Any good news?

[I-10east]

Typical MJ. Whatever, bitch, moan, shout out, and complain about everything. I like the way some of 'yall' always tag team against me all of the time, and the few that sorta agree with me posts never get replied to, I'm used to it already. The difference between me and some of yall is that I look from the present to the future, and alot of you look from the distant past (the glory years) to the future; You can't fix the f*cking past, it's done, get over it!. I try to think realistically, and reasonably; I can't say that for some of yall, simply because WE DON'T HAVE THE DAMN MONEY RIGHT NOW, BINGO! I knew that it was (and should) be a VERY conservative era right now with the new admin. Some of you guys probably didn't even appreciate the task force regarding Hemming Plaza; Any sort of effort to make progress will be shot down instantly becuase that 'It's just the same old jax" mentality will rear it's ugly head. So cry, gripe, and raise hell all of you want to (they know who I'm talking about). I'm looking for 'yalls' fourteen replies, to this one post, chow. 

[I-10east]

I would rather hear all criticisms and then choose wisely than hear an hallelujah chorus and go down in flames

True, but I never understood the philosophy of looking to the past, and directly comparing it to the future; It's almost like that annoying rambling drunk person that keep saying the same thing over and over again. We have criticized the new courthouse for YEARS now, and people still can't get enough of it. I'm to the point, like well, we have a controversial courthouse that costed way too much, but we have to deal with it, simple as that. It's kinda like I used to complain about the condos on the South bank (Peninsula etc) because I thought that it looks too much like wannabe Miami-scrapers, but then overtime seeing the Southbank skyline while going over the Fuller Warren so many times, you eventually begin to accept it as it sorta gradually settles in the skyline. Another 'go to' to fire up the hoards of angry urbanites is the obligatory 'we keep tearing down buildings for parking lots!" I mean really? When the last time a building was torn down for a parking lot? What, that one small church that had no historical value? You'd think that three DT buildings a year in was torn down since God knows when to 2011 the way some people act; The 'building turnt parking lots' is like the major rallying cry. My mindset is from 2012 on, and unfortunately others mind sets is more closer to 1912 on.

[JFman00]

I don't think the right attitude should be "we've lost pretty much everything, so what's one more building" (cough cough, Bostwick). At a certain point the population needs to say "we've lost so much, we will tenaciously hold on to what's left". San Francisco did that after its fire. Chicago did the same after its fire. Nashville, a city with similar sprawl issues as Jacksonville has done this: http://www.nashville.gov/mhc/ .

A lot of criticism of new construction I've seen here is not with the fact that it's new, it's the design philosophy behind the construction: high-rises set back from the street (everything on the Southbank, 2970 St John's Ave), density surrounded by parking garages/surface lots (220 Riverside, Berkman, St John's), office buildings surrounded by landscaping/surface lots/parking garages (Haskell on Riverside, CSX building, Fidelity). It's baffling to see such discordant design in what should be urban areas. The Southbank especially reminds me more of Gulf Coast high-rises than urban skyscrapers. If you're going to tear down something old, in poor shape, and not architecturally or historically distinctive and replace it with something better, fine. But to destroy what is literally irreplaceable in order to make way for... nothing, damn straight people are going to be angry.

I've only been here a year and am frustrated by how much potential I see squandered. I can't imagine what it's like for people that have been here long-term.

[cline]

2970 St John's Ave

2970 St. John's Ave (Beau Rivage) is not new construction- it was built in the 1970's.  And even if it was new it wouldn't really be appropriate to be directly adjacent to St. John's Avenue, it would be out of scale.  Also, that would mean putting the parking lot on the river which isn't exactly the best use of land.  Although Jax has shown it is not opposed to doing so.

[JFman00]

I know it's not new, but I look at it and all I can think is WTF? Probably a better example of how Avondale is more a rich suburb than it is an urban neighborhood.

[Anti redneck]

Typical MJ. Whatever, bitch, moan, shout out, and complain about everything. I like the way some of 'yall' always tag team against me all of the time, and the few that sorta agree with me posts never get replied to, I'm used to it already. The difference between me and some of yall is that I look from the present to the future, and alot of you look from the distant past (the glory years) to the future; You can't fix the f*cking past, it's done, get over it!. I try to think realistically, and reasonably; I can't say that for some of yall, simply because WE DON'T HAVE THE DAMN MONEY RIGHT NOW, BINGO! I knew that it was (and should) be a VERY conservative era right now with the new admin. Some of you guys probably didn't even appreciate the task force regarding Hemming Plaza; Any sort of effort to make progress will be shot down instantly becuase that 'It's just the same old jax" mentality will rear it's ugly head. So cry, gripe, and raise hell all of you want to (they know who I'm talking about). I'm looking for 'yalls' fourteen replies, to this one post, chow.

