Redeveloping Hemming Plaza

[tufsu1]

the big problem here is that the loudest voices on the commmittee were those concerned about "safety and security"

Taking down trees so cameras have good sight lines....really?  Police state anyone?

[vicupstate]

Where I live, Greenville SC, which was named one of the 10 best Downtowns in the country by Forbes magazine, we are ADDING trees, chess boards, permanent seating and water features (all the things proposed for ELIMINATION in Hemming Plaza)  and stages to THREE different existing public plazas.   That is in addition to a brand new public plaza that just opened in 2011.

Here is some background on each:

1) Piazza Bergamo:  Currently consists of hardscape and a grassy area.

The city is spending $4 million to add trees, permanent seating, additional lighting, a length-wise water fountain/feature, and artistic metal 'shading'.   A $100 million two building office-retail complex is under construction next to it, with a third phase planned.  Clemson University will move it's MBA program into the upper floors overlooking the plaza.  The opposing building is undergoing a major renovation, and will soon be fully occupied on all floors for the first time in many years.  This same building just added a rooftop patio that will overlook the soon to be re-done plaza. 

2) Hyatt Plaza: Currently hardscaping, a few trees, water fountain/feature.

Hyatt is re-doing the plaza to include a plaza-fronting restaurant, new water feature to replace the existing one, open fire pit feature, push-cart style vendor,  stage for concerts/events.  Office space that fronts the plaza will convert to retail space and a community event space. 
 
3)  Peace Center Courtyard: Front side consisted of water feature with landscaping, a driveway and hardscaping.  Back side had a water feature and an amplitheater with stage.

Front side will now include new water features, permanent chess tables, permanent seating, and on event nights, temporary vendors.  Back side will get a new water feature to replace the old one and a much enhanced stage.

In a nutshell, Greenville which is already a national exmaple of a revitialized downtown, is spending more than 10 million dollars (public and private) to enhance three public spaces, using a strategy that is the POLAR OPPOSITE of what is proposed for Hemming Plaza.           

[thelakelander]

^Now you can see why downtown Jax continues to struggle.  As long as bad policy decisions are made regarding the pedestrian scale environment of the area, it won't matter how much money is spent in it.  Given the context and scale, downtown Greenville's public spaces would have been a better example to follow than a park in the heart of Manhattan.



But if we are going to use it as an example, it is loaded with amenities such as public restrooms, kids carousels, trees, and restaurants.  In addition, it's "outer square" has greatly gentrified over the last decade or two.  It would nice to see some focus on Hemming's outer square and the addition of built in amenities.

[mbwright]

I personally don't see a problem with sightl lines.  Trees have trunks.  Replacing these with shrubs would be worse, unless only a foot high.  The tree canopy is the best thing, and should be saved.  There are plenty of parks that have great trees, see Tallahassee, Savannah, Boston, and many others.  Open areas are hot, and better served for baseball (yes, I know this is too small of a space, but you get my point).  The fountain should run during the day.  The homeless are the main reason for the perceived safety issue.  The same with the Library, and the overpriced pocket park near it.  Once this is solved, it would be much better.  Why would anybody deliberately plant water oaks instead of live oaks?  Yes, this area does need some colorful planting, which would help, but not way the city has been doing things with the town centers--built, but not maintain. 

[CityLife]

Agree with everyone that the trees absolutely need to stay. Can't believe that is even on the table.

I think adding a stage for performances, rallies, etc would go a long way towards reinvigorating the park. San Francisco had similar problems with homelessness in Union Square, which is located close to a significant homeless population. One of their solutions was to add a stage in the park and it has transformed the space. I'm not sure if they've used other tactics, but I do know that having a stage and hosting rallies, concerts, art shows, etc has turned the Square around.

They've set up temporary stages at or around Hemming for events like Jazz Fest, Fashion Show at Art Walk, etc. If there was a fixed, permanent structure, it would be significantly easier to host a large event at Hemming. Plus Downtown Vision or a Friends of Hemming Plaza group could program the heck of the park. There could be live music, political rallies, speeches, art festivals, fashion shows, and all sorts of entertainment.

