Get rid of Hemming Park's amenities to deal with vagrant problem?

[danem]

This thread reminds me of this article from here:

http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2008-apr-homeless-are-the-paramount-end-user-of-downtown

[Tacachale]

Well, I agree that something needs to be done about Hemming Plaza, but it seems doubtful that these solutions would do anything but deteriorate the park. The day center away from the area will hopefully help. When it's time to replace the seating I can see adding anti-homeless benches like they've done at Friendship Fountain. But I just plain don't understand what he's talking about with the trees, and why that would have any effect on the homeless population at all.

[Coolyfett]

This would be a horrible expensive disaster, imo.  Hopefully, the Alvin Brown Administration will have people on staff who realize that you can't revitalize downtown by removing amenities just because vagrants enjoy them too.

If we want fewer vacant buildings downtown and more people walking on its sidewalks, we first have to deal with the "vagrants or transients" that have taken over key parts of downtown.

Here's just one example of what occurs downtown every day.

Last Monday afternoon on July Fourth, I took a walk on the Northbank Riverwalk.

The area under the Acosta Bridge was full of the above-mentioned people.

Some slept on the benches. One asked for money. Two men urinated in public even though there was a public restroom nearby.

Too often, that's "the impression downtown gives its visitors."

These same people take over Hemming Plaza in the heart of our government complex on weekdays.

If Mayor Alvin Brown wants to meet his goal of revitalizing downtown, he will have to confront this problem head on.

What to do?

One proposal floating around is to redesign Hemming Plaza.

A number of the plaza's oak trees are reaching the end of their life spans. Take them down and replace them with plantings that give the plaza a more open feel.

Then take out the benches, tables and checker boards. Eliminate the places to lounge all day, and the vagrants and transients will relocate.

Deal with the homeless problem. Finally establish a much talked-about day center away from the heart of downtown where the homeless will have a safe place to stay when the overnight shelters are closed, to use the restroom, to shower, to get counseling.

full Littlepage editorial: http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/400601/ron-littlepage/2011-07-07/fixing-downtown-starts-homeless

How old is Littlepage? Where were the rest of the normal Jax citizens?

[Coolyfett]

Thats just plain dumb.

Yes it really is. I dont understand the concept of hurting normal people to run bums off. Where were the bums during Jazz Fest? I guess they were all on Dunns Ave that weekend?

[Coolyfett]

My big gripe about Hemming Plaza is that stage at the end of the park where people with microphones and huge speakers are able to blast their personal propaganda at everyone from one end of the park to the other. Who gives them permission or a permit to scream at the rest of us?

You don't need to cut down trees and remove benches to stop some of the offensive stuff going on.

rotten tomatoes were meant to be thrown at people. id suggest you start throwing some lol.

[Bativac]

Thats just plain dumb.

Yes it really is. I dont understand the concept of hurting normal people to run bums off. Where were the bums during Jazz Fest? I guess they were all on Dunns Ave that weekend?

They all got together and said "guys, let's take off for the weekend. We don't want to make anybody uncomfortable or anything." Actually I came up with what I think is a pretty good solution to this whole thing; just give the homeless guys branches to hold, or dress them in camoflage. Rip out all the landscaping. You now no longer have to pay to maintain the plantings, and all that money can be spent to feed the homeless, who are now LIVING LANDSCAPING.

I'm writing up a grant application as we speak.