Listen to yourself. Who's bitching and moaning? Seriously, why do you come on here if all MJ does is just "bitch and moan"? If everything seems fine to you, why do you come here and attack others' opinions? You talk about future, what do you see happening? Where do you see things going? What is your vision on things?

[Steve_Lovett]

There are many people working very hard (often against the social, cultural, and economic currents) to make Jacksonville a better place.

To realize success and improvement we will have to move beyond conventional wisdom and yesterday's ideas.  Jacksonville is a very established city that needs a major transformation to be competitive, provide a high quality of life for all, and to meet the needs of tomorrow's residents.

The rants of many nay-sayers and uniformed are often not helpful, but the hope and efforts of many should be commended and will hopefully be rewarded.

[Timkin]

^ agreed..   One point made was that we cannot change the past..  The Courthouse now stands and is , so we cannot go back.  What hurts about that particular situation is the staggering tab which will be on ours and future generation's shoulders.. That is a hard one to overlook when the money expended could have done far more beneficial work. I agree that continued ranting about it will never change it.

With that said, moving forward, we have to embrace and appreciate the positive changes taking place...and though not many, it is something positive at least.

The majority of us , contrary to what has been posted, would prefer a vibrant downtown.  It was at one time , such a treat to go there.   Town Center, and outlying Malls , just do not have the same energy as an Urban Core capable of all of the same amenities , and then some, and with so much more to offer than any "Town Center" type destination.   It is difficult, for me at least to look back at what made Downtown Jacksonville vibrant and energetic and not wish for some of the past to somehow return.  Some of it is doable.  Some of it is forever changed.

[I-10east]

Listen to yourself. Who's bitching and moaning? Seriously, why do you come on here if all MJ does is just "bitch and moan"? If everything seems fine to you, why do you come here and attack others' opinions? You talk about future, what do you see happening? Where do you see things going? What is your vision on things?

You as the original poster, did all of the 'bitching & moaning' with the usual cliches, "You want to find something about progress being made" and the all-so recognizable "DT buildings are constantly being demoed" like they are recently coming down in an alarming rate or something, but that's besides the point. First of all, what is progress to you? Does everything have to be massive groundbreaking urban projects like the first phase of a streetcar project, or does the small potatoes stuff (like the Underbelly's DT bar opening, the Landing 7Eleven etc) not count at all? There is alot of things going on outside the city core, but I know that you hate everything outside of the core, so I'm gonna even go there. There's things going on around DT and Riverside all of the time concerning the existing construction projects that's reported in the monthly construction updates. As for where I see DT going, and my vision in the future, we have to be realistic about what can be done in the near future because the city's budget won't let us spend alot, so the DT revitalization is gonna be a slow process. We really need some more DT residents, that is the key; With that comes the retail, more entertainment options etc.

[I-10east]

I don't think the right attitude should be "we've lost pretty much everything, so what's one more building" (cough cough, Bostwick).

Nope, my attitude is that you can't fix the past, not unless you have a time machine like Marty McFly. The historic Bostwick is an interesting case, it obviously should be saved, but it's gonna be challenging because it's in extreme disrepair, and it's such a specialized building (yesteryear bank) on a corner where parking is very challenging; That's where that stands today, now you can go to the past with the "white flight, blah, blah, blah, bad leaders of the past, blah, blah, blah, etc, but that's not gonna fix the Bostwick.   

[Anti redneck]

^ Why attack everyone on here? What's the deal with your anger? I honestly don't see anyone attacking you. I see people speaking their views. There is a difference. Have I, personally, attacked you at all?

[I-10east]

^^^Don't you think that they word 'attack' is a little too dramatic?

[Timkin]

 


GOOD LORD PEOPLE.  Can we get back to  the topic ?

[Anti redneck]

GOOD LORD PEOPLE.  Can we get back to  the topic ?

I concur!

[Noone]

The Good news is that Doyle Carter the chair of a RCDPHS subcommittee that is looking at 2012-212 and 2012-213 the city reorg allowed for Public comment at the end of the meeting.

Alarming news is that the administration only reached out to councilman Joost and not any of the other council members and there are more questions than answers. Huge wake up call for the city of Jacksonville. Especially between the Mayor and legislative branch.