You can't just knock a few trees down, make a few small design changes and hope the park will become vibrant.

[Tacachale]

Removing diseased and dying trees is one thing. Replacing them with shrubs is another. And removing perfectly healthy trees is patently idiotic.

Will there be an opportunity for public input on this? It seems like these recommendations are a 50/50 split of good ideas and bad ideas. It would be nice if they focused on the cheap stuff like programming before they made big permanent changes like cutting down all the trees.

[JeffreyS]

Just move the police to the middle of the park we already pay them to lean on their cars across the street with a limited view. Increases that feeling of security in the park with no added cost.

Let restaurants set up and manage some private tables daily. Increases amenities no cost.

Spend your money on saving the trees.

Most importantly City Council ignore us and do a survey of people from the Southside who could care less about the park.

[avonjax]

This whole thing is mind numbing. A little maintenance, removing distressed trees and the adopt a planter are great ideas. Removing tables and chairs, the fountain and trees is disgusting. The answer is to spend some money to ADD to what is already there and finance some great events. That would be a good way to spend money.

[JohnTreeLover]

Cut the trees down or remove 'distressed' trees to improve line of sight is a bad plan. If the council takes the plan handed to them, and we pay for it, then why is there a city council. I city council members are afraid to cross the street, perhaps the city security officers could walk the men to their cars. Cut down trees, take out placed seating, and hand out sun screen cream to all. Nice plan. If the trees go don't call it a park. Call it a parking lot.

[Bativac]

Why is the solution in Jacksonville always to tear something down or rip something out?

[mbwright]

They don't know otherwise, think things will be different this time, don't care about the future, can't listen, etc.  See Lavilla, Springfield, most of downtown, etc. 

[KenFSU]

So you conduct all of these surveys, disregard them completely, and decide -- with no empirical supporting evidence -- that the main problem with Hemming Plaza is that the park just has too many trees, too much shade, and too many places to sit?

Typical Jacksonville.

Careless destruction with no long-term plan in place.

Such incredible arrogance.

[DeadGirlsDontDance]

The reason there's mostly homeless and/or unemployed people hanging out in Hemming Plaza is because there's not much reason for anybody else to go there.

Cheap solution? Have a mini art festival there, every day. Allow food trucks, artisans, and entertainers to ply their wares. To keep costs down for everybody, instead of charging exorbitant fees, have the people who are entertaining/selling things tidy up the place afterwards.

The homeless folk will still be around, but they'll be less noticeable in a crowd of additional people who are eating and shopping (and therefore less distressing to the delicate sensibilities of those who hate seeing the plight of the unfortunate).

[Bike Jax]

I am willing to bet the removal of trees leads right back to Jim Dalton. If you remember it wasn't that long ago he was attempting to have them removed when the building he purchased was being renovated. Money talks in this city. Screw the public and their needs or wants.

[CityLife]

Cheap solution? Have a mini art festival there, every day. Allow food trucks, artisans, and entertainers to ply their wares. To keep costs down for everybody, instead of charging exorbitant fees, have the people who are entertaining/selling things tidy up the place afterwards.

A daily art festival would get old quickly and become routine. The programming should be somewhat diverse to draw a wide array of people to the plaza and to downtown.

That is why a stage should be installed. You could program it to have "Jazz Tuesday's", "Blues Thursday's" (just generic names, not real ideas), to have fashion shows, to have Lavilla School of the Arts Students performing on certain days, standup comedy festivals, movie premieres, plays, political rallies, speeches, celebrations, and countless other things.

Hemming Plaza would become THE center of civic life in Jacksonville. You have an issue you want to advocate for? Hold a rally at Hemming. You want your band/musical act to get exposure? Hold a free concert in Hemming Plaza. And so on.

I'm not saying that there shouldn't be art festivals or food trucks. Just that having a stage and programming the park will make it more vibrant. Having programming will also ensure that there are more users for the Food Trucks, local restaurants, and street vendors. Its really a no brainer and probably the most cost effective way to stimulate activity in Downtown.