Improved Laura Street to tell Downtown's history

[thelakelander]

by Max Marbut
Staff Writer

Everything is on schedule for the Laura Street improvement project to begin in earnest Jan. 2. The Jacksonville Economic Development Commission is accepting bids on the project until Dec. 2 and the contract will be awarded about two weeks later. Following that will be a public meeting between City officials, the contractor and property owners and tenants on Laura Street. Construction of the first phase of the project, the block south of Bay Street, is set to begin the day after the Konica-Minolta Gator Bowl game. It includes a new roundabout and the relocation of the statue of Andrew Jackson astride his horse that’s been tucked away next to the Landing since the riverfront retail and entertainment center opened.

That phase is expected to take about 90 days and the entire project about a year to realize Laura Street’s improvement from the Landing to Hemming Plaza.

A new element has been added to the original concept of wider sidewalks and more shade to improve the pedestrian experience. The JEDC has enlisted the expertise of the City’s Historic Planning Commission and the Jacksonville Historical Society to create a series of historical markers that will be installed in the sidewalks on Laura Street. The intent is to tell how the street is such an important part of the city’s history.

JEDC Executive Director Ron Barton said the historic markers will be a valuable enhancement because, “This project goes beyond wider, more aesthetic sidewalks and shade trees. Laura Street is more than just a streetscape project. We’re creating an experience and there’s no better way to tell the story than through the history. The historic sites on that street are some of our greatest assets.”

Less than a block east of Laura Street on Adams Street, there’s a plaque on The Carling that indicates the building is where the Jacksonville Historical Society was founded more than 80 years ago.

“This is an exciting project that will allow people to learn more about the historic buildings on Laura Street,” said Emily Lisska, executive director of the society. “We think the stories behind those buildings are something people would like to know.”

Even the street’s name has history behind it, said Historic Preservation Planner Joel McEachin.

“The street was named after one of Isaiah Hart’s daughters,” he explained.

Hart was Jacksonville’s founding father and one of the people who tied a rope around a bay tree near the Courthouse Annex on Bay Street (hence the name) in 1822 to lay out the first streets.

“Laura Street wasn’t on the original plat,” McEachin added. “But it wasn’t very long after.”

McEachin said Laura Street was relatively unscathed during the Great Fire of 1901 but that catastrophic event began a series of changes to Jacksonville in the early 20th century. The commercial district shifted from Bay Street to Forsyth Street. The Atlantic National Bank Building on Forsyth Street near Laura Street was one of the first high-rises in the Southeast. Henry John Klutho, an architect who came to Jacksonville soon after the fire, designed the 10-story Bisbee Building on Laura Street, which McEachin said may have been one of the first framed concrete structures in the South.

Hemming Plaza is at the north end of the Laura Street improvement project and McEachin said it too has quite a bit of history behind it.

“Shortly after the Civil War the Hart family donated the land for a public park. Soon it was surrounded by big resort hotels like the Windsor and the St. James. Tourists walked down Laura Street to visit shops and restaurants on Bay Street. Laura Street is like a journey through time,” he said.

The project will also create some of its own history when next year’s Jacksonville Jazz Festival will be affected by the project. Last year moving the event from Metropolitan Park into the heart of Downtown, specifically Laura Street from Hemming Plaza to the Landing, proved to be a hit with audiences, performers and vendors. The 2010 JJF will remain Downtown, but will have to be relocated due to the construction that will be underway Memorial Day weekend.

“The business and property owners on Laura Street are eager for this project,” commented JEDC Deputy Director Paul Crawford. “Some inconvenience is just part of the process. We have to earn a great street.”

Moving the festival a few blocks away could actually be an advantage said Barton, who added, “What we have is a great opportunity to take something that was successful and make that same thing happen in another part of Downtown.”

http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/downtowntoday.php

[JaxLanding]

We have been very involved with this project thanks in large part to Paul Crawford with the JEDC.  Once completed, Laura Street will become the epicenter for downtown Jax and add a new "connective" feel between The Landing and downtown Jax.  It's no secret that we were pretty much built with our arms open to the river and our backs facing downtown.  For years we have wanted to change that by actually cutting through the center of our building at the end of Laura Street.  The "cut through" would allow people to see the river from as far north as Hemming Plaza (maybe even Union Street).  Until we own the land that our building sits on, the cut through isn't feasible.  So until then, we are excited with the Laura Street improvements.
Obviously, certain changes do bring some heartache.  We are concerned with our Loading Dock and how we will be able to get our merchants' truck deliveries in and out.  We are also concered (just like any business dealing with construction) that customers will have a hard time getting to us, or basically think the difficulty isn't worth it.  We all shall see, right?

[Ocklawaha]

Notice anything? Hum? in the SAME SPOT? TALL. 

BTW, did you know our "Confederate" on top of the obelisk is a common mass produced soldier statue that was available from just after the war until today? TRUE, however a little known fact is EVERY SOUTHRON MONUMENT built across the land, from Arizona to Richmond FACES SOUTH! Fact.

So we will tell the tale that Hemming Plaza came about AFTER the War of Yankee Aggression? WRONG. The plaza was a military base and several photos of it are available. It was part of a system of towers erected by the Confederate Signal Corps.

Another story that usually goes UNTOLD. The six bravest soldiers in American History climbed down from that tower after signaling the alarm of invasion. When General Seymour's 15,000 toops started forming up on the wharves downtown, "THE LANDING", the six signal corps men marched into the street and fired into the blue mass. Brave? Crazy? Maybe, but in so doing then scattering into the town, Seymour was deprived of the 54TH MA INF. (Movie Glory) which he detailed to capture them. It took so long that they arrived at Olustee too late to save Seymour's army from a crushing defeat.

