What if Jacksonville suddenly woke up?

[CS Foltz]

Three Layers is better...........no where near as metalic nor bitter!

[Sportmotor]

True, but its a far drive to go out of the way for for me being in St. Johns.
I do love Starbuck's VIA Ready Brew packets. Those are so worth the price.

[duvaldude08]

I acutally do think Jacksonville is a city that "hates itself". Being a Jacksonville native, I absolutely love being here and will rep my city wherever I go. However, there are alot of residents who hate jacksonville and hate staying here and wont move. Anytime there something negative about us in the media most residents resort to saying, " man jacksonville sucks" or " I hate this place." That type of  attitude will never get us anywhere. If Jacksonville woke up, this would be a mega city beyond anyones imagination. Forget Miami and Atlanta. Duval county would be the place to be. We already are the biggiest city land wise in the US, not to mention the most populous city in the state of Florida. We have so much potential....

[Wacca Pilatka]

I live in Virginia, and if you've read anything I've written on this forum you know I love Jacksonville far more than any sane person should love a city.

I fell in love with it while growing up, when my family drove to New Smyrna on vacations.  From an early age I decided it was the most fascinating and beautiful place on the planet, just based on the view from 95. 

I didn't actually pay a formal visit to Jacksonville until I was 13 or 14.  I bought copies of Jacksonville's Architectural Heritage and the long out of print Old Hickory's Town.  Learning about Jacksonville's fascinating and underappreciated history and architecture took my 95-borne affection to a whole new level.

Any chance I get to take a vacation, I almost inevitably go to Jacksonville.  I love its warm and friendly people, its pace of life, its architecture, its color palette, its food, its football team.

Walking around downtown and Springfield and the other urban neighborhoods never gets old for me.  I love to visit the zoo, the MOSH, Kingsley Plantation, and Fort Caroline, and just to be on the river; to drive over the bridges and along Heckscher Drive and Riverside Avenue, enjoying the view.

How many cities have their own architectural style, served as the birthplace for a genre of music, played a central role in the development of the film industry?  How many played hosts to clashes of civilizations and clashes of two regions within one?  How many have a Clark's Fish Camp, a Jenkins, a Three Layers?  How many Avondale and San Marco equivalents are there to be found in this country?

In visiting Jacksonville much more frequently upon becoming an adult with stable income, and in reading this site daily for four years or so, I've learned a lot more about Jacksonville's flaws and shortcomings.  Learning this doesn't make me love the city any less.  I'm more inspired by its potential than dismayed over its failure to realize it.

I "meet," in person or through this message board and the jaguars.com one, a lot of people who love this city and stand up for it.

I also meet a lot of people who do not have the slightest appreciation for what Jacksonville is and trash the city and everything about it at the slightest opportunity. 

The proportion of the latter set seems disturbingly high.

Anyone who thinks there's no culture, no distinction, nothing to do in the city, mystifies me.

Anyone who accepts and internalizes the taunts of the Miamis and Orlandos or the national sports press mystifies me even more.

I've been fortunate to bring two of my best friends to Jacksonville in the past few years for several Jaguar games.  Going in without any preconceived notions of what Jacksonville is, they've enjoyed themselves and the city immensely.

I show friends and coworkers who've never seen Jacksonville pictures of the urban landscape, the neighborhoods, the architecture, and the river.  Without fail, they're stunned at the beauty of the buildings and setting.

I'm no denier of the areas in which Jacksonville needs to improve and almost always find myself in agreement with the leitmotifs of this website about how the ways in which the city needs to change.

But this is a very, very special place, and I'll never understand the damage wrought by those who choose to believe it's trendy to down their hometown.

[finehoe]

^^ Wacca, I'm curious...why haven't you moved here?

[Miss Fixit]

Anyone who thinks there's no culture, no distinction, nothing to do in the city, mystifies me.

Anyone who accepts and internalizes the taunts of the Miamis and Orlandos or the national sports press mystifies me even more.

I've been fortunate to bring two of my best friends to Jacksonville in the past few years for several Jaguar games.  Going in without any preconceived notions of what Jacksonville is, they've enjoyed themselves and the city immensely.

I show friends and coworkers who've never seen Jacksonville pictures of the urban landscape, the neighborhoods, the architecture, and the river.  Without fail, they're stunned at the beauty of the buildings and setting.

I'm no denier of the areas in which Jacksonville needs to improve and almost always find myself in agreement with the leitmotifs of this website about how the ways in which the city needs to change.

But this is a very, very special place, and I'll never understand the damage wrought by those who choose to believe it's trendy to down their hometown.

Wacca, thanks for this beautiful tribute  to Jacksonville.  I agree wholeheartedly with everything you've said.

I've lived and travelled all over the U.S. and world.  Settled in Jacksonville because of a job but grew to love the city, its rich history, its beautiful architecture. 

I can't possibly attend all of the events I have to choose from here,  both during the week and on weekends.  In the next few weeks I have my choice of Porgy and Bess, NCAA Basketball, Elvis Costello and Monster Truck jams!
The beaches and rivers and intracoastal all provide fantastic recreational opportunities.

