Jacksonville Transportation Center moves forward

[Metro Jacksonville]

Jacksonville Transportation Center moves forward



Although the city continues to fail to address the convention center's future, JTA appears to be moving forward with plans for the construction of a new transportation center. Today, Metro Jacksonville shares renderings of what the center will look like once completed.

Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2009-nov-jacksonville-transportation-center-moves-forward

[JaxNative68]

I'm glad they're moving forward, but does it have to look like it was designed in the 80's?  Who was the design team?

[BridgeTroll]

The plan seems to insist on leaving the "Convention Center" intact.  There needs to be a push for a real convention center downtown.  Perhaps the space that the current convention center occupies could be used as a small auditorium for smaller type events similar to the Morocco Shrine...

[buckethead]

Somebody bought stock in a BRT system developer.

[jason_contentdg]

I think it is time to revisit the city's apparent regulation that any new buildings built in the core must have beige tone stucco and spanish tile roofs (edited: on a second look it seems it is a nice fake copper standing seam roof.)

[lindab]

When I think of the number of vacant buildings in downtown in need of resurrection, why the heck are we wasting 180 million dollars on building something new that looks like south Florida narco-deco! 

Are we spending one time federal stimulus money on a clock tower office complex and retail store spaces? The inclusion of the skyway express is supposed to represent Jacksonville's mass transist spending? How can this boost the LaVilla area? Who is going to fill those shops and stores or are we subsidizing those businesses too?  After 5:00 and on weekends, who will be shopping there?

I suppose it is hopeless to protest, just shut up and pay for it.

[buckethead]

Very sound points lindab.

[fsujax]

I posted this somewhere else, but it is Anaheim's proposed transportation center. I too dislike the drab beige tone. We can do better!

http://www.ocregister.com/news/design-83354-transportation-center.html

[heights unknown]

Good.  Alright Obama, give us the money baby.  Hope this comes through to fruition.  I feel it will be a much needed shot in the arm for that end (west end) of downtown and downtown as a whole.  Hope they close the present convention center, make it a part of the transportation center, and build a new convention center in the heart of downtown and/or on the river downtown (old jail and old city hall properties).  Good proposal/plan so far it seems.

Heights Unknown

[JaxNative68]

How about placing a new convention center on the shipyards site.  They can share th stadium parking and boast the St John's river.  With the elevated highway and industry there, that site is horrible for residential.

[thelakelander]

That would solve parking but it would still be a mile away from the heart of the downtown core.  Who pays for the convention center hotel and restaurants needed to support the center.  If the city has to provide tax breaks and incentives for the complementing development, would it be right to subsidize things that will compete with the businesses already struggling to stay afloat in DT?

[BridgeTroll]

That site would be similar to the current site.  No Hotels, no resteraunts, bars nearby, no walkability.

[jason_contentdg]

So again we've missed the opportunity to have an architectural landmark for the city where other cities are hitting the mark, as seen in fsujax's Anaheim example.  Again, look at Seattle's main library compared to ours, and numerous county courthouses compared to the one currently going up.

Why must we stay 15 years behind every other major city...

[lindab]

Is this the same JTA that can't pay for bus shelters without getting a sign ordinance exemption?

[b real]

wow, all i can say is REALLY? horrible design....not thought out at all.