Mayport Cruise Ship Terminal Proposal

[Joe]

I'd be interesting in hearing what the other sites are. There are so few options east of 295.

- Bartram Island (which would be awesome, but probably wouldn't be considered because the army corps of engineers is still using it for dredging.)
- There appears to be an empty site at Hecksher & McKenna Drive, but the map lists it as preservation land
- There's an active industrial/mining site at the dead-end of Ft. Caroline Rd.

Either way, it seems like any of these sites would pose much more difficult political battles than simply forcing through the Mayport plan.

Although, as a long term proposition, I really really love the idea of developing Bartram Island (the long island under the Dames Point). The army corps is actually building dykes along the island to accommodate extra fill from the dredging project. So basically, the Feds are lifting the island out of the flood zones for us! If it were feasible to add an exit off of 295, Bartram would be an amazing site for recreational areas, a cruise port, even luxury riverfront homes. It's actually an enormous island with a great footprint. Oh well ... one can always dream.

[stjr]

"Mayport is still an extremely viable location," he said

.

10 to 1 odds they go for Mayport.  All the studies, design, land acquisition are done.  Like our road building agencies, once they begin designing it, the "boat" has left the "pier".    Public hearings are mostly a "procedural" task to implementing the underlying plan.

JPA backed off before to let the opposition cool off, they had more time to make a decision, and the economy was falling off a cliff.  JPA never actually changed their thinking from what I can tell.  Any alternative site reviews at this point will most likely by used to bolster their argument that no place is better than Mayport.

And, no way they are going to not have a cruise terminal here.  The dream for that is as old or older than the one for the Super Bowl.

[JeffreyS]

What got it started was Savanna saying it would be happy to take those cruise liners. Mayport seems like a foregone conclusion let's just do this already.

[ProjectMaximus]

Jacksonville Port Authority Board Chairman David Kulik said today JaxPort is ready to resume considering construction of a cruise terminal at Mayport.

In addition to looking at port-owned land in Mayport, he said two other sites located east of the Dames Point bridge will also get scrutiny as potential sites for a cruise terminal.


http://jacksonville.com/business/2010-03-26/story/jaxport-restart-consideration-cruise-business-mayport

I think I already read this somewhere...

Oh yeah, four posts ago. 

[02roadking]

Jacksonville Port Authority Board Chairman David Kulik said today JaxPort is ready to resume considering construction of a cruise terminal at Mayport.

In addition to looking at port-owned land in Mayport, he said two other sites located east of the Dames Point bridge will also get scrutiny as potential sites for a cruise terminal.


http://jacksonville.com/business/2010-03-26/story/jaxport-restart-consideration-cruise-business-mayport

I think I already read this somewhere...

Oh yeah, four posts ago. 

Wow...Maybe I should not start Happy Hour at Noon....kidding.

[Ocklawaha]

Okay so it's MAYPORT OR BUST!

It's not like we can build the thing on McGirt's Creek at Blanding, or Pottsburg at JTB...

Let's make this a contest between Ft. Caroline Road and Mayport and see which neighborhood gets the ships! No contest folks, much better to rebuild a wreck of a village, then to block the view from the Bentley.

OCKLAWAHA

[CS Foltz]

This makes me wonder if "Vescor" is going for another low interest loan from the bank of Jacksonville.............or is this some other shell company?

[Charles Hunter]

I like the Bartram (formerly Quarantine) Island idea - but with upcoming channel deepening on the horizon, the Corps of Engineers is going to need every inch of that island - and maybe other places - for the dredge spoil.

Maybe this time around, JaxPort will be more sensitive to the Mayport community in their design.

[reednavy]

I don't know how much more sensitive you can be to Mayport, considering what is there and/or isn't there now.

[Ocklawaha]

I like the Bartram (formerly Quarantine) Island idea - but with upcoming channel deepening on the horizon, the Corps of Engineers is going to need every inch of that island - and maybe other places - for the dredge spoil.

Maybe this time around, JaxPort will be more sensitive to the Mayport community in their design.

I'm with Reednavy on this one Charles. Out side of designing a building that looks like a giant old Whirlpool washer from 1947, or an Edsel on concrete blocks, what more could be done??

OCKLAWAHA

[JeffreyS]

I don't know how much more sensitive you can be to Mayport, considering what is there and/or isn't there now.

The Mayport area would be better served bargaining for things they might want than fighting against what is going to happen.

[reednavy]

They want to preserve their village, but they expect things to come to them apparently, not the other way around. Mayport, to be heard, you gotta speak up. I honestly don't see how thousands of tourists every week is a negative.

[CS Foltz]

Gentlemen..........I have to disagree! From my discussions with some of the residents of Mayport, nobody wants a Cruise Terminal there! Granted Mayport is not the greatest village, but it is one of the few working fishing villages left......it is also Historical in nature and if I lived there I would have to say "Cruise Terminal my butt!" If it is not wanted, why go there? There are other locations available so why go where you are not wanted? Let them vegetate or isolate themselves, that should be their decision not Vescor's! I see no benefit for several thousand visitors showing up where is the plus side? Clogged roads, city services, management, wasted resources.......I could go on and on! Don't forget about the Navy coming back who will just love having a cruise ship in the neighborhood...I can see it now........full battle group going out and a cruise ship coming in, yea ..makes sense to me!

[reednavy]

CS, Port Everglades is a port of call for the Navy and they dock beside cruise terminals, so that has zero to do with this. However, the cruise ship would have to wait offshore for a fleet to head out, and that goes w/o any hesitation.

Of coruse we could move the terminal, but that would require wasting more money into studies and such, when all that has been done and land bought for the current site.

Sorry Mayport, but your "historic" eyesore either can get this and prove to be a boom for the village, or you could continue on your current path to obscurity and vacant lots.

[JeffreyS]

CS I could agree with you but I have eyes and have been to Mayport.