First Coast Forum: The Downtown Dilemma

[Debbie Thompson]

WJCT TV and WJCT radio is airing First Coast Forum: A Downtown Dilemma on Thursday, February 23rd at 8:00 PM.  I heard it on the radio at lunch.  It will be a discussion about whether or not a vibrant downtown is needed, etc.  I didn't see any program details on the WJCT website, and don't have time to call them, but wanted to get this posted for those who want to put it on their calendars.

[thelakelander]

Here's the official announcement.  I'm looking forward to this :

First Coast Forum: The Downtown Dilemma

LIVE: Thursday, February 23 at 8pm on WJCT-TV and 89.9 WJCT Public Radio!

Historically, downtown and urban cores have served as the economic and cultural markers of a city’s vibrancy. Though downtown redevelopment of Jacksonville has been the subject of political debates, is a downtown core still relevant to a city’s growth? On the next First Coast Forum a panel of experts discuss whether downtown growth is key or whether the trends lie in the suburbs. Don’t miss First Coast Forum: The Downtown Dilemma, January 19 at 8pm on WJCT-TV and 89.9 WJCT-FM!

Panelists

Tony Allegretti, Consultant and Entrepreneur

Richard Clark, Jacksonville City Council

Ennis Davis, Urban Planner

Abel Harding, Columnist, Florida Times-Union

Terry Lorince, Executive Director, Downtown Vision

Don Shea, Executive Director, Jacksonville Civic Council

Jack Twatchman, Owner, Burro Bar

[jcjohnpaint]

I'm going to be in LA when this is on air.  Are you guys going to post the recording on here?  I would love to hear this. 

[Tacachale]

^Is anyone going to be seriously arguing that downtown is not important?

[John P]

Thats a stacked deck if I ever saw one. Maybe Slieman, Hogan or a Skinner should be in there too for a counter aregument.

[Demosthenes]

^Is anyone going to be seriously arguing that downtown is not important?

That is the problem with Jacksonville. The people here have killed downtown with ambivalence, not active antagonism. It is a whisper campaign. Only brave (not to mention, ignorant) souls like Hogan dare to speak what they really think about downtown.

[jcjohnpaint]

I don't think they do think!

[tufsu1]

Thats a stacked deck if I ever saw one. Maybe Slieman, Hogan or a Skinner should be in there too for a counter aregument.

well Councilman Clark is on the panel and he fits in with the "Hogan philosophy".

I actually provided some names to WJCT for the forum....and Ennis will be great!

btw...First Coast Connect on Wednesday morning will have a segment promoting the Thursday night event....tune into 89.9 FM at 9am Wednesday.

[tufsu1]

I'm going to be in LA when this is on air.  Are you guys going to post the recording on here?  I would love to hear this. 

It will also be re-aired on Friday and Sunday evenings....and you may be able to watch/listen online...check here

http://www.wjctondemand.org/

[Demosthenes]

What happened to the Allegretti thread?

[Garden guy]

Who needs a building permit?  They've been passing them out like candy for years.  No forsight. No thought. Just pay your  bill or kiss the ass of someone that'll  pass that permit right through.

[tufsu1]

Reminder....downtown will be the topic of discusion on First Coast Connect tomorrow....tune into 89.9 FM at 9am.

And then the First Coast Forum will go in depth on downtown Thursday nighta t 8pm....tune in 89.9 or WJCT TV on Thursday.

Both can also be heard online at http://www.wjctondemand.org/

[Noone]

That's a stacked deck if I ever saw one. Maybe Slieman, Hogan or a Skinner should be in there too for a counter aregument.

well Councilman Clark is on the panel and he fits in with the "Hogan philosophy".

I actually provided some names to WJCT for the forum....and Ennis will be great!

btw...First Coast Connect on Wednesday morning will have a segment promoting the Thursday night event....tune into 89.9 FM at 9am Wednesday.

tufsu1 heard you on the radio this morning with Melissa Ross on First Coast Connect. Had some good points. Touched on  Cecil Commerce, The courthouse and what to do with the old courthouse and possible convention center. One caller mentioned that the Landing was supposed to have been the answer. Another caller from San Diego and the lack of organic spontaneity with vendors. And Melissa Ross had her own Times Union column about food trucks. and then you mention that it takes decades to implement the legislation to move things forward. And that's where I say Bingo to you.

Legislation!

The Public Trust has just been crushed in this community and its just wave after wave of legislative protectionism. I hope someone asks Clark do you still have the memo from Ron Barton two years ago warning the council about Shipyards/Landmar before the bankruptcy? And its not just Clark. Ask any councilmember that was on the council two years ago. I'm still waiting to hear back from Redman on the same exact question. 2010-604, then 2011-560

Legislation!

2010-675 and one Finance Amendment

Legislation!

2011-364 and 30 yr. lease for a buck a year

Legislation!

2010-856- Transient vendor Ban-That will promote Downtown.

Legislation!

The legislature is amending the charter and paving the way for an Independent Downtown Authority. Total Govt. takeover. New boundaries. 2003-627.  Who wants to be a 501-c?

The Historic Promised 680' Downtown Public Pier can still be legislatively protected and outside the control of this yet established Independent Authority and can be added to this cycle of FIND projects if for no other reason then to show the Governor, the commissioners of FIND and the other 66 counties in the state of Florida that Jacksonville's Downtown is OPEN FOR BUSINESS.

So who wants to go fishing under our brand new no fishing signs?

Soon we can be telling the world.
"I am DOWNTOWN and why you aren't"

[ronchamblin]

Can I offer a brief plug for the core?

The upcoming “The Downtown Dilemma” will discuss the question, “Is a downtown core still relevant to a city’s growth?”  Is this is a valid question, as some questions are nonsense, gaining support as to their validity simply because they are written.  The “downtown core” defines a spot, and the term “relevant” is valid, as it defines the relationship between the city core and the city’s growth.
   
But what is a “city’s growth”, and is it always to be desired?  Does our city include all the suburbs, or is it limited to the old city boundaries, or to the inner core?  Is a city growing when its thousands of square miles are filled in with malls and homes and roads to the county borders?  Can we continue to pay for the huge expense of infrastructure in roads and utilities which sprawl demands?  Is growth assumed to be a good thing, just because it is the habit in nature?  What about our city’s stability and strength, and quality of life, all of which have little to do with growth? 
     
Continual growth is absurd, as it leads to infinity.  Our careless growth has resulted in a weak infrastructure, with holes and fractures, empty buildings, vacant lots, and too many parking lots.  We suffer now from the consequences of our rush to grow, to overbuild, to speculate, to get rich at any cost.  Our careless policies have encouraged growth away from the city core, starving it, abandoning it, killing it. 

We know the causes of our city’s abandoned condition, and we now endure the stagnation on the path to vibrancy, but can anyone imagine a condition wherein we allow our city core to remain mostly abandoned indefinitely?
   
Perhaps a better question might be, “Is a downtown core still relevant to a city’s strength, stability, and quality of life?”  It is time to slow the sprawl, to gather what we have, to contemplate the city center, the core, and to build upon it, so that our city can become a city of strength, a symbol for all citizens to be proud of.

The suburban communities and office parks are many, and they are all the same.  Only the old city core, once brought to a condition of vibrancy and beauty, can offer to everyone a sense of pride, a sense of unity, and a source of real strength and stability.   

     

[FayeforCure]

Thats a stacked deck if I ever saw one. Maybe Slieman, Hogan or a Skinner should be in there too for a counter aregument.

well Councilman Clark is on the panel and he fits in with the "Hogan philosophy".

Yup and someone like that wants to represent us in US congress