Peyton talks Downtown to Downtown

[InigoMontoya]

A good read.

Peyton talks Downtown to Downtown

by David Chapman
Staff Writer

Downtown business owners and merchants got an update on future plans for the area they call their business home from one of the city’s biggest Downtown advocates.

Mayor John Peyton met with close to 40 members of the Downtown Council of the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce during its bimonthly meeting Friday to discuss key points in shaping Downtown in the short and long term even during uncertain economic times.

“Our city, our Downtown is going through a tough economic time,” said Peyton, “but we should not use the economy as an excuse to not invest in our city.”

Property along the river was the focus of his long-term vision, with a goal of connectivity and vibrancy from Metropolitan Park to the Shipyards to Berkman Plaza II and beyond on the Northbank.

“All are big projects with a lot of moving parts,” he said. “These are long term.”

Regarding Metropolitan Park, Peyton said he wanted to open it up and play to a larger vision by making it more pedestrian friendly and stretch the Riverwalk to the Berkman II tower.

The Shipyards project between the two has been a challenge and one he never “in his wildest imagination” believed would belong to the City. Even with its chronicled problems, he believes the taxpayers are in “pretty good shape” moving forward.

In addition to the riverfront area, while the Police Memorial Building and Duval County Jail have useful building life remaining, a long term vision of moving facilities closer to the new courthouse â€" which he expected to open in June 2011 â€" would be practical for both the court and Bay Street developments.

“We as a community need to look beyond administrations,” he said. “A failure to do so would be a colossal misuse of land ... we need a 30,000-foot vision.”

In the short term, though, he said there is a need to correctly manage the current public space. His examples included upkeep on both the Southbank Riverwalk and Friendship Fountain.

“Those are issues we have to address and get going again,” he said.

Additionally, connecting the Northbank Riverwalk from Metropolitan Park to Berkman II was on the agenda, even if it is just a walkable asphalt path with trees along the way. As with most items, funding is an issue, though close to $20 million from capital improvement plans would likely go toward Southbank issues.

Other highlights from Peyton’s address to Downtown Council:

• The goal of luring World Cup Soccer is still very real and very lucrative. By the end of December, officials and he will know if Jacksonville makes the list of 18. Tampa and Orlando likely stand in the city’s way, but he is proud of what’s been accomplished. When asked how such an event would compare to the City’s hosting of the Super Bowl, he replied that comparing a month-long event to weeklong festivities was tough but in terms of economic impact it wasn’t close.

“It’s a half a billion dollar economic impact,” he said. “It’s a big deal.”

He credited the City’s ability to host fan festivities and stadium size as being pluses for consideration and regarding the stadium joked: “The one thing we thought was out greatest liability is our greatest asset.”

• While he joked about the stadium size, the lack of fan turnout to Jaguars games this season has him very concerned.

“It’s unreasonable to think this attitude has no effect on long term viability,” he said.

Peyton credited the team for its economic impact through numerous ways and said it’s been a positive for the city to have an NFL team.

“It’s not about winning, it’s about our city,” he said. “It should not be taken for granted.”

• On the future for a new convention center, Peyton said it was too far away to consider knowing how to do it. He would like to see hotels closer to such a facility, as he believes there won’t be another 1,000-plus room hotel built Downtown for decades.

dchapman@baileypub.com

356-2466

http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=529654

[vicupstate]

I maintain that Metro Park is WAY DOWN the list of priorities, but that aspect isn't exactly news.  Moving the Jail ANYWHERE in the DT is stupid as hell.  The current one is a huge negative and eyesore, move it to the boonies as soon as practical.

[urbanlibertarian]

NIMBY will keep the jail downtown.

[heights unknown]

They should move the Jail away from downtown maybe somewhere in the North end of town near the old Imerson Airport (somewhere in that area).  If they must keep the Jail downtown, I guess they should move it near the new Courthouse maybe in LaVilla or even Brooklyn. It appears construction and overall growth in downtown has stalled and in some respects has come to a screeching halt, and yes the economy must be blamed, but we must try to move on as he said and try and invest in downtown. The older members of this forum will be dead before downtown gets moving again with new good solid projects and developments.

Heights Unknown

[tufsu1]

so we need to think at the 30,000 foot level, look beyond aministrations, and consider moving the police/jil buildings...but we can't figure out a vision for the convention center?

[Charles Hunter]

Isn't one of the reasons for the proximity of the jail (aka Pre-Trial Detention Facility) and the courthouse for security in transporting prisoners?  A shorter trip is a safer trip?  What do other cities do in this regard?

[thelakelander]

so we need to think at the 30,000 foot level, look beyond aministrations, and consider moving the police/jil buildings...but we can't figure out a vision for the convention center?

^That's what I was thinking.  Moving the jail is the last thing anyone should be worrying about in regards to DT's future.  As for connecting Metro Park to Berkman, via an asphalt path, I don't know why people consider that a negative instead of one with concrete and brick pavers.  

Its cheaper, easier to implement, better for cycling and walking and accomplishes the same thing going bells and whistles would.

[thelakelander]

Isn't one of the reasons for the proximity of the jail (aka Pre-Trial Detention Facility) and the courthouse for security in transporting prisoners?  A shorter trip is a safer trip?  What do other cities do in this regard?

In Polk County, the courthouse and county jail (both in Bartow) are a couple of miles away from each other.  The same goes for Orlando.  The courthouse is downtown and the county jail is a couple of miles south at I-4 and John Young Parkway.  The same for Tampa too.  Courthouse downtown and county jail several miles away off Orient Road near Brandon.  As long as its structurally sound, we have limited capital and DT is littered with parking lots, moving the jail should not be an issue.

[mtraininjax]

Is it 2011 yet?

[Keith-N-Jax]

Well he's certainly right about Tampa and Orlando standing in the way of the World Cup. Thats even if we make the list. I just wish they just start on one project, finish it before heading to another one.

[mtraininjax]

Peyton's legacy will be that he moved on to a new project before the last one was even cold. The man has no staying power on an issue. He's as limp as a wet noodle.

[Ocklawaha]

Mr. Mayor, you know VINTAGE STREETCARS would make a hell of a legacy, and touch off a building boom which we dearly need.

OCKLAWAHA

[tpot]

We aren't the only city stupid enough to put a jail in the center of their downtown.  Head down to Ft Lauderdale and you will see the same thing.  Right on the Las Olas River.  Surrounded on all sides by highrise condos and multi million dollar yachts docked out front.............

[Jerry Moran]

All coming from a mayor who speaks in global terms, but can't even keep his front lawn (Hemming Park) neat and tidy.  Members of his staff, by their own admission, are afraid to venture out of Fortress City Hall for fear of being molested by criminal vagrants.

Peace Officers and Shelter Relocation.  Until these things are done, we are wasting our time and money.  Dissolving Downtown Vision and granting the money to the JSO for dedicated foot patrols of downtown would be a start.

[north miami]

Downtown,and in fact much of Duval county has suffered in the face of regional growth trends that have been fueled in part by an entrenched, active, militant anti Jacksonville theme.

I wonder if in fact the Downtown Council of the Regional Chamber Of Commerce could be a defective element, a failure of creative power within the minority.