Demolish old courthouse to plant grass? JBJ editor thinks so

[thelakelander]

I guess it's been a few months since a building in downtown was demolished.  Some of us are ready for our next fix!

And speaking of location, it's been over a year since we raised the question of what the city of Jacksonville intends to do with the site of the former Duval County Courthouse, which sits vacant except for a thriving population of rats and other vermin on the north bank of the St. Johns River, smack in the middle of Downtown. One year later and still silence from City Hall. If we wait five or six more years, we'll have another rotting husk like the Laura Street Trio gracing our Downtown. Won't that be fun?

Here's an idea that won't tax our strained city budget too badly and still allow for future development opportunities on the site: Tear down the building, spread some topsoil around, throw in a little landscaping, plant some grass and call it a park. Who knows? People might like it well enough to keep it around for a while.

full editorial: http://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/blog/2013/08/what-do-regency-square-mall-and-the.html

[Bridges]

Here's an idea that won't tax our strained city budget too badly and still allow for future development opportunities on the site: Tear down the building, spread some topsoil around, throw in a little landscaping, plant some grass and call it a park. Who knows? People might like it well enough to keep it around for a while.

WOW.   

Is that tongue in cheek?

There's several acres of open grass on the water 1 block away from the courthouse, why don't people like that and, you know, call it a park?

we'll have another rotting husk like the Laura Street Trio gracing our Downtown.

You mean the one that will (hopefully) be turned into a Marriott boutique hotel?  Does he think that Marriott would prefer to build from the ground up in downtown Jax at this time? 

So many questions I would ask John Burr about his stance. 

[thelakelander]

It's not cheap to demolish a building that size. If we can find demo money, we're better off spending it on upgrades to existing spaces like Hemming or the courthouse square.

[I-10east]

^^^I agree.

[mtraininjax]

Here's an idea that won't tax our strained city budget too badly and still allow for future development opportunities on the site: Tear down the building, spread some topsoil around, throw in a little landscaping, plant some grass and call it a park. Who knows? People might like it well enough to keep it around for a while.

They city has a hard enough time cutting grass in parks and R-O-W places, now this person wants to add to their list? Nice idea, but the execution is lacking.

[Lunican]

This is the only way we can expand the land use of the Shipyards towards downtown.

[thelakelander]

^ With every discussion about adding a new space, the maintenance issue should not be pushed to the side of the conversation. Right now, we have several public spaces that could be easily transformed with a little love and care. Hemming, the new courthouse, the Landing area all stand out as opportunity to me. Given their surrounding context, addressing them could generate a higher rate of vibrancy in the heart of the city within a short time frame. For some reason, instead of finding ways to take them "to the next level", we want to add more without dealing with the problems that continue to limit the potential of our existing spaces.

[tufsu1]

John Burr doesn't understand anything about downtown or placemaking

[Dennishjr]

Why would folks want to visit Jacksonville? Why do they go to Savannah, or Charleston? Jacksonville is unique not for it's beaches, as they are 18 miles from downtown. Jacksonville is unique for its history, and more importantly its architectural history and diversity. Jacksonville is THE oldest large urban city in the state of Florida, and boasts the largest collection of architectural gems in the southeast. Folks visit Savannah, and Charleston for just those reasons. These are examples of two cities in the south that have embraced their histories, rather than trying to erase and demolish it. Downtown, Springfield, Riverside, Avondale, and San Marco provide an amazing look into our past. The Chamber and Visitors Bureau should be promoting these features. We should be celebrating our architectural heritage, not tearing more down. Surely John Burr can't be serious!

[Bridges]

Folks visit Savannah, and Charleston for just those reasons. These are examples of two cities in the south that have embraced their histories, rather than trying to erase and demolish it.

The funny thing is that, they didn't always want to embrace their histories.  Savannah specifically was on the path for demolition in the mid-50s.  They were having the same arguments we have right now in Jax.  Concerned citizens banded together to stop the proposed demolitions and the loss of history. 

[MEGATRON]

^ With every discussion about adding a new space, the maintenance issue should not be pushed to the side of the conversation. Right now, we have several public spaces that could be easily transformed with a little love and care. Hemming, the new courthouse, the Landing area all stand out as opportunity to me. Given their surrounding context, addressing them could generate a higher rate of vibrancy in the heart of the city within a short time frame. For some reason, instead of finding ways to take them "to the next level", we want to add more without dealing with the problems that continue to limit the potential of our existing spaces.

While I agree with you, I am not sure you are considering the upkeep, which there is some required albeit minimal, of the old courthouse.  My guess is that it dwarfs the cost to mow the area. 

[MEGATRON]

There's several acres of open grass on the water 1 block away from the courthouse, why don't people like that and, you know, call it a park?

The Shipyards are contaminated and may not be available for use as a park as a result of that contamination. 

[acme54321]

Folks visit Savannah, and Charleston for just those reasons. These are examples of two cities in the south that have embraced their histories, rather than trying to erase and demolish it.

The funny thing is that, they didn't always want to embrace their histories.  Savannah specifically was on the path for demolition in the mid-50s.  They were having the same arguments we have right now in Jax.  Concerned citizens banded together to stop the proposed demolitions and the loss of history.

We are way past where Savannah was in the 50s.  The same thing was going on here in the 50s and those buildings are gone now.  What is left are the scattered remants.

[icarus]

I'm not sure I am for demolishing the old courthouse without something planned to replace it ... but ... please .. please tell me this is not a debate about the architectural significance of the old courthouse ...

[Ocklawaha]

Surely John Burr can't be serious!

He IS serious and don't call him 'Surely'