Downtown Jacksonville struggles with the Basics

[Steve]

^That's not not the issue.  The issue is that it is unfriendly and confusing to the end user.

[tufsu1]

Maybe the wayfinding sign is correct...but it was supposed to be hung on the Florida Theatre block of Forsyth.

[Lunican]

Well then maybe they should move it.

[coredumped]

I really wish that incorrect sign was a joke. You can't tell me all the people who had a had in the sign didn't notice it was wrong. Think about it, it was someone's job to find out the best location to place a sign, and then decide what to put on it, and finally, which way to place the arrows! Simply amazing.

On another note, I'm a regular on this site and didn't know the Omni had a restaurant inside, certainly visitors to our city wouldn't know.

</rant> Good article

Edit: My post sounds so negative, I want to add that I'm glad to see these changes, they're certainly a step in the right direction.

[TheProfessor]

If you see a problem with a street sign, a street light out, or any other city maintenance issue, then feel free to use your tax dollars and call 904-630-CITY...They are usually helpful to fix any problems.

[CS Foltz]

Unless it is an "alley" light in Springfield! Then there appears to be an issue..........since the city appears to be trying to discontinue those lights,maybe they have an exception to those rules?

[thelakelander]

On another note, I'm a regular on this site and didn't know the Omni had a restaurant inside, certainly visitors to our city wouldn't know.

The have a few places inside there.

Get a taste of regional Florida cuisine at our restaurant, or sip a light, refreshing cocktail at Juliette’s Lounge.  The fine dining you crave is waiting at the Omni Jacksonville Hotel.

Juliette’s Bistro

Our modern bistro will please your palate with fine exquisite cuisine and wines from around the globe and pamper your spirits with a wonderful ambience.  Juliette’s recently underwent a dramatic renovation and provides a striking backdrop filled with an array of “movers and shakers” enjoying breakfast, lunch and dinner daily.

J Bar

J Bar is the perfect place to soak up some local color and meld into the downtown scene at any hour.  Satisfy your appetite with small plates of progressive bistro-inspired cuisine, enjoy cocktails or savor a glass of wine.  Open every night for cocktails and light fare. Join us any time â€" we’re open late into the night.

http://www.omnihotels.com/FindAHotel/Jacksonville/Dining.aspx

There's also a restaurant on the 10th floor of the Wachovia Building and a gift shop in the enclosed mall like space connecting the two buildings.

[thelakelander]

Maybe the wayfinding sign is correct...but it was supposed to be hung on the Florida Theatre block of Forsyth.

No, its wrong.  If it were hung on the Florida Theatre block, it would direct you to the Southbank via Newnan.  That route would only work for a duck tour.

[jason_contentdg]

Maybe the wayfinding sign is correct...but it was supposed to be hung on the Florida Theatre block of Forsyth.

No, its wrong.  If it were hung on the Florida Theatre block, it would direct you to the Southbank via Newnan.  That route would only work for a duck tour.

Well maybe the Duck Tour is on its way...couldn't say that without laughing.

[CS Foltz]

Ducks were a pig in the water..............LCM's and LCT's were not much better!

[Steve]

Maybe the wayfinding sign is correct...but it was supposed to be hung on the Florida Theatre block of Forsyth.

I can't imagine that it was supposed to go there, but either way, the current state is wrong, and that is not acceptable - bottom line.  We have a huge issue with making downtown user-friendly, and we pull this crap.  No excuses; fix it!

[CS Foltz]

Steve...........we appear to have money for the mayors pet projects, but don't appear to have money for common basic necessities or services...........but hay...... We can always get fee'd to make up the difference right? Only $58 Million Dollars in the hole at the October Budget Meeting!

[stjr]

Regarding the Omni, who ever designed the orientation of that building should have their sanity questioned.

When the master plan for the rest of that block finally gets completed, the Omni will be nearly invisible, lost in a sea of high rises (I wonder what view the guests will have? Glass mirrored windowed walls?).  The drive up entrance (which also services the parking garage!) is not just invisible, it's almost inaccessible.  The super narrow two-way driveway is often blocked with cars, taxis, and limos barely leaving one lane for passage.  The same driveway is the pedestrian exit from the parking garage for all the patrons who park there for the T-U center events.  But, since the driveway has no or little sidewalk coverage, hundreds of people (enough that they have a cop at the crosswalk mid-block) must walk its length down the center of the driveway dodging the cars coming and going to the hotel and garage.  Stupid, stupid, stupid.  One day, an expensive lawsuit by an injured pedestrian might get them to fix it.

The other poor execution is that Juliette's fine dining restaurant in the hotel has no parking validation for the over-priced garage.  I don't think the hotel does either for events there (unlike the Hyatt which does).  The excuse is that the Omni doesn't own the garage.  You would think when they negotiated for the building they would have addressed that since spaces are reserved for hotel guests and valet parking.

I have also wondered why Juliette's (and other downtown restaurants) don't promote pre-theater dinners and/or dinner/theater ticket/parking packages as I have never seen that either.

As to the wayfinding signs, it looks like they could be in the street light shadows at night.  Is visibility then an issue?

[Jerry Moran]

I have also wondered why Juliette's (and other downtown restaurants) don't promote pre-theater dinners and/or dinner/theater ticket/parking packages as I have never seen that either.

From the Florida Times-Union letters to the editor:

DOWNTOWN EVENTS

Early starts

The reader who expressed concern about sparse attendance at the Jacksonville Symphony Musicians Pension Benefit concert should not be surprised.

Just how many of us can get off work, go home and wash up, have something to eat, fight traffic and then find downtown parking in time to make a 7:30 show?

Wouldn't it be nice to have a few minutes for a quick pre-concert meal at a downtown restaurant before the show? If the event starts at 7:30, that's nearly impossible.

All weekday events, shows, and concerts in Jacksonville should be required to start no earlier than 8:15 p.m.

That extra 45 minutes would make a world of difference in helping attendees patronize downtown businesses. If the out-of-town promoters of the event cannot do that, let them find another city.

JERRY MORAN,

restaurateur,

Why bother when most of the shows during the week start at 7:30 PM or earlier?  Only non-working or retired people have the time and schedule to attend events held at that time.  This has been said before:  How can one get off work at 5 PM, go home and clean up, get the kids squared away, drive downtown, find parking, gobble down a dinner, and then make a 7:30 show?  Almost no one.  I told the Mayor that at his Make a Scene Downtown meeting last year.  I called Stacy Ridenour at the Symphony and discussed the issue at length.  Nothing is going to change.  Virtually every one of my pre-event guests are nervous about making the show in time, and say they would like the starting time moved back to 8 PM or later during the week.

So, the Jacksonville Symphony has no one to blame for lousy weekday attendance but themselves.

The FL Theater seems to be having more 8 PM week day shows, and are to be commended for that.

[Coolyfett]

Thats the Omni Entrance?? I thought that was something else. Ive stayed at that hotel n always entered where the driveway is. Good deal on the parking signage. They do need to fix the direction signs.