Live blogging DIA

[Noone]

Today at 2. Anyone going? Huge plan for Hemming Plaza to be announced.

[thelakelander]

I'll be there. I may live blog it.

[thelakelander]

I'm going to type this out of Field's old thread.  Until my parking meter time is up (around 3:45pm), I'm going to live blog today's DIA meeting.

[thelakelander]

Jack Shad is up to talk about the parking meter app trial.

- 3 month trial of real-time parking meter sensors.

- The sensors are installed and should be operational by March Art Walk.

- 100 meters are apart of the trial. Most are located in the retail heart of the Northbank.

- The company providing COJ with the free trial is called Street Line.

[thelakelander]

Oliver Barakat provides the DIA with an update on the JAX 2025 visioning process and the survey results. He points out that downtown revitalization was a priority of survey participants.  Learn more about JAX 2025 survey here:

http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2013-jan-jax-2025-survey-results

[thelakelander]

Tony Allegretti makes a motion to support the Mayor's downtown reinvestment plan, which calls for $9 million to DT, with an eye on future savings as well. Motion passes.

[thelakelander]

DIA discusses Richard Clark's proposed three year mobility fee moratorium. Paul Crawford explains how it would be bad for leveling the redevelopment playing field for downtown. DIA wants to study the impact of the moratorium on downtown. Next meeting, the DIA will discuss passing a resolution to oppose Clark's moratorium resolution. 

[jcjohnpaint]

Great to hear.  Thanks Lake

[thelakelander]

DIA will have a special meeting to discuss the mobility plan moratorium in advance of the Feb. 26th public hearing.  Meeting date and time TBA.  I think I know where we all need to be.

[thelakelander]

Jim Robinson, director of Public Works, provides the DIA with an update on the Southbank Riverwalk.

$15 million is set aside for the project. Construction will start this summer.  Construction to be a sequence of "demolish-build" starting at the Friendship Fountain moving towards the School Board Building.

[thelakelander]

- Shade structures will be installed in front of the Crowne Plaza garage and Gate Riverplace (old Gulf Life Tower).

- There is consideration to eliminate the existing riverwalk near the school board office to stop fishing and illegal parking. If this happens, it would be built in a way to where it could easily be extended at a later date.

- June/July start date. Should take a full year to complete.

- Project will not result in better connection with the Main Street Bridge. The two museum structures on either side of the museum will be removed.

[thelakelander]

JTA's new CEO Nat Ford, who started on Dec. 3, is now speaking.  He fills the DIA in on the details of his recently announced reorganization plan. Learn more about the plan here:

http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2013-jan-jta-unveils-major-reorganization-plan-

[thelakelander]

Ford mentions that he is a resident of downtown Jacksonville now. Speaks of his experience running San Francisco's system and offers to be a resource to the DIA for multimodal transportation planning and development in downtown.

[thelakelander]

Oliver Barakat and Tony Allegretti mention their support for the skyway and question the duplication of service by the proposed BRT project.

[thelakelander]

Hemming Plaza situation update:

- HART of Jacksonville - a proposed non-profit organization to run Hemming Plaza.  They have a video with Transform Jax Hemming Plaza white paper quotes leading it off.

- Hemming Arts Recreation Team (H.A.R.T.), named after Isiah Hart. 

- A 501C, HART would program events in Hemming and form partnerships with other groups to enhance Hemming.

- Louis Kahn Park (Philly) and Denny Park (Seattle) used as examples.

- Target date or HART would be having it established by One Spark Festival.

Unfortunately, this is the end of my live blog.  My meter time is up.