices there.  The 1661 Medical building was torn down, and is now the location of the 1661 Riverside mixed use building (condos and ground floor retail)- directly across the street from the Riverside Publix and Memorial Park. 

Neither the Fletcher Building (now owned by Corner Lot) nor the 1661 Medical Building (torn down and replaced with 1661 Riverside) were ever owned or associated with Riverside Hospital (which was torn down, and now is the location of the Riverside Publix).

#17

What is missing and what isn't? / Re: Attractions in Jacksonvill...

Last post by fsu813 - May 22, 2026, 08:46:44 AM

Jax history of both music and Black culture, along with other aspects of Jax history, could be either incorporated into the new MOSH featuring a more sophisticated approach to Jax history than before, or, if not a good fit there, in a museum associated with the Jax History Center, where archives already exist to support museum documentation, etc. and could be further expanded to elevate the museum presentations.

The Jax History Center is developing its museum programming now, targeting the end of 2027 to open that piece. As of now, the sections featured will include Early History, Great Fire of 1901, Gateway City, River of Change, Arts & Entertainment, Sports, Neighborhoods & Consolidation, and Civil Rights. Technology/adaptability will be prioritized to ensure exhibits don't become stale, timely content can be highlighted, etc.

#18

Riverside/Avondale / Re: Corner Lot planning hotel ...

Last post by fsu813 - May 22, 2026, 08:37:12 AM

I have always thought that the Cummer Museum, Five Points, and RAM needed a proper garage somewhere that could replace a lot of these parking lots and enable the type of infill development we need. Kind of wish this parking garage was roughly 2x as big and used as space for Cummer, RAM, Five Points, etc for Free on saturdays.

In Downtown Franklin, TN, they have an amazing downtown area and parking is free. It keeps all the cars in one place. In a world where real transit and walkable developments city wide seem decades or centuries away...these massive garages feel like the only real solution to having cars strewn all over every street.

I believe some number of parking spots will be available to use by the public.

#19

Riverside/Avondale / Re: Corner Lot planning hotel ...

Last post by jcjohnpaint - May 22, 2026, 07:33:35 AM

They mentioned it as a future retail strip in one of the earlier articles.

#20

Downtown / Re: COJ and UF take first majo...

Last post by marcuscnelson - May 22, 2026, 12:40:03 AM

Given that it's UF, I wouldn't be too surprised if something in partnership with NVIDIA eventually comes about. Plenty of work the city should start or continue doing to become more attractive to a company like that.