What Would You Like Downtown Jacksonville to Become?

[I-10east]

^^^Thank you. I'm a little disappointed that you didn't post a link within that sarcastic response.

[Tacachale]

Great article.  Eventually, we'll have the same opportunities to explore with the Hart Bridge Expressway.  The Main Street Bridge expressway on the Southbank is another.  When these things get to the age of replacement, do we really want to dump hundreds of millions into rebuilding them? Or can we leverage those reconstruction dollars into something that actually economically enhances the properties they fly over?

I've long complained that downtown's streets seem designed to make it easy to get out, but not in, let alone "within". It's sad that Bay Street becomes a freeway out immediately after every football game and that you can't even take Main Street from the Main Street Bridge. Fixing problems like that should really be a much higher priority.

[I-10east]

With a name like I-10east I shouldn't be surprised in your opposition to removing auto-only transportation systems.

Many urban 'auto-only transportation systems' have ZERO effect on pedestrians, and autos on the ground, like the Hart Bridge ramp for example. The MTA subway in NYC and the CTA in Chi-Town have tracks above streets with no interference, but when an useful roadway is overhead, somehow it's demonized.

I get it though, you hate cars and think that everyone should ride public transit; It's that diehard urbanist agenda. I'm not anti-transit, but there's always room for middle-ground, and not an extreme way of thinking for every situation. We need to starting fixing up the core, instead of worrying about tearing down the DT ramps (where's the money coming from BTW?) that have no negative effect on the core; Not unless a quick alternate way to get across the river VIA automobile is a bad thing...

[Lunican]

Just think, if we had used the 295 eastern beltway as the replacement for I-95 through Jax we wouldn't have needed to rebuild the 'Big-I' interchange, the Fuller Warren Bridge, the Trout River Bridge, the overland bridge, etc.

[I-10east]

^^^That's a very extreme way of thinking IMO. All of the major cities that I been though have major highways nearby; For every one that doesn't have a major interstate (not local) nearby, I probably can name about three major cities that has one.

[Lunican]

^^^That's a very extreme way of thinking IMO. All of the major cities that I been though have major highways nearby; For every one that doesn't have a major interstate (not local) nearby, I probably can name about three major cities that has one.

Actually, tearing a huge path through residential neighborhoods is also pretty extreme. And then doubling down and spending billions more to rebuild it is pretty extreme.

[I-10east]

^^^You think that Jacksonville has an inferiority complex now! Try making it a true ghost city with no skyline views from the major highways. The only city I can think of where the highway goes through a forest of tress instead of seeing a skyline is Tallahassee; Rather unimpressive 'view' of forest instead of maybe seeing, I dunno the capitol! I get it Lunican though, Henry Ford was the Devil himself.... 

[fieldafm]

Tallahassee's downtown is literally at the highest point in all of Leon County.  So, you're quite wrong.



If you go and read the article, DT Tally only has 1,644 less workers than DT Jax.  That's pretty sad.

DT Tallahassee actually looks like an urban environment, Jacksonville could learn A LOT from a city that is about 1/4 of it's size.  That's a sad state of affairs.

[I-10east]

^^^Typical 'quick to jump the gun' and 'come to the defense of' reaction. I was talking about views from major highways, which is I-10 for Tally. So post that capitol view from I-10.

[Kerry]

Just think, if we had used the 295 eastern beltway as the replacement for I-95 through Jax we wouldn't have needed to rebuild the 'Big-I' interchange, the Fuller Warren Bridge, the Trout River Bridge, the overland bridge, etc.

I've been saying this since I found out they were rebuilding I-95 through downtown.  Like you said - the east beltway should have been rebranded I-95 with the existing I-95 re-entering the existing street grid at Atlantic Blvd on the Southside (which would have been rebranded as I-795) and on the Northside would have re-entered the street grid at I-10 and been rebranded I-995.  Then all that land downtown could have been reclaimed and put back on the tax rolls.  Oh well, opportunity missed.

[fieldafm]

^^^Typical 'quick to jump the gun' and 'come to the defense of' reaction. I was talking about views from major highways, which is I-10 for Tally. So post that capitol view from I-10.

What does the view of DT Tallahassee from I-10 have, literally, anything to do with anything being discussed here?

[I-10east]

^^^Wow, because that's what I was talking about, through the discussion with Lunican. Yet, I have the reading comprehension problems....

[Kerry]

I guess the difference of opinion comes from what role downtown should play in the larger context of the city.  Some think it should be played in, lived in, and worked in, while some think it is best viewed as a piece of art to be admired from a distance - but never touched.  I have found that people who support interstates are of the 'art collection' persuasion.  Like an art gallery, is it little wonder many downtown close at 6 PM?

[I-10east]

Some think it should be played in, lived in, and worked in, while some think it is best viewed as a piece of art to be admired from a distance - but never touched.

LOL, yep interstates are the death of cities. That explains why Atlanta is so dead. Ya learn something new everyday, thanks for the excellent feedback.

[I-10east]

^^^I didn't say that.