Group wants Theme Park Downtown

[Captain Zissou]

So you want to remove public policies and then add back new ones?? 
From the sound of it, you wanted total deregulation and then magically it would all fit together. 

I normally agree with you, but I've lost faith that the downtown market can be totally salvaged by deregulation.  We have far too many uninformed and money hungry developers that would snatch up every available block and drop a Wendy's or a convenience store, which would be possible in your unregulated downtown.

But that's not what you want.  You want to remove regulations and then add back new ones.  Got it.

[thelakelander]

Nope.  Just remove the policies that prohibit or facilitate the development of non-pedestrian scale development in DT and the urban core.  Doing so will go a long way in enhancing the style of connectivity needed to generate walkable synergy.  This will be needed regardless of whatever multimillion dollar one-trick pony project people latch on and believe will singlehandedly save DT's day.

Btw, although I never said anything about an individual use, there's nothing wrong with a Wendy's or a convenience store, assuming they wanted to be a part of the urban scene.  We have plenty of empty retail spaces and infill sites they could invest in.  However, what would be wrong is keeping land use and zoning regulations that encourage suburban auto-oriented building and site layouts in DT and the surrounding neighborhoods.

[DA_MONSTER]

hungry developers that would snatch up every available block and drop a Wendy's

I'm hungry too and would LOVE a wendy's downtown.

[Timkin]

Sure was.... Can't believe they did not stay....Seems like there would still be a need for one in the downtown area.

[Noone]

The best thing we could do for downtown is to simply remove the restrictive public policies that limit urban creativity, encourage pedestrian (WATER),(RIVER) oriented connectivity, get out the way and allow the natural market to take control.

Lake, Your killing me. Keep the Bay St. Pier our Promised 680' Downtown Public Pier outside of the 40 plus acre gated theme park that will be controlled by the DIA. The jaguars used containers and had a ticket window next to them. We are a port city and some containers on the pier could be used for businesses and create jobs immediately. Imagine a zipline from the Berkman to the Pier!     

[JaguarReign]

In case anyone is curious I did some reading about a place called AutoWorld that opened in Flint, MI back in the 1980s.

http://www.mlive.com/news/flint/index.ssf/2009/07/they_needed_more_thrill_lookin.html

Here's a site complete with pictures.

http://toysaregoodfood.com/blog/index.php/2003/09/01/six-flags-autoworld/#more-566

A neat idea. It failed spectacularly... as I suspect a similar idea would in Jacksonville.

It sounds like Autoworld was the worst in edutainment money could buy.

[copperfiend]

Reminds of the scene from Roger and Me. Me and My Buddy!!!!

[fieldafm]

There was a wendy's for many years.

Used to love going to the downtown library as my dad and I would always hit up the Super Bar @ Wendys.  I once surmised they went out of business b/c we literally ate away their profit margins.

[Timkin]

Certainly seems there would be space and customer base enough in just downtown to support a Wendys

[fsujax]

They should resurrect the Wendys in the empty retail space at the Dowtown Library, since that was originally where it was located.

[Fallen Buckeye]

I believe that the first Wendy's was in downtown Columbus and fit in nicely to the surrounding urban area.



http://www.roadsideamerica.com/story/10328

[dougskiles]

One of my clients is a Wendy's franchisee.  They are looking at sites all over Jax for expansion.  I just emailed him about a potential downtown store.  He seemed interested.  What would be the best location?

[fsujax]

I would assume that he would require a drive through?

[JeffreyS]

Between state and union.  I would prefer it more in the heart of downtown but that busy street has lots of traffic and can draw from Springfield as well as downtown.

[thelakelander]

Traffic wise, somewhere between State & Union or Main and Ocean.  In the next year or so, depending on how things play out, the courthouse area or the Landing might not be bad ideas either.