San Marco Boulevard: Before & After

[Metro Jacksonville]

San Marco Boulevard: Before & After



With the first section of San Marco Boulevard's makeover virtually complete, Metro Jacksonville shares before and after photographs of this urban core, pedestrian-friendly commercial district.

Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2011-jun-san-marco-boulevard-before-after

[Charles Hunter]

Nice article, shows the inconvenience of the construction will be worthwhile when all is done. And extending up to Friendship Fountain is a great idea.

[vicupstate]

I wish that Jax would use something besides Palms for street trees.  How about something that will provide some SHADE for the pedestrians, and won't look like a telephone pole when it's first planted.

[Jdog]

I wish that Jax would use something besides Palms for street trees.  How about something that will provide some SHADE for the pedestrians, and won't look like a telephone pole when it's first planted.

+1

[fsujax]

The project looks great and I think the palms are a great idea. Their root structure will not destroy the sidewalks, irrigation or wiring for lights. I also noticed they added the illuminated street signs on the mast arm poles, nice touch.

[jcjohnpaint]

I wish that Jax would use something besides Palms for street trees.  How about something that will provide some SHADE for the pedestrians, and won't look like a telephone pole when it's first planted.

They want to make sure that visitors know this is 'Where Florida Begins' and not 'Where Georgia Ends'

[jcjohnpaint]

No seriously I love it.  Great idea about extending to FF.  It seems like common sense all along.  A should/ must be done. 

[hightowerlover]

they could dub the area DUFWBO, down under fuller warren bridge overpass

[tg]

This looks great! Can't wait to have a bike ride around there.

[Tacachale]

Great article, and great photos. The payoff from all this construction is going to be marvelous.

[Tacachale]

I wish that Jax would use something besides Palms for street trees.  How about something that will provide some SHADE for the pedestrians, and won't look like a telephone pole when it's first planted.

They want to make sure that visitors know this is 'Where Florida Begins' and not 'Where Georgia Ends'

If certain archane legends, recorded in obscure grimoires and coastal biology textbooks, are to be believed, there are palm trees in Georgia too. But maybe they just stole them from Florida. Or at least from midwestern retiree's mental images of Florida.

[floridaforester]

The project looks great and I think the palms are a great idea. Their root structure will not destroy the sidewalks, irrigation or wiring for lights.

I would have to agree with several other posts that palms are pretty useless and we seem obsessed with them around here.  They provide no shade and if not maintained well, provide perfect habitat for vermin. 

There are many types of trees that could be planted that wouldn't destroy sidewalks with their roots.  I think a nice native tree that would actually provide shade, doesn't get huge, has a nice form and interesting bark is the river birch.  We also used to plant gingko trees as well.  Even if its not native, it is a very hardy urban tree and generally doesn't get too big as to cause problems with infrastructure.

[duvaldude08]

I actually have not problem with the palms trees. But its not just the palms that need the pop sickles sticks when you first them though. I remember when they first planted those tress between Univeristy and Emerson along 95 and they required the same thing.

[Timkin]

It looks awesome.   You're right DD .. the "popsicle" sticks are unsightly ,but necessary for the time being.. They will eventually take root and the lumber removed.

[Keith-N-Jax]

Looks pretty nice to me. Palms are clean and basically maintenance free. I'd rather see a Palm than a Crape Myrtle another tree that gets planted alot, but no one complains about.