Twenty Affordable Fixes For Downtown

[darctones]

These are all good ideas to help Jacksonville realize it's potential.  But, given our budget shortfalls a rational person cannot expect the city to take a pro-active stance on development (even if I will bring in more money in the long term).

Those of us who care about the urban core should empower community organizations such as the JEDC, DVI, and RAP to develop obtainable models and consumer-supported incentives to bring growth to these areas.  The city is more likely to spend money to aid growth, than to spend money to create growth.

These organizations need more than strong community leaders and financial supporters, they also need engineers, planners, contractors, developers, and architects to sit on their boards to implement these ideas.  But, most of all we need time and hard-work.

These twenty fixes are all possible and all common sense, but without results they're just ideas.

[Bativac]

I read that Brown is meeting with Downtown Business owners on today. He is not wasting any time. I love it!

I just read the article on the TU website. Then I did something stupid and read the comments. The same predictable "quit spending money on downtown" stuff. One guy even mentioned how downtown Atlanta and DC shut down at 5!!

The new mayor is great but he has got a tough row to hoe if he is going to change the minds of the 70% of people who didn't vote but don't want their tax dollars going downtown, and the 50% of the people who did vote who also don't want their tax dollars going downtown. Even if none of their tax dollars are, in fact, going downtown.

[fsujax]

Just to have a mayor that will champion Downtown is a step in the right direction. I think it has been made quite clear it doesn't take an increase in tax dollars to turn Downtown around.

Picked up this quote from Alvin Brown on Channe's 4's website.

"Brown said he would look into reworking any regulations that may be an obstacle to businesses locating and thriving downtown and consider further incentives to attract companies into the urban core."

I think he really gets it.

[urbaknight]

That's great, but we also need more apartment buildings there. And by that I mean, apartments for rent, not just for sale. That's what will creat the vibrant atmusphere for nights and weekends.

[duvaldude08]

Just to have a mayor that will champion Downtown is a step in the right direction. I think it has been made quite clear it doesn't take an increase in tax dollars to turn Downtown around.

Picked up this quote from Alvin Brown on Channe's 4's website.

"Brown said he would look into reworking any regulations that may be an obstacle to businesses locating and thriving downtown and consider further incentives to attract companies into the urban core."

I think he really gets it.

I agree. I have not been this excited about Jacksonville.....EVER and Im 29 years old. To see my hometown finally growing up is a true feeling of pride. And you are correct, Alvin Brown definately gets it. Attracting new business and retaining the current ones is the key for growth. He has already met with the current downtown business owners on today.

I have a side thought also. I wonder if he can persuade Florida Coastal School of Law to relocate DT by the new courthouse. DT is orginally where they wanted to be located and the city (aka johnny boy) turned them away. This is the time to get things right.