Illuminate JAX proposes to light up the skyline

[Rynjny]

http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/downtowntoday.php?dt_date=2013-09-23

Anybody else think this is a bit too much light?

[JeffreyS]

Street level lighting much more important. Jax is always wanting "the big project" rather than actually investing in improving QOL that pays off over and over.

[Wacca Pilatka]

http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/downtowntoday.php?dt_date=2013-09-23

Anybody else think this is a bit too much light?

Not enough, in my opinion.  Certainly less than what Jville has always traditionally had downtown. 

True, especially when compared to the 60s night shots from when all the older hotels, with their large rooftop signs, were still operating.

[Overstreet]

Who is paying for the installation, maintenance, repair and utilities?

[fsujax]

I like it. Our Downtown looks dead at night, even from a far. Visitors driving over I-95 should be like wow! when they look over to the skyline, not why are the buildings so dark? even though they have no clue what is going on at street level. I say bring it on.

[Rynjny]

http://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/news/2013/09/23/downtown-jacksonville-advocates-pitch.html

Here's more picture from the Jax business journal..

[Jason]

This a a great idea, and although I don't know much about the other two guys, Mark Kingsnorth is a great lighting designer and will do Jax proud.  Can't wait to hear more about the specifics of how to get this done.

[jaxlore]

I like the river blue but the rest of them look ridiculous like a christmas tree and having them light up to music? I am sorry I actually love gawdy christmas lights but not on the city building year round.
Thumbs up to lighting but please keep it simple and classy. I think the lit bridges kept to that philosophy.

[urbaknight]

I like it, but they should diversify the colors. Bring in some lava red, some green, pink, blacklight etc. Bring in as many colors as possible. And allow for some sinage, for example, that billboard at the southeast corner of Hemming Plaza would be a great and smart start. It could say, "Welcome to Hemming Plaza!"

[tlemans]

I like the idea of lighting up the skyline but it is too much of the same color. A little variety would be better.

[Keith-N-Jax]

Good idea but to much of the same color, I like the teal if there is a Monday or Thursday night game. They could even host an event like the festival of lights. I think one of the German cities does that and also Sydney. I like the idea of lighting up downtown. That's an easy fix.

[thelakelander]

Looks like a teal version of Norfolk.

[I-10east]

Is Dallas the first US city that featured this 'neon lit skyscraper outline' tech?

[Mike D]

It's an excellent idea.  I like the prospect of occasional changes to mark the season or a holiday...not unlike the changes in color on the Empire State Building in NYC.  When I lived in Miami, the central image of downtown was I.M. Pei's Centrust Tower, now the Miami Tower, which is all but defined by its nighttime illumination.  The trend spread to the whole city skyline.  The colors of Miami Tower still change from time to time.  Like Miami, J'ville has the advantage of a waterfront setting to reflect the skyline, further enhancing the effect of lighting up the city.  As for the idea that street-level lighting would be more helpful, why does there have to be a choice between the two?  Do both. As an earlier poster noted, Jacksonville does have a history in this area.  I'm just old enough to remember the glorious neon of rooftop hotel signs stretching across the skyline...the George Washington, the Mayflower, the Seminole, the Floridan, etc.   

[Keith-N-Jax]

Well said Mike