Governor Crist suggesting axing Duval County School Building on riverfront.

[Fallen Buckeye]

It would be wonderful if we could bring a marine research center

JU is opening a fantastic marine research center right on the river.

Really? Will it be open to the public though? Because what I'm thinking is something that could double as an attraction that has edcuational displays for the public in addition to the research arm of the operation.

[fieldafm]

They are going to have joint educational opportunities with the Riverkeeper and local high schools, and they've had a variety of public workshops... It's a really nice facility taking shape.

Here is the website

http://www.ju.edu/msri/

The heart and soul of Jacksonville and Duval County is the St. Johns River with its confluence of three unique marine and aquatic environments. The freshwater of the river, the brackish marshes of the Intracoastal Waterway and the marine environment of the Atlantic Ocean combine as the base for the uniqueness of our area. Our history and future as a community are based on a healthy river, dynamic waterway and prodigious oceanfront.

As part of an effort to preserve and protect Jacksonville’s most significant natural asset, Jacksonville University has established a new Marine Science Research Institute (MSRI) on the banks of the St. Johns River. The goal is to provide a premier biological and environmental research and education facility. Since our local waters share concerns and issues with similar ecosystems nationwide, the research work accomplished at the JU MSRI will have national benefits.

The concept for establishing the MSRI on the JU campus dates to 1998. It began as collaboration between Jacksonville University, Duval County Public Schools, Jacksonville Marine Charities, the National Park Service and the Florida Fish and Wildlife Commission. Representatives from each organization recognized the need to provide a facility in northeast Florida that could provide students the opportunity to study natural sciences in a field-experiential setting.  The completed MSRI will house the St. Johns Riverkeeper office, along with Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission, Northeast Florida Fisheries Laboratory, the JU Sailing Program and our exciting new high school marine education program in conjunction with Duval County Public Schools.

Pre-College Program

High school Marine and Environmental Education program with Duval County Public Schools http://www.duvalschools.org/
Students combine field work with laboratory experience to enhance classroom learning
Hands-on experience plus interaction within a college campus
Active-learning laboratory program to redirect potential dropouts toward school success


Environmental Field Studies include:

I. Field Trip Sites: usually visit 2 sites per trip

Sister’s Creek (site of the Greater Jacksonville Kingfish Tournament)
Ft. George Inlet
Nassau Sound at Big Talbot Island State Park
Cedar Point
Hanna Park dune overwalk/beach ecosystem
II. Field Trip Preparation:

Lex Waters comes to the high school classes to do a 1-hour power point presentation of the sites that can be visited and the equipment the students will be using
Lex Waters will supply a copy of the worksheet of the power point to use as a pre-and post-assessment of the information
III. Optional Opportunities:

Ride the Mayport ferry across the St. Johns River (most students have never had this fun experience!)
Visit the Mayport Marine Science Education Center’s museum and wetlab
Follow-up lab work at Jacksonville University for plankton analysis
Lunch at JU’s student cafeteria (about $7.00) to get more of the “college campus experience”
IV. Field Trip Activities:

Pull seine, dip and plankton nets
Fish and invertebrate ID manuals supplied, as well as clipboards, pencils and data sheets
Perform and record water quality tests:
dissolved oxygen meter
pH meter
salinity
turbidity
temperature
V. Use Handheld Technology:

Students use GPS to learn how to incorporate new technology to accurately determine latitude/longitude and the tides
Determine meteorological conditions with a portable “weather meter”
VI. Data Interpretation:

Students take their recorded biotic and abiotic data and score the results to determine the “health” of the water they’ve sampled either as optional lab work at JU or at each school as a follow-up lab activity

[Fallen Buckeye]

It definitely has a lot of potential. Here's an example of what direction I would like it to move in.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=B12sHNw856k
http://www.thewilds.org/about/

This is a conservation facility called the Wilds near my hometown that was built on reclaimed strip mines. The main focus is research, and it's partnered with the Columbus Zoo and other organizations to learn more about endangered animals from around the world. It's also strongly partnered with area schools in a way similar to the Marine Center, but they are also a tourist draw and people can take tours of the facility in open air buses and they have restaurants and I think even lodging available right there. I could see this place taking a similar role in our community.

Here's a link to the Savannah Aquarium I was talking about too.

http://www.marex.uga.edu/aquarium/SEA1.html

[Timkin]

Would a renovated Annie Lytle be big enough?

At its current size..... probably not....  The last proposal on Development on #4 (I saw these renderings...they were really nice) called for adding a detached 3 story 100 unit complex on the back side of the Schoolhouse... I would certainly think a building of that size and SF  coupled with 33 very large classrooms, cafeteria, library and the sizeable Auditorium area would accommodate DCSB..  then there would be the issue of where to park...which is where the 3 lots on College came into play.  Is this a doable project?  Someone else would have to answer this.  Is this a suitable and fitting idea for Annie Lytle ?  It would be my second choice, if a Transit terminal could never be feasible.  The Interstate in front in this case is clearly a non-issue if the building is converted to office space..Furthermore , I would think the renovation costs to convert to offices , versus conversion to individual residences, I would think would be considerably less.  IF ( this is a huge IF)  DCSB does elect to sell the Riverfront property, I WISH they would consider this .  Clay County School Board has done exactly the same type of conversion on a over century-old School House...The Origonal Clay High School in Green Cove Springs... and it is incredible what they did with this space, without destroying or taking away any of the Architectural Features of the Building.   This is a good idea for Annie Lytle.  I certainly wish DCSB would consider this.     

