Peyton lobbies City Council for downtown projects

[fsu813]

Riverwalk and Metropolitan Park improvements proposed

Mayor John Peyton unveiled plans this morning for more than $23 million in downtown improvements to increase public access and spruce up amenities on the St. Johns River.

Peyton met with a handful of City Council members to brief them on the plans and lobby for support on the group of projects the mayor sees as crucial as his time in office winds down.

The council did not fund the projects during budget talks this summer. The majority of the money comes from moving money around from other downtown-area projects and from extra taxes that must be used specifically for public improvements on the Southbank, Peyton said.

The plan would:

•Use $11.9 million to replace wood planks and fix other structural problems on the Southbank Riverwalk.

•Spend $8.2 million for the first phase of improvements to Metropolitan Park. Highlights include revamping the children’s area with a new water feature, removing fences and flattening the land to create a 4-acre public lawn to be used for festivals and athletic events.

•Put $3.1 million into replacing the pumps and fixing Friendship Fountain on the Southbank. Work would include replacing much of the concrete around the fountain with grass and adding lighting and seating to the area.

Peyton said he understands some people may grumble about spending money as taxes were just raised, but stressed this is just reprioritizing downtown projects.

Most of the money had been set aside for extensions to the Northbank Riverwalk, including the stretch from the Fuller Warren Bridge to Memorial Park that the city hasn’t been able to fully support with contributions from property owners along the path.

“The worst thing we can do is succumb to paralysis and survivalist thinking by not doing anything,” Peyton said.

The improvements are a beginning step for rebuilding downtown â€" changes Peyton says will help lure businesses to invest in the core city.

Peyton says he’s confident the plan will be approved. He has long advocated for the improvements and has been trying to build support on the council for months, taking several members on tours of the parks and Riverwalk.

As of this morning, nine of 19 council members had signed on as co-sponsors.

“When you don’t reinvest back into your infrastructure, you create more problems,” saidCity Councilman Johnny Gaffney, one of the sponsors.

The proposal is expected to be voted on next month. If approved, construction would begin by the end of the year.




from:
http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2010-01-07/story/peyton_lobbies_city_council_for_downtown_projects

[fsu813]

"Use $11.9 million to replace wood planks and fix other structural problems on the Southbank Riverwalk."

- aka the Art Shad i-fell-off-my-bike line, eh?

I hate the idea for Met Park. Noone is going to go there for anything other than the occasional special events, imo. unless you spend waaaay more money on making more desirable and accessible.

[Lucasjj]

"Most of the money had been set aside for extensions to the Northbank Riverwalk, including the stretch from the Fuller Warren Bridge to Memorial Park that the city hasn’t been able to fully support with contributions from property owners along the path."

I really wish this could be worked out. Connecting the River Walk to Memorial Park would be an awesome asset for the city when promoting the downtown core.

[Overstreet]

"Use $11.9 million to replace wood planks and fix other structural problems on the Southbank Riverwalk."

- aka the Art Shad i-fell-off-my-bike line, eh?..............

Twenty years on a wood deck it a good record. It does need some maintenance though. Of course I'll bet there is something beyond maintenance in there.

[Captain Zissou]

•Put $3.1 million into replacing the pumps and fixing Friendship Fountain on the Southbank. Work would include replacing much of the concrete around the fountain with grass and adding lighting and seating to the area.

WOO!!!! The Memorial Park extension is another great use of funds.  These two projects are about 6 years overdue, but at least they beat Fuddruckers to completion!

[vicupstate]

Spend the money on the Riverwalk, since it is probably in lawsuit-appetizing condition, and do the Friendship Fountain work.  The 8.2 million for Metro Park can be spent in a better way.  No one goes to that park except for special events, the improvements might be needed, but there are many higher prioritizes, IMO. 

Use that $8.2 mm to get SOMETHING going in the Barnett building, the Laura Trio, Ambassador Hotel or some other similiar building on the Northbank. 2-way some more streets on the Northbank too if there is something left over.     

[thelakelander]

^Good points Vic.  I was thinking the same thing.

[CS Foltz]

vicupstate..........I agree! The Metro Park money could be better spent elsewhere! Is it just me or does there appear to be a lack of prioritizing? These are things that should have been done long before now!

[JeffreyS]

I am pretty happy with this list.

[tpot]

Just imagine how nice our downtown would look if the city had decided to invest in downtown JAX 10 years ago................once again JAX is the last one on the boat...............

[vicupstate]

JAX HAS invested tons of money into Downtown, and for a lot longer than 10 years.  The problem has been it has been scattershot, uncoordinated, with no long-term plan or vision of the desired end result.   Not to mention with no clue as to how to create or recreate an urban environment.     

[Keith-N-Jax]

10 yrs, try 30. The problem has been all these master plans they create only not to follow them in the long run.

[Seraphs]

It would be nice to continue the North Bank Riverwalk to Memorial Park, however, the South Bank Riverwalk is in much need of repair.  I agree, it will be money well spent.  I also agree with the Met Park statement, that money could be spent elsewhere.

[CS Foltz]

Glad to see that Mayor Johnny is finally coming to his sense's.............I mean really, these are projects that should have been done long ago, in fact, these projects should have been finished long before now but I guess better late than not at all! Amazing that we can suddenly find $22 Million Dollars plus to do this work, makes me wonder if we fired the 227 AIMO's we have.............we would have another $27 Million Dollars to work with, just think what else might get done!

[north miami]

It is now "safe" to direct attention to the region's core.

Surrounding counties now have alternative employment centers and other development dreams vested,complimented by the Beltway.Consider the profile of Beltway interests embedded within the Chamber of Commerce.And the fact that regional growth has been driven by surrounding county anti Duval theme.