Come on folks, my ancestors didn't wear the red shirts and fight under a black flag for nothing! I'm willing to bet yours didn't either.

Will we tell the fantastic story of the Streetcars? The Trolley Park? Will we even tell the story of that arched entry sign? (Kudos on that BTW). Sure some designer just came up with it, however, it's a MATCH for the one that stood there, in front of the ferry landing for 70+ years.


OCKLAWAHA
DEO VINDICE Y'ALL!

[Debbie Thompson]

Thank you for the history story of courage under fire, Oklawaha.  Every monument except one faces south, maybe...unless I have my sense of direction wrong (and I may, Main St. may bend there) the Woman of the South monument to the Women of the Confederacy in Confederate Park faces west. :-)  It was built with money raised by Confederate Veterans at a Reunion in Springfield. I think the year was 1914, and the name of the park was changed from Dignan Park to Confederate Park. It's a Newman monument, and perhaps his only woman...or rather women...because there are two...the main character and the woman on top holding the furled banner.  The magnificent monument and sculptures were cleaned and restored by the Springfield Woman's Club in 2008.

But...I digressed off the subject...I love what's happening with Laura Street downtown.

[JeffreyS]

The historical additions are a great idea. JaxLanding thank you for your perspective and I love the idea of the cut through.

[Ocklawaha]

Thank you for the history story of courage under fire, Oklawaha.  Every monument except one faces south, maybe...unless I have my sense of direction wrong (and I may, Main St. may bend there) the Woman of the South monument to the Women of the Confederacy in Confederate Park faces west. :-)  It was built with money raised by Confederate Veterans at a Reunion in Springfield. I think the year was 1914, and the name of the park was changed from Dignan Park to Confederate Park. It's a Newman monument, and perhaps his only woman...or rather women...because there are two...the main character and the woman on top holding the furled banner.  The magnificent monument and sculptures were cleaned and restored by the Springfield Woman's Club in 2008.

But...I digressed off the subject...I love what's happening with Laura Street downtown.

Yes, I understand the brave woman faces the interior of Florida where most of the working farms of the Confederacy were located, burned out, robbed, murdered etc.

The Soldiers are the ones who ALWAYS face south, you make an interesting point with the woman statue, something worth chasing the symbolism.

So how about it Jacksonville? Do we tell these unique urban story's too?

OCKLAWAHA

[Captain Zissou]

This looks great.  Finally an iconic street downtown.  I hope this does wonders for the businesses located in this area. 

[Seraphs]

We have been very involved with this project thanks in large part to Paul Crawford with the JEDC.  Once completed, Laura Street will become the epicenter for downtown Jax and add a new "connective" feel between The Landing and downtown Jax.  It's no secret that we were pretty much built with our arms open to the river and our backs facing downtown.  For years we have wanted to change that by actually cutting through the center of our building at the end of Laura Street.  The "cut through" would allow people to see the river from as far north as Hemming Plaza (maybe even Union Street).  Until we own the land that our building sits on, the cut through isn't feasible.  So until then, we are excited with the Laura Street improvements.
Obviously, certain changes do bring some heartache.  We are concerned with our Loading Dock and how we will be able to get our merchants' truck deliveries in and out.  We are also concered (just like any business dealing with construction) that customers will have a hard time getting to us, or basically think the difficulty isn't worth it.  We all shall see, right?

No worries, regular Jax Landing patrons know they can enter from the river side of the complex.  Most of us are use to renovations and construction, I don't see you having any real problems.

[zoo]

“Some inconvenience is just part of the process. We have to earn a great street.”

This is so true, and no one knows it better than the merchants on Main in Springfield. But Main from 1st-12th is now earned, and hopefully Springfield will be able to better connect with Hemming/Landing via Laura St soon after the southern portion of this project is complete.

Entrepreneurs, Springfield is open for business. Jacksonvillians, come check it out!

[BridgeTroll]

Front page of todays TU...

http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2009-12-27/story/work_to_start_on_27m_project_for_walkable_laura_street

Construction will begin next month on a $2.7 million project Jacksonville officials hope will give people a glimpse of what downtown can be, sparking a renaissance in the struggling city core.

By the end of 2010, a four-block stretch of Laura Street from Monroe Street to The Jacksonville Landing will be converted to the pedestrian-friendly corridor Mayor John Peyton envisions as the cornerstone of a walkable, vibrant downtown.

Improvements include opening Laura Street to two-way traffic, adding a roundabout to replace a traffic light where Laura dead-ends at the Landing and more inviting, wider sidewalks....

[samiam]

Speaking of the history of street names. What about Market St. Was there a Market of some kind on it and if so were. The city could recreate a historic market like they have in Charleston.

[Charles Hunter]

No, no, no ... a colony of meerkats used to live there, but the early settlers of Cowford couldn't spell so good, and "Market" was as close as they could get! 

If I don't know the facts, I make them up!

[samiam]

LOL

[tufsu1]

You would think the TU would have mentioned the genesis of the project.

The readers are predictably off the chain in the comments.

I'm sure you'll let them know 

[If_I_Loved_you]

How long will Laura Street be screwed up. The few stores open on Laura have got to be saying "Oh Sh@#"! Will most of the work be done after 6pm? How many of the few parking spaces will be shut down? I have been away I'm sure some if not all of these questions have been asked or answered I just don't have the time to check. Could someone answer these for me thanks.