Downtown Catches Young VIbe

[JeffreyS]

The new Brooklyn developments seem to fit into that vision.

[thelakelander]

Based on my rudimentary estimate, it is about the same distance from the Prime Osborn to Everbank Field as from Market and Powell to the Bay, though not as wide. Which is certainly enough room to create some very dense urban neighborhoods in the middle of what we consider our downtown. I agree with your point about a strong urban core of interconnected neighborhoods, but I also think we need a strong urban neighborhood or neighborhoods "downtown", otherwise people will just stay in their little pockets.

Exclude the stadium/Commodore's Point and draw that line in a different direction and it easily penetrates Riverside, Brooklyn, Durkeeville, Springfield, etc.  Our vibrant urban core neighborhoods really aren't that far from the heart of downtown.  For example, both Five Points and San Marco Square are less than 1.5 miles from the Landing, which is basically the heart of downtown.

IMO, to truly create a vibrant 24 hour downtown, we need more of the young people that are innovating, creating, moving and shaking to live downtown or on the direct fringes of downtown, not a couple miles away in Riverside (or we need a direct transit connection).

Ultimately, we'll need both.  Transit is the key to tying them together in the short term (immediately tap into the residential market that already exists) and the stimulant for the pedestrian scaled infill you seek in the long term.

It would be nice if there was an infinite amount of people that fit that mold, but there aren't. Right now, there are a finite amount of people that fit this bill and a great deal of them live in Riverside and eat, drink, and play in the King Street area. Like I said, I'm happy to see King Street doing well, but I can't help but think that more of the great new places that have opened up would have opened downtown if not for the emergence of King Street. Given the recent issues in Riverside/Avondale, lack of future development opportunities, and parking issues, I believe all of this great energy could turn into much, much more Downtown than it ever can along King Street.

I'm not sold that the issues in Riverside/Avondale will tilt in downtown's favor (outside of Brooklyn).  How the DIA addresses needed policy changes will have a major impact on downtown's, specifically the Northbank's, future.  Districts develop organically (like King Street recently), so if downtown policy remains too restrictive and challenging to the average entrepreneur, I could easily see something like Murray Hill's Edgewood Avenue becoming an outlet instead.

[Captain Zissou]

I think it would be absolutely awesome if someone would throw a party in the alley behind Underbelly.  Not just use it as an outside section, but a full-blown party in that old alleyway that we have so few of.  Band, beerpong, whatever.  It's really cool back there, if you've ever walked it. 

Not sure if it's totally safe, given the condition of the Bostwick...

I used to sneak into Ivy's through the alley when my friends weren't quite 21.  As I was walking in, I always thought that it would be a great place to set up some lights and some high tops for Ivy's patrons.

[marksjax]

I concur with Jax Diablo that people are in need of a reason to come DT.
Where the city could help would be in programming and assisting in street closures as requested by venues.
I would recommend DIA start by naming a program director for day time and another for night time events.
These could be two DVI staffers perhaps. Instead of needing a lawyer and $2,000 to close a street I could just call this person and voila! it is done.
This would open up many more possibilities that are currently too much red tape and expense to bother with.
That is an example of what one change could do.

[JaxDiablo]

I concur with Jax Diablo that people are in need of a reason to come DT.
Where the city could help would be in programming and assisting in street closures as requested by venues.
I would recommend DIA start by naming a program director for day time and another for night time events.
These could be two DVI staffers perhaps. Instead of needing a lawyer and $2,000 to close a street I could just call this person and voila! it is done.
This would open up many more possibilities that are currently too much red tape and expense to bother with.
That is an example of what one change could do.

Just thinking of things to do -
Bartender Contest
Walking pub crawl of just downtown
More visibility of restaurants downtown (I frequent downtown and run a show down there and all I know of on a nightly basis being open is Indochine and BG not counting the landing.)
Better frigging lighting.  Seriously, you want to stem the homeless folks and the questionable activity the city needs to work on the lighting down there.  Make it inviting, make folks want to go through downtown for various things.
I know Downtown isn't exactly huge in size, but why don't we have something like Pedicabs or the Trolley's running at night from let's say Mark's to Phoenix Taproom or Secret's?  It would increase visibility of the lesser known bars and in general increase the revenue of downtown (I'd assume).

[urbaknight]

I concur with Jax Diablo that people are in need of a reason to come DT.
Where the city could help would be in programming and assisting in street closures as requested by venues.
I would recommend DIA start by naming a program director for day time and another for night time events.
These could be two DVI staffers perhaps. Instead of needing a lawyer and $2,000 to close a street I could just call this person and voila! it is done.
This would open up many more possibilities that are currently too much red tape and expense to bother with.
That is an example of what one change could do.

I agree that we need more mass transit DT; And it needs to run more frequently and later at night as well. But judging JTA from as far as I've observed them and their way of thinking, they run that way on purpose. It's that prejudice thinking that, mass transit is strictly a form of welfare only.

1, People that rely on JTA surely can't afford to frequent the hot spots DT, so let's not even run buses by them.

2, Even if they can afford to go, we don't want a bunch of belligerent drunks on the buses causing trouble.

3,We don't want drunk people on the bus period. They can find someone to drive them home. Because anyone who's worth a damn in Jacksonville drives.

If we can just get JTA to change its mindset, it would go a long way. We have a new director that's not from here; Now we need to replace the rest of the board with outsiders of a more progressive background.

[marksjax]

JTA's distinct lack of interest in helping develop night time bus routes specifically for bars and restaurants is well known.
I was at meeting where I brought this up to their rep and he looked at me as if I was from Mars.
No creativity at JTA, just pencil pushers, bean counters and the like.
Pedicabs make more sense but JSO will run them off.
Those two entities could help but see no upside in doing so.
Status Quo is what holds this town back. It is so obvious.

[thelakelander]

That was part of Bailey's Bay Street Entertainment District plan that got 'shelved'  (shelved would be a polite way to put it). 

Spent some time in downtown Montgomery, AL last night.  Saw a real life version of Bailey's idea that was right across the street from their minor league baseball park.  It was pretty cool.

[Noone]

Very cool.

Pocket Parks/Pocket Piers. The 26' Jim Love, Kevin Kuzel, Berkman Floating dock compromise misrepresented by OGC to Waterways during the 2013 FIND grant application process would allow for a BOLD infill tactical Urban Core Waterway access point to a vibrant Bailey's Bay St. Entertainment district.

We need another round over here!