Wanted: Ideas for developing Cecil

CS Foltz · January 20, 2010, 06:56:52 PM

I would find another way in, if I had to go there but Cecil needs something aerospace oriented. Not the only possibility but one that could make use of runways and hangers! Mod centers, refurb's, paint shops.....aircraft end is pretty unlimited!

gatorback · January 20, 2010, 07:12:01 PM

CS I agree not using the runways would be a shame, but those runways are expensive to maintain. Who's going to pay for that? I say, the feds! I want a mix for public and private/gov. use and part of that could be the configurable temporary refugee camp. Think that at least once every 2 years or so, FEMA could pay us to house the 100's of 1000's of displaced IKE/KATRIA/refugess, etc, etc. etc. Is any other city planning for such?

The infrastructure is there. We could loan that part out from time to time.

Sportmotor · January 20, 2010, 07:44:01 PM

The armed forces would be better off back in Cecil

CS Foltz · January 20, 2010, 07:44:56 PM

Makes sense to me! FEMA would do well to preposition somethings here but Arkansas had a bunch of trailers parked last time I was in that part of the world. Runways could be a fed maintenance issue or even feeder lines (airline short haul passenger/freight)could participate! Lots of possibilities but need to get some companies in here asap! Master Jet Base would be nice, just have to share with civil end!

Sportmotor · January 20, 2010, 07:48:05 PM

the runways could be turned into...drag strips!
Oh (as a former street racer) would have been nice to have a place to legally run a car full out rather then doing it against the law.

CS Foltz · January 20, 2010, 07:51:56 PM

Good idea but not sure that the City would buy that one! Flat circuit racing possible......Sebring style! Gray Hodges Speedway many years ago over Dothan Al way used to be the same thing.......ex-runway flat circuit! My bike would love the hell out of that! So would the Audi!

Ocklawaha · January 20, 2010, 08:13:11 PM

All the way north to CSX and NORFOLK SOUTHERN in or near Westlake. Turn operations and industrial development along the railroad over to an aggressive shortline operator such as RAIL AMERICA (FEC), PINSLEY (FL CENTRL), WATCO (WATCO SHOPS ON KINGS), GENESEE AND WYOMING (TALLEYRAND TERMINAL), or the independent ST. MARYS RAILWAY.

A BULK COMMODITIES TERMINAL (one of two owned by COJ and operated by JPA, JAA and JTA) THE MAIN INTERMODAL RAIL-SEA-HIGHWAY TERMINAL AT THE PORT. THE MAIN RAIL-AIR-HIGHWAY TERMINAL AT CECIL. Both terminals can be leased and developed by private corporations that seek to develop both the terminals and the traffic base to support them.

It's going to be a tough sell to be "America's Logistics Center," when we are missing 1/4 of the Logistics at our number one air/industrial facility.

Today's shippers increasingly want a one stop shop. Publishing photos of a port on Blount Island, A truck terminal on Commonwealth, A railroad yard off Philips, and A Airport at Cecil, does not a CENTER make. Building such infrastructure after the fact that some development has taken place, and valuable space, puts us behind the curve from the day we realize we need to "make tracks." Both Cecil and the Port need rail access, and rail improvements respectively, and they need them YESTERDAY. The time for talk is way over...

OCKLAWAHA

Sportmotor · January 20, 2010, 08:20:17 PM

Quote from: CS Foltz on January 20, 2010, 07:51:56 PM
Good idea but not sure that the City would buy that one! Flat circuit racing possible......Sebring style! Gray Hodges Speedway many years ago over Dothan Al way used to be the same thing.......ex-runway flat circuit! My bike would love the hell out of that! So would the Audi!

better on a track then in the streets
the cars WILL be run, and not everyone wants to go to gainsville to run it.
Why not here? Would pull people from Daytona, Orlando and other surroudning areas

CS Foltz · January 20, 2010, 08:26:43 PM

I got no problem with that................most of my running, if I were to do those things, is out in the sticks......way out! Gainsville does not enthuse me alot..........1/4 miles straight shot and its all over! I like dragging knees and elbows on the bike and the Audi will go 153 before the ecu says .....nope no more dude!

Sportmotor · January 20, 2010, 08:36:38 PM

We run out in St. Johns....actually my old group I used to lead still does.
But unfortuantly the Sticks as it is, isnt vacant as it needs to be.

A track would benifit to get the racers off the streets. Id dare say its Needed..
Plus that can give way to more companys coming in and opening up around it starting more jobs in the area :3 YAY!!

Ocklawaha · January 20, 2010, 08:50:22 PM

Quote from: CS Foltz on January 20, 2010, 08:26:43 PM
I got no problem with that................most of my running, if I were to do those things, is out in the sticks......way out! Gainsville does not enthuse me alot..........1/4 miles straight shot and its all over! I like dragging knees and elbows on the bike and the Audi will go 153 before the ecu says .....nope no more dude!

Well, there was THUNDERBOLT AIRPORT, SWITZERLAND AIRPORT, BRANNON FIELD, even IMESON and REYNOLDS for a short spell... All fast tracks. Switzerland was my favorite haunt, using the taxiways and runways, one could make quite a circuit. I wonder if that huge 8" artesian well is still flowing? ...or if the developer that bought it and did NOTHING, found the old bomb range? (Maybe that's why he didn't do anything?)

BTW, Francis Field NLTA base is still intact at the corner of World Golf Parkway and Francis Road in St. Johns County. I haven't been into the field itself, gated, but it's for sale and appears to be a concrete circle of about 1/4 mile, which was typical of the old Blimp Bases.

OCKLAWAHA

gatorback · January 20, 2010, 10:20:19 PM

Pecan Park did close right? so, I'm sure we could make a world class drag stip off all that pristine concrete at NAS Cecial Field. And, when we're not burning rubber off Goodyear Drag Radials, we could housing refugees.

mtraininjax · January 21, 2010, 08:17:11 AM

QuoteTHE MAIN RAIL-AIR-HIGHWAY TERMINAL AT CECIL.

Interesting idea. Plenty of land, just need to get the rails to trails ROW back and get the party started.

CS Foltz · January 21, 2010, 10:11:51 AM

Had the same problems at Brookly Field in Mobile! Once upon a time, Stratigic Aeorspace Material Command Facility......runways were big enough for B-52's and there were some there at one time. Now is all civil oriented, Mobile got to buy it for the sum of $1.00...........good buy for sure. Coast Guard took over the Sea Terminal side and that is Coast Guard Base Mobile now.....I think they are still there! Been awhile since I have been to the water side but the Air arm is still at Bates Field.

Ocklawaha · January 21, 2010, 10:27:00 AM

We long ago blew the chance of a one-of-a-kind SEA-AIR-RAIL-HIGHWAY intermodal terminal when we closed the old AAF/City Field at Imeson... So close to the river and port... so long ago...

Damn memories of DC-6's and Super Connie's!

OCKLAWAHA