Town Center program heading to Avondale

[thelakelander]

So Columbia heights is somewhat similar to the revitalization of the area around Riverside hospital, but on a bigger and more drastic scale? Or perhaps sprucing up an area like La Villa?  I am a little young to have experience riverside at its worst, but that is what I think would relate to this scenario.

Columbia Heights in DC would be more on par with a Durkeeville or Eastside in Jacksonville.  I used to spend a lot of time in that area during the mid to late 90s.  That place really turned around when the Metro's green line was extended.  For those who question the ability of rail playing an important role in spurring private economic development that quickly turns a community around, Columbia Heights would be well worth the visit.

This 2007 article about bringing rail back to the Northside included a segment on and a few images of Columbia Heights:

http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2007-feb-rebuilding-the-northside-saving-the-s-line

I am for turning derelict areas near the core into community hubs through the Town Center Program, but I don't support the projects for 103rd st etc... While those areas are worse off, i think they are less critical to improving Jax and it's regional and national status as making truly great areas.  I think continued investment in Avondale and San Marco will make them nationally known, or at least state-wide.  Winter Park in Orlando is a good example of a town center 1 or 2 steps above San Marco.

Winter Park is actually a city that is almost just as old as Orlando.  Park Avenue is Winter Park's historic downtown.  Regarding the town center program, fixing sidewalks on suburban areas like New Berlin Rd and 103rd Street won't do much.  They may already be on the list but the money would go further improving historic pedestrian oriented commercial districts like Main Street in New Springfield, Phoenix Avenue, Kings Road near EWC and Beaver Street.  Because of the density and physical set up of these areas, you'll get more usage out of the improvements going in and a stronger chance at creating additional pedestrian sheds in the city.

[mtraininjax]

Are they really closing the Ingleside entrance at J Roberts Gallery?

Can you say.....pocket park??

[Captain Zissou]

We will always have ghettos and sprawl, so why not polish up our gems, rather than work on making diamonds out of coal?

arnt diamonds worth more then gems?

Thanks for picking up on the important part sportmotor. That's exactly what I wanted people to get out of my post.  

It shouldn't need repeating, but i was essentially saying let's take our A- areas to an A+ before we worry about bringing our D areas to C+.

[cline]

Thanks for picking up on the important part sportmotor. That's exactly what I wanted people to get out of my post. 

It shouldn't need repeating, but i was essentially saying let's take our A- areas to an A+ before we worry about bringing our D areas to C+.

So basically we should only focus on popular, successful areas (i.e. Avondale) and forget all the rest because they are probably too far gone anyways.  I'm just not sure about that.  One could make the argument that an area like Avondale, for example, already does just fine and doesn't need this sort of program as much as other parts.  My opinion is that some of these areas you consider "ghettos" have the potential to be rehabbed.  We can have numerous town center type areas in Jacksonville.  We shouldn't just give up on places.

[Sportmotor]

Well if the idea is to upkeep a "A-" area to keep it "A+" I am all for that.
Definatly not giving up on an area, I kinda think maybe working from the rim to center would work better then center to rim, in a city or urban core.

[mtraininjax]

Anything speculate as to the construction work actually helping with the food quality and Bluefin?

[Kay]

I skimmed over the pdf.  Are they really closing the Ingleside entrance at J Roberts Gallery?

What do you mean by closing the Ingleside entrance?  Is there a doorway there into the gallery?  They are not closing the street only doing sidewalk improvements.

[fieldafm]

I skimmed over the pdf.  Are they really closing the Ingleside entrance at J Roberts Gallery?

What do you mean by closing the Ingleside entrance?  Is there a doorway there into the gallery?  They are not closing the street only doing sidewalk improvements.

I am talking about this bulletpoint Table 1, page 11 of the report

Close Ingleside Avenue and add parking

I was under the impression that parallel parking would be increased on Ingleside in b/w Brick and the old gas station(a great idea), and that the right of way at Ingleside in b/w J Roberts and the old Lord's would be closed to street traffic.  Is that incorrect?

Also Kay, how much parking is being added to St Johns Ave?  Finally, have the entry monuments been designed yet?

Thank you for your input/clarification on these points!

[Kay]

RAP hasn't been involved in this project as it is an iniative of the Avondale Merchants Association.  I've asked about the parking and will relay what I know.  Probably the best way to get accurate information is through Councilman Corrigan's office.

I'm being told that there will be 22 90-degree spaces on The Brick side of Ingleside between St. Johns and Riverside Avenue.  On the other side of Ingleside there will be around 18 90-degree spaces.  This is approximate as it is still being designed.  A couple of the entrances into what was the gas station are being closed to add parking.  There will be bulbouts at Riverside Avenue for safety. 

They also are adding 4 additional angled parking spaces in front of Casbah.  To my knowledge, they are not closing Ingleside to traffic on the gallery side.  I don't know anything about the monuments. 

[fieldafm]

Awesmome, thank you for the response 

[Fallen Buckeye]

We will always have ghettos and sprawl, so why not polish up our gems, rather than work on making diamonds out of coal?

arnt diamonds worth more then gems?

Thanks for picking up on the important part sportmotor. That's exactly what I wanted people to get out of my post.  

It shouldn't need repeating, but i was essentially saying let's take our A- areas to an A+ before we worry about bringing our D areas to C+.

I haven't lived here all that long, but didn't areas like Riverside go from D to A- because we invested in them? I agree that this Town Center program is wasted in areas like 103rd St. because those areas aren't designed to be pedestrian-friendly places to begin with, but all the people of Jacksonville deserve to be served by their city officials.

[JeffreyS]

^Good post.

[grimss]

Not to hijack this thread, but I also do not have much experience with Riverside during its down years. I don't know what information exists out there, but it will be really informative if a future Metrojacksonville piece showed where Riverside came from during its down years.

There's a good video on RAP's homepage http://www.riversideavondale.org that has some visuals and commentary about what happened in Riverside between the 1950s and early 1990s.

[ChriswUfGator]

We will always have ghettos and sprawl, so why not polish up our gems, rather than work on making diamonds out of coal?

arnt diamonds worth more then gems?

Isn't there some interwebs hall of fame we can nominate this to?

[braeburn]

I just hope this will be merely an improvement to the general area as opposed to removing any of the already existing charm this area has.