Neither my waist nor my wallet can afford to eat as often as I'd like at my favorite Jacksonville restaurants, which can compete with those of any major city:  Orsay, Chew, Matthews, Thuptim Thai, Waafa and Mikes, Sliders, Athens Cafe, Picasso's, Meditteranea, the Casbah, Pastiche, the Wine Cellar, Bistro Aix...

Klutho and Ransom Buffalow homes in Springfield and Avondale, Marsh and Saxelbye and Henrietta Dozier's homes and churches and schools in San Marco, Avondale, Riverside, Springfield.  Cool shingled cottages in Atlantic Beach.  Modern masterpieces by Broward.

I love downtown and Springfield and that's where I get especially nostalgic for what might have been, and wonder how the politicians and business leaders of the 1940s through the 1990s could have looked the other way while Queen Ann homes built before the 1901 fire were converted to six unit apartments and Klutho's masterpieces downtown were demolished to make way for some of the ugliest parking garages anywhere on the planet. And his beautiful central park ignored and allowed to fall into disrepair.

But what remains is or could be beautiful. Both Springfield and downtown are on their way back.

Thanks to Metro Jacksonville for being such an eloquent voice for change!

[Wacca Pilatka]

^^ Wacca, I'm curious...why haven't you moved here?

I get asked that a lot...mainly because all my family is here or nearby, I do like where I live and love my job.

[PJparker]

People who speak wistfully about other cities they have lived, they are just echoing this very article.  Jacksonville could be a great city for everyone.  Instead of telling people "you can always move," (no longer true, btw), why not tell people about some activity or location or establishment in Jacksonville similar to what they are missing?  Snowboarding? Have you tried surfboarding?  Miss the arts?  This is how to get involved with the Jacksonville art and culture venues.  Have ideas for the city council?  Good luck with that.
I grew up in Jacksonville and left as soon as I could for Atlanta.  I loved Atlanta, but had to return 10 years ago due to a dying father and sick mother.  Now I am stuck here.  I am an outsider.  I don't think like other people in Jacksonville, or so I am told when I express my opinions.  People are quick to take offense to everything, like they want to fight, be it in traffic or shopping or conversation.  The pervasive idea of putting other people down to feel up.  The mind control imposed by the local news, schools and churches is stifling.  It makes me sad. 
Jacksonville's people need to feel empowered, not restricted, pushed and herded.

[sheclown]

Jacksonville's people need to feel empowered, not restricted, pushed and herded.

...we all do.  Wonderful line.  Let's work on that!!!

[SkipnStones]

I am a Florida native....Miami ws the home town. Growing up in Miami North Fla always seemed to get the short end of the stick when it came to investments from State revenues.
It still the same because Jacksonville does not have Representatives worthy of the position they hold. I am sure they would shout and cry about how much they have done for Jacksonville. Make your own judgment but it is apparent that results are achieved from Orlando down to Key West.

Jacksonville is truly the hidden jewel  on the Sunshine Coast. If we had Representation Jacksonville could be polished and shine as the next great opportunity for business, technology and the arts!

[tufsu1]

if you are referring to representation in Tallahassee, what about the power of folks like John Thrasher and Jim King?

It is important to remember that South Florida has over 5 million people, the Tampa Bay area has close to 3 million, Orlando has over 2 million, and northeast Florida has about 1.25 million.

[PJparker]

True tufsu1, but all roads go through North Florida to reach those destinations.  More people experience North Florida first and last.  Jacksonville could be presented as a great place to stop along the way, with great hotels and restaurants and shopping, green areas like parks and easy access to beautiful vistas.  The landing is OK, but there should be an incentive for tourists and stop-overs.  I have traveled a lot for business throughout the Southeast, and I couldn't wait to get out of a city that was difficult to negotiate toward my destination.  Easy access to state parks for a rest or a local art festival or museum.  Chain stores and restaurants and hotels and a view of the road are boring, I can get that anywhere.  Scenic drives (Pacific coast) and interesting architecture (Natchez MI), and antique row (Marianna, FL) and festivals (New Orleans) are a welcome retreat.

[JaxNative68]

^It was that place a long time ago, the city leaders s**t all over it, and this is what we have left.

[tufsu1]

True tufsu1, but all roads go through North Florida to reach those destinations.  More people experience North Florida first and last. 

Unless of course you're flying in or arriving by boat....plus, remember, that many residents/visitors of Florida come from Central and South America.

[Coolyfett]

"Jacksonville Tars and the Negro League’s Jacksonville Redcap’s throwback jerseys, would be available at a"ny given local sporting goods store."

Are these sold anywhere in town at all?  I have the CD "Entering Duval County" by the local artists Tal-Kin Trees, and one of the members is wearing a Red Caps jersey on the face of the CD.  Not that that says anything about where he found it.

The Baseball grounds used to sell Redcap Jerseys...that is the only place I ever seen one.