Riverside Arts Market Opens

[blizz01]

Well - looks like the dock could be in place as early as this summer! -

Waterways OKs floating dock for arts market
by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
The proposed 210-foot floating dock that would make the Riverside Arts Market accessible by boat is one step closer to final approval.
On Thursday, the Jacksonville Waterways Commission voted 7-0 in favor of the City-built, City-owned dock that would be constructed next to the Northbank Riverwalk property owned by Fidelity National Financial.
“We are very excited about this project,” said Jacksonville Economic Development Commission Executive Director Ron Barton.
According to the legislation, which was sponsored by 11 City Council member, the L-shaped concrete dock will cost just under $400,000 and have a 60-foot aluminum gangway that connects the dock to the Riverwalk.
While the City will build and pay for the dock, Barton explained the money isn’t coming out of the general fund. Instead, funds from the Downtown Tax Increment District will be used.
“This is a revenue stream paid into by Downtown property owners to be invested back into Downtown,” he said. “It’s Downtown-centric, Downtown-paid and the funds go back to Downtown.”
The Riverside Arts Market started its second year this past weekend. It’s set up under the Fuller Warren Bridge and, by all accounts, enjoyed a successful first year.
“I think it’s a wonderful idea you are proposing,” said Waterways member Ed Grey, who also suggested signage alerting boaters the dock is for temporary use. “You don’t want one boater to ruin it for everyone. You don’t want them tied up for a week.”
Barton said the floating dock would help fulfill one of the JEDC’s 19 points in its master plan for Downtown. Creating more access to the St. Johns River, both for boaters and those who don’t own or use a boat, is the last of the points in the official plan, but also one of the most important since it has the potential to benefit everyone.
“It’s our desire to create a better linkage to the St. Johns River and make it an economic driver,” said Barton. “It’s imperative over time to link all the citizens to the river.”
Waterways and Council member John Crescimbeni asked about the impact Barton expects the dock to have on the arts market, which runs through December. Barton said to predict the impact would be conjecture.
“As a boater, I think it’s exciting,” he said. “I can’t believe anything other than it would be wildly successful.”
Barton said the permits for the dock were submitted this week and he expects the process to take about three months. Once permitted, he said the project would move quickly and the dock could be functional in June or July.
http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=530477

[devlinmann]

Taking the whole family to this tomorrow!

[reednavy]

They better tie down their tents, gusts 40-50mph will be quite possible tomorrow.