Trouble in Downtown?

[Metro Jacksonville]

Trouble in Downtown?



An owner of a recently closed downtown business wants everyone to know what he went through with his small downtown business, and asked that his notice be published on Metro Jacksonville and sent to the City Council, so here it is verbatim:



Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2010-oct-trouble-in-downtown

[civil42806]

Does anything in that message suprise anyone?

[Keith-N-Jax]

It shouldn't, it really shouldn't. I really feel sorry for anyone trying make a living DT. City does not care, but they want your tax money.

[Singejoufflue]

Is this also being sent to the FTU?  We've seen this letter for days, but what about the metro-area?  It's important for the rest of the citizens to have the wool pulled back, whether they requested it or not.

As a side note...What is the viability of a barber shop in the Carling building?  Are there that many men snagging haircuts on any given weekday during office hours that 32202 needs 7 barbershops? 

[Singejoufflue]

I haven't had any problems finding an open meter all summer on Adams near Hogan or around the library; but I'll admit I have some rather good parking juju.

Why not bike it?

[sheclown]

We absolutely need leadership, courageous and bold, on the homeless issue downtown. 

[rainfrog]

What cities (our size or a bit larger) have the homeless thing figured out? I'm really only familiar with St. Louis, and it was like Jacksonville's twin in that regards. Total cottage industry. It's definitely a national issue, but I wonder what cities are the examples to look toward.

[jaxzjax]

Did London Bridge close too? I thought they were just getting renovations.

[JMac]

To take care of the homeless problem downtown, you don't spend more money on the safety net.  You have to make it less hospitable for transients, so they move along to another town.  I can't believe no one foresaw the problem that would be caused by building a taj mahal library between a homeless shelter that closes during the day, and Hemming Plaza.  The city has put out the welcome mat and it will be difficult to reverse the problem while that dynamic is in place.

[tufsu1]

Did London Bridge close too? I thought they were just getting renovations.

yes...but since they had been open for 8+ years, their closure is likely more attributable to business practices (new ownership) than downtown policies

[Steve]

I'd agree on the London Bridge issue.  Once Ginger and her husband (Martin?) sold it, the place was never the same.

[BridgeTroll]

I'd agree on the London Bridge issue.  Once Ginger and her husband (Martin?) sold it, the place was never the same.

Very true... Martin and Ginger made the Bridge... the Bridge.

[fieldafm]

Did London Bridge close too? I thought they were just getting renovations.

yes...but since they had been open for 8+ years, their closure is likely more attributable to business practices (new ownership) than downtown policies

based on......?

I don't know the inner workings of their financial empire that led to their demise, but as a former customer they're business practices under their latest regime flat out SUCKED!  If your product sucks... well the smartest accountants and wisest government officials aren't going to be a big help to you.

I can think of another downtown restaurant who I frequented quite a bit(even yesterday) whose product has also gone seriously downhill to the point where I won't patronize it any longer.

[TheProfessor]

Maybe downtown was not ready for a barber shop since it has little population.  This letter is a bit slanderous.

[fsujax]

yeah. i drive to riverside for haircuts