A stroll through Jacksonville Beach

[Metro Jacksonville]

A stroll through Jacksonville Beach



Take a photo journey through Jacksonville Beach, a place that has become the epicenter of urbanized entertainment, living, recreation and people watching outside of downtown.

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http://www.metrojacksonville.com/content/view/496

[Dapperdan]

I am glad for the beaches, but I am not sure it can compare much to downtown. The beach is a natural draw. It has built in entertainment that downtown does not have. I am glad it is becomming an entertainment area again. I see the old pics of the amusement park on the boardwalk, and I think they are getting back the crows they had in their hey day.

[thelakelander]

They really can't be compared to each other.  They are developing to be two different types of pedestrian friendly destinations.  If anything, I'd say they complement each other.

Btw, downtown also has it's own natural draw.....the St. Johns River.  We just still have to find a way to take advantage of it.

[copperfiend]

I spend alot of time at Jax Beach. They have done alot to revitalize the area. The new developments are good but alot of people cannot afford to live anywhere decent on that side of the Intercoastal. Also, one of the best restaurants in the area, the First Street Grill, was torn down to build a condo. That has left few beachfront dining options. But I guess the bad comes with the good.

[thelakelander]

But I guess the bad comes with the good.

Jax Beach could definately be better off with more urbanized zoning tactics.  For example, imagine if blank walls weren't allowed on first street or if new condo developers had to construct Seawalk extensions across their property?  Or if condo developments had to include some of that retail/dining square footage that they've been eliminating?  All that could have been done, as opposed to strictly blanketing the entire place with a 35' height limit, without giving much thought to the quality of stuff rising under that limit at human scale.

[fsujax]

The beach is such a great to be on a Saturday afternoon, during the summer.  The transformation of Jax Beach over the last couple of years has been amazing.

[Ocklawaha]

Ohhh, OUCH! I'm still feeling that lobster effect from my daughter dragging me out for a day at Boca Raton. Every one of those photos seem's to make me feel "my" pain!

Good to see the beaches are finally on the comeback trail, God know's we've waited long enough for it. Darn shame that they don't include a beachside theme park here. We once had a great "boardwalk, midway and rides" and if we did it again, we'd have the only show like it this side of Coney Island! Sure there are a few little places between New York and Key West that have a kiddie carnival, but nobody, NOBODY has a real quality beachside park.

As for downtown, the more I study the photos, the more I believe that Hogan's Creek, South of Arlington Expressway/State/Union downtown is the answer. I call it "Creekwalk", add San Antonio or Oklahoma City style Creek side development, a REAL TROLLEY and REAL TROLLEY PARK, and just jump back and watch it bloom. We have the vision, we just need the will.

Toasted in the Everglades
Ocklawaha

[n8]

Take a photo journey through Jacksonville Beach, a place that has become the epicenter of urbanized entertainment, living, recreation and people watching outside of downtown.

That's pretty funny. The beach has developed lightyears further and faster than downtown.. just look at the change in property value.

I just wish I'd had the foresight to buy there when I moved here 20 years ago.

[Jason]

St. Augustine beach is even more drastic.  A coworker of mine was looking into beachfront property for less than $100k with a nice house on it.  Now anything on the ocean is going for a mil and up and thats undeveloped!

[urbanlibertarian]

Economic development of the core of JB didn't take off until the COJB finally stopped trying to do major redevelopment projects.  Property owners in the core area sat on their properties for 20+ years afraid to develop them because the city was constantly coming up with new plans to condemn and sell to a big developer.  When the city backed off and began concentratiing on infrastructure,  that's when property owners began what you see today.

[thelakelander]

Interesting.  Maybe COJ should take notes from COJB?

[Jason]

My thoughts exactly.  The city needs to get out of the way and let the market thrive.  We have a 50/50 mix of developed property and dirt lots downtown because of the city's constant interference.