Quote from: Aristocles on May 18, 2026, 08:13:14 PMJacksonville's government seems to have a history of swinging at the latest shiny object, whatever it is. Urban freeways. Urban renewal slum clearance. Floating nuclear plants. Festival marketplaces. Elevated peoplemovers. Now self-driving cars. The serious analysis of whether or not they're actually feasible, is never done. So they spend how many millions of tax dollars to build these things, and then watch them end up failing and being torn down. Now it seems like it's time for U2C to step up to the plate. Another strike out coming?
Quote from: Joey Mackey on May 18, 2026, 02:01:43 PMProbably blocked behind a paywall, but here is an interesting and relevant article from the NYT.QuoteAustin highlights the alternative approach. Its leaders understood that expanding the housing stock in any way, even with luxury apartment buildings, would ease pressure for renters or buyers at lower income levels. Higher-income residents move into the new construction, creating less demand for older buildings and reducing the prices to live there. Instead of constraints, Austin offered perks. If an apartment building included affordable units or its design was environmentally friendly, the city relaxed restrictions on building height and size.
Reasonable minds can disagree whether the incentives going towards the Related Tower are the best use of that taxpayer money, but the project should still have some positive effect on rental prices. Any increase to the housing supply is good.
Quote"I envision that it would go to the Northwest side, that it would go up Kings. I envision it would go to the Navy bases. I certainly envision that it would go to the airport, that it would connect with the universities, that it would connect to major neighborhoods. Like, that's the goal. That it would connect to the zoo," said Peluso.
Quote from: Jagsdrew on May 18, 2026, 02:17:25 PMQuote from: Ken_FSU on May 17, 2026, 11:43:09 AMQuote from: Jankelope on May 17, 2026, 08:11:18 AMIt is quite incredible the scrutiny for tiny amounts of affordable housing funding compared to projects like this
It's truly wild. As a city, we've committed three times more taxpayer dollars from the general fund for this single, ultra-luxury apartment complex ($38 million) than we've committed to affordable housing and homeless services for the entire year combined ($12 million).
Jacksonville has a 50,000 unit shortfall in affordable housing that our citizens openly report to be the most important issue in Jacksonville, and wildly unproven demand for $5k apartment rents on the river.
It's weird to me how elements of the city gets themselves worked into an uproar over spending money on parks or stadium improvements, but no one seems to be questioning a monstrous, near-$40 million cash hand out from taxpayers to Related.
Think of how hard those dollars could work if used for down payment assistance, beefing up an affordable housing trust like you see in cities like Atlanta, expanding beds in homeless shelters, subsidizing more workforce housing with state support, etc.
I'm sure it will be beautiful, I question if it will be full, and have no doubt that are better uses of taxpayer dollars, at a time when the city's general fund is already stretched thin. Subsidies for projects like the Gateway Publix development, stadium improvements, Laura Street Trio, parks, and even the Four Seasons all make sense to me. They're providing reasonably equitable public services, saving critically endangered historic building stock, or addressing a major gap in the market that will start generating bed tax dollars immediately. Don't see it with this one. REV grants and a $10 million completion grant? Sure. $38 million from the general fund. Woof.
Curious question, is the 50k shortfall Duval County or Jax metro?
I ask because I've seen more noise about affordable housing developments being denied in SJC by the commish in the news than approval citing traffic and congestion.
Quote from: tufsu1 on May 18, 2026, 12:34:53 PM^ I actually think Armstrong might be #2 or #3 GOP contender
Quote from: copperfiend on May 17, 2026, 08:20:19 AMQuote from: Jones518 on April 25, 2026, 01:35:44 AMI got blocked by Ron Armstrong on social media 😅..i guess i was challenging him too much 🤷💀...
He is a lunatic.
I am not sure he is anything more than a candidate for the Facebook fringe. He and people he has aligned himself with have shared some truly deranged stuff.
I am relieved I never went to the coffee shop he runs.
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