Improved Laura Street to tell Downtown's history

[copperfiend]

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

The readers are predictably off the chain in the comments.

I usually don't even waste my time reading them. Mostly paranoid racists on the T-U and FCN comments section.

[Bativac]

The comments from our fellow citizens in the Times-Union article are indicative of the general feeling around town about downtown Jacksonville, I think. Unfortunately, the mindset here is (and has been, for as long as I can remember) "tear down that old junk and build something new." Then, the new stuff sits until it BECOMES "old junk," and the cycle continues.

One way of putting the local mindset: Why spend money revitalizing downtown when there is still space on Beach Blvd available for strip malls??

(One commenter had a good idea - incentives for small businesses willing to move downtown. I know a half dozen would-be entrepreneurs who would jump at such an opportunity.)

[copperfiend]

It is probably the same mindset around most of the country regarding urban settings. People that get excited about a Chili's opening next to the new Wal-Mart are everywhere in the southeast. We need more young professionals.

[tufsu1]

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.

since they will do the project one block at a time, most businesses will only be affected for 2-3 months...and the inconvenience to drivers shouldn't affect business much, as most of these shops are dependant on foot traffic.

[mtraininjax]

Anything NEW downtown is progress with this administration. Bring on the new new!

[subro]

City Begins Overhaul Of Laura Street

POSTED: Wednesday, February 10, 2010
UPDATED: 4:20 pm EST February 10, 2010


JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- Get ready for a big mess downtown while the city tries to make Laura Street friendlier for walkers.

Mayor John Peyton, City Council members and other officials broke ground Wednesday on a nearly $3 million renovation of the street.

The sidewalks will be widened and cobblestone pavers will be used to create a café atmosphere.

"We believe this public realm initiative will pay for itself in economic growth in downtown Jacksonville by attracting more capital investment and encouraging workers, residents and visitors to locate in this great area," Peyton said.

Where Laura ends at Independent Drive, a traffic circle will be built to accommodate two-way traffic. The Andrew Jackson statue now at the Landing will be moved to the center of the roundabout.

The project will close down Laura Street near the Landing for 90 days, but it will take about a year to complete all the improvements on the road. Officials said most of the construction will take place between 9 p.m. and 5 a.m. and will be completed one block at a time to minimize disruption.

http://www.news4jax.com/news/22524602/detail.html

[rjp2008]

“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.”

I like the project, but the excitement about "signs of old buildings" is just laughable!! As if tourists or even new residents would even be interested in that. Meh. Go ahead and make them, but do it inexpensive.

Change happens slow in Jax, and that's fine. I like the A Jackson statue move - brings a focus to the origins. Tell HIS story more. What about a couple FREE HORSE AND CARRIAGE RIDES going up and down the street starting at the landing?

[kells904]

What about a couple FREE HORSE AND CARRIAGE RIDES going up and down the street starting at the landing?

I like it!!

[Wacca Pilatka]

“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.”

I like the project, but the excitement about "signs of old buildings" is just laughable!! As if tourists or even new residents would even be interested in that. Meh. Go ahead and make them, but do it inexpensive.

Change happens slow in Jax, and that's fine. I like the A Jackson statue move - brings a focus to the origins. Tell HIS story more. What about a couple FREE HORSE AND CARRIAGE RIDES going up and down the street starting at the landing?

Well...speaking as an out-of-stater with a lifelong love for Jacksonville, my interest in the city really escalated to a new level when I got Jacksonville's Architectural Heritage 17 years ago and started learning the stories behind the city's buildings.  I really like the plaque idea.  I even wrote to CSX corporate giving about a year ago to ask if it would be interested in sponsoring something like that.

The horse and carriage idea is a great one.  One of these days I swear I have to come up with an idea to not only do historical tours of Jax but make them a major attraction...the story is far more interesting than most realize.

[fieldafm]

Took some snaps of the construction yesterday...





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[brainstormer]

I'm starting to get a picture of the roundabout and I think it will be a wonderful addition.  With the statue in the middle and some nice flowers, the aesthetic appearance of the intersection will be greatly enhanced.  Now just picture being able to see the statue against the backdrop of the river (with an opened up Landing).    Get rid of the Main Street Bridge entrance ramp next to the landing, a little high density infill as well as opening stores to Laura street and finally we might have a walkable destination area with some potential.

[stjr]

Other than Friendship Park, San Marco Square, and River Road, can anyone recall any public fountains in this town?

A fountain in that circle or one like it or in a pocket park downtown would be a nice addition.

I remember walking by a really neat pocket park in Manhattan (seems like it was in the high 40's or low 50's) and the park, wedged between buildings featured ivy covered trellises, small trees, little round tables and chairs, and water running over the entire back wall of the lot into a trough at the wall base.  The sights and sounds of running water provided a real oasis of peace in the midst of all the hustle and bustle.  In fact, here are some  photos and some comments on it I just found on the internet...

This is Paley Plaza, described as a "vest pocket" park, it is a tiny oasis in the Midtown area, the densest part of the city. I first saw this park when I passed by it many years ago when I was a child,  even then it struck me as an extraordinary space. It consists simply of a waterfall/fountain, locust trees, and moveable seating. The sound of the water masks the noise of the street and draws visitors inside. It is a brilliant  piece of landscape architecture. A world-class park that could fit in most Austin backyards!

http://www.soulofthegarden.com/dailymuse0703.html

Samuel Paley Park, designed by Robert Lewis Zion of Zion & Breen on the site of the former Stork Club on the north side of East 53rd Street between Madison and 5th Avenues, opened on May 23, 1967 as the first vestpocket park. The 40-by-100-foot urban oasis, named in honor of former CBS Chairman William S. Paley's father, contains 12 honey locust trees planted in modified quincunx pattern, and a 20-foot-high waterwall, vertical lawn side walls adorned with ivy, and cobblestones set unevenfly to slow pedestrian traffic. The waterfall, flowing 1,800 gallons of water per minute, creates a backdrop of grey noise masking the sounds of the city.

William Paley commissioned the park--part of his proposal for a vestpocket park for each midtown block in Manhattan. Zion designed prototype for park for 1963 Architectural League exhibition

The Stork Club was one of the most famous nightclubs in New York during the 1930's-1950's. Owned and operated by Sherman Billingsley, a former bootlegger from Oklahoma, the club was a symbol of Café Society drawing celebrities and power brokers among its clientèle.

http://www.flickr.com/photos/wallyg/2275143935/

[thelakelander]

Here are a few other fountains in the downtown area.

The Landing


The Peninsula and Strand




Stein Mart headquarters

[Charles Hunter]

There's one in front of the Haskell building on Riverside Ave.  Aren't there fountains in Hemming Plaza?

[thelakelander]

^Yes.