Time for another introduction.....

[gjosephunf]

My name is Gerald Joseph and I am a junior psychology major at the University of North Florida. I’m originally from the city of Tampa and moved to Jacksonville in June 2009. I have a passion for fashion, music, urban design, and the arts. I enjoy spending time downtown and the in-town areas of Springfield, Riverside, Avondale, and San Marco. I find it imperative for Jacksonville to celebrate its culture, underground fashion/music scene, and abundant natural resources. We must support our creative class, improve mass transit, and focus on smart growth. Personally, I see a-lot of potential in Jacksonville and believe through improved leadership, and a changed mindset our city could end up being the next “hot-spot”.   As a “Metrojacksonville” intern, I look forward to writing about the local fashion scene and exploring neighborhoods within the beautiful First Coast  .

[Noone]

Welcome aboard.

[JeffreyS]

If you do write about fashion here I hope it is not just cutting edge stuff. Welcome

[mtraininjax]

Welcome!

Quick question though if you

enjoy spending time downtown and the in-town areas of Springfield, Riverside, Avondale, and San Marco.

Why do we need to improve the mass transit in these areas? You may be discussing Springfield or San Marco, but what new mass transit is needed in Riverside/Avondale? I see plenty of buses daily in Riverside and Avondale and hear them outside my windows as they go rolling down Herschel street, mostly empty. 

What are your thoughts on change to mass transit for the urban area?

[Tacachale]

Welcome aboard, Gerald. Good to see another Osprey on the board.

[ben says]

Welcome!

[gjosephunf]

Welcome!

Quick question though if you

enjoy spending time downtown and the in-town areas of Springfield, Riverside, Avondale, and San Marco.

Why do we need to improve the mass transit in these areas? You may be discussing Springfield or San Marco, but what new mass transit is needed in Riverside/Avondale? I see plenty of buses daily in Riverside and Avondale and hear them outside my windows as they go rolling down Herschel street, mostly empty. 

What are your thoughts on change to mass transit for the urban area?

Welcome!

Quick question though if you

enjoy spending time downtown and the in-town areas of Springfield, Riverside, Avondale, and San Marco.

Why do we need to improve the mass transit in these areas? You may be discussing Springfield or San Marco, but what new mass transit is needed in Riverside/Avondale? I see plenty of buses daily in Riverside and Avondale and hear them outside my windows as they go rolling down Herschel street, mostly empty. 

What are your thoughts on change to mass transit for the urban area?

Connecting the in-town areas with fixed transit whether it is streetcar, or light rail to the business core could have a positive effect within the urban areas by spurring densification, and new development. Whenever my friends and I want a taste of "city life" we enjoy leaving the Southside, parking our car in 5 Points, and walking throughout the neighborhood to King St. When the time comes, it would be nice to hop on a trolley after dining at Kickbacks and head Downtown for entertainment. I've always felt safe walking throughout San Marco and Riverside. Everything seems to be pedestrian friendly, and I like seeing all of the bikers! Once Springfield is "gentrified" maybe Suburban residents that are "anti-urban" would have a different perception of urban Jacksonville? In the mean-time if we continue to plan for the future through beautification, improving bus services/completing the skyway, and publicly advocating more support for in-town areas vs. sprawl it would provide a solid foundation for fixed-transit in Jacksonville by defeating all of the "naysayers".

I recently read the following links and found them to be quite informative:

Victoria Transit Policy Institute: "Transit in America"
http://www.vtpi.org/railben.pdf

The Atlantic Cities: "True Cost of Unwalkable Streets"
http://www.theatlanticcities.com/commute/2012/03/true-cost-unwalkable-streets/1616/

[gjosephunf]

If you do write about fashion here I hope it is not just cutting edge stuff. Welcome

Hello JeffreyS! Currently, I plan on writing about upcoming businesses within the community whether its a new boutique, men's/women's grooming services, and fashion trends. Hopefully, I can branch out to local designers, artists, and history to see what we can do to move forward.

[gjosephunf]

My name is Gerald Joseph and I am a junior psychology major at the University of North Florida. I’m originally from the city of Tampa and moved to Jacksonville in June 2009. I have a passion for fashion, music, urban design, and the arts. I enjoy spending time downtown and the in-town areas of Springfield, Riverside, Avondale, and San Marco. I find it imperative for Jacksonville to celebrate its culture, underground fashion/music scene, and abundant natural resources. We must support our creative class, improve mass transit, and focus on smart growth. Personally, I see a-lot of potential in Jacksonville and believe through improved leadership, and a changed mindset our city could end up being the next “hot-spot”.   As a “Metrojacksonville” intern, I look forward to writing about the local fashion scene and exploring neighborhoods within the beautiful First Coast  .

Welcome aboard Gerald!

We look forward to working with you and your awesome writing!

Thank You very much Stephen! I can't wait to get more involved within the community and on MetroJacksonville. You guys are GREAT!