[Timkin]

Holy Reality Check, tufsu1.  Talk about your wet blankets!  Jeez!

He always thinks the punch bowl is better if he has a chance to piss in it.

He has no more insight on future decisions of the School Board than anyone else on the board.  He just gets an odd thrill at being a downer on any new ideas.

Shoulda seen his posts when we were suggesting commuter rail.

This sounds dishearteningly familiar

[Ocklawaha]

The Jacksonville Municipal Aquarium at Annie Lytle


Another quality project of the 5-Star Consolidated Government of Jacksonville, Largest City in the Western Hemisphere!

OCKLAWAHA

[Timkin]

LOL utohh.. I would think they could afford a larger aquarium !

[Timkin]

I'd guess Ock still favors the Transit Station idea.  I do too. 

[Ron Mexico]

I always thought those pictures of the Riverfront in the 50's were so cool.  It would be nice to see some real industry there rather than empty condos.  Not to mention the skilled jobs.

[Timkin]

So.....to whom could I talk to @DCSB to propose the idea?  I mean, I doubt it will happen, but it is certainly worthy of mentioning.   


By the way, Ock.. I laugh every time I scroll past the "Municipal Aquarium @Annie"  thats just wrong ..

[Timkin]

I wish DCSB would reacquire Annie Lytle and convert it back into School Board offices.. Perhaps add on a detatched addition in the School's Back yard, since Residential efforts never came to pass... Seems #4 would be a fitting reuse as School Board offices .  Just a pipe dream.. The Transit Station would also be a nice reuse,,,but I don't know about the feasibility of either .Just seems if it would have been allowed to put a 3 story addition there for residential , the same could apply for DCSB.

I think this post is worthy of exploration.

What more fitting use for a former schoolhouse than to serve the school system? (Assuming of course, one considers the school board as "serving" the school system.)

This beautiful structure should not suffer the same fate as so many of our others have.

Timkin, I think you may have found a worthy use for the building.

As worthy as I feel it is,  We need a Convention Center, More Hirise buildings and less historic landmarks, apparently... I can post, and plead ,and reason , and seek out all I want, and all leads come to a dead friggin end..  I'm starting to feel that only a SELECT FEW even give a damn about the School..  So it is probably defeated... I see no use in wasting my time or posting here any longer.

I give up  ...

[billy]

is there still a marine science center in Mayport?
is the rowing center at JU open to the general public?
regarding Annie L., hang in there

[Timkin]

is there still a marine science center in Mayport?
is the rowing center at JU open to the general public?
regarding Annie L., hang in there

Billy.. Thank you for your encouragement.   The ever growing list of Code-enforcement violations, the ENDLESS trespassing , vandalizing, Grafitting, and LACK OF SUPPORT (except as I mentioned before A VERY FEW select people) make it a rather frustrating and disheartening quest.. Sure theres a hand full of kind-hearted volunteers.. But that is not going to get the building restored..

WE MUST have a new Convention Center  We had to build to stupid fuc^&g courthouse.  John Peyton doesn't give a damn about it, Most of City Council doesn't care about it... The MJ crew bravos me for my efforts but not a SINGLE ONE OF THEM have ever put in a Saturday to help.. If they had ever asked for mine, I would have bent over backwards. Lakelander  STATED to me that of the two projects  The convention center probably would happen and Annie can just fall to the way-side ( not those exact words but pretty much the jest of his statement) Since he has a part in planning , I can only conclude that in real life , he could give a shit less if the School falls.   I agree a Train Terminal should be revived.   Theres alot of talk but not alot of action.. I do not have the expertise to know who to fight to save this place.. It would appear CW Johnson supports it, but even with the few things I have asked of her in the way of help , what I have gotten in reply is ...\

Ocklawaha while probably kidding about the Aquarium @ Annie , kind of hurts my feelings... Again where is the support other than an attaboy..    Im pretty sick of alot of words and not much in the way of action.  I remember a sarcasic reply from Michael Corrigan  regarding the LUZ meeting he Chaired , stating the bad condtions and while it "broke his heart" , the building should go.

I gave this School everything I got , until my health ran out.. Ive screamed and yelled to media, the national trust.. to people on forums, sought potential developers, one of them very interested , Until the IDIOT Lady developer who had an option on the property at the time , priced the damn thing to where there was no way he could make it a workable project.

Lastly , let me just mention , the IDIOTS that have for decades destroyed this place painting their offensive graffiti all over it, have certainly helped seal its doom.

IM FED UP  with alot of talk and nobody but myself (and again a few volunteers ) doing anything to help this VERY IMPORTANT Landmark.. When it comes down, PAT ALL OF YOURSELVES on the back, Ok?

[CS Foltz]

Come Timkin! You have to keep pushing to get anything positive accomplished, you know this! Historical Landmarks are one small slice of the overall historical pie......you have to keep pushing or it will fall! From what I understand, we have a mayoral election coming soon.........push to get this on someones agenda! Make it a platform issue, there are enough mayoral wannabe's, there is the possibility for this to catch some ones eye! Make it a part of the total historical picture and there maybe a shot yet! Ms Glorious is pretty good at alot of things, but this is probably outside of her powers. There has to be a Councilperson,whose district PS4 sits in, get them onboard and don't forget the Federal end. With Federal Historical marking, that opens doors for Federal Funds and Tax Incentives, which means you go outside the local end...................not all is lost! IF you need more manpower, I can help but on an irregular interval due to other obligations, just PM me when the next attack is going to be and will try and make a slot to participate!

[rjp2008]

Hilarious OCK!!! Man that was funny.