Living Downtown as a Millennial

[riverside planner]

This discussion has really good timing. DVI is currently conducting a survey of Downtown residents about their experience living Downtown – what they like, don't like and would make their experiences better.  We'd love to hear from Downtown residents who post on Metro Jacksonville.  The survey takes 5 minutes or so and will be available until November 14th.  Here is the link: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/MWPYSGT.  Please share this link with your fellow Downtown residents.

[Downtown Osprey]

^^^ Thank you. Done and done.

[jaxjaguar]

^exactly what osprey said

[ssky]

Definitely taking the survey tonight! Funny thing...many of these comments sound so much like ones Jerry Moran used to make back when he was positing on this forum. Maybe he got tired of running into the same brick wall. Regardless, I am very glad to see the torch being carried because these issues are every bit as real as the constant denial that surrounds and perpetuates them.

[an apple]

Summarize very good, friends! I agree with your views...

[downtownbrown]

^^^I wish all my money weren't going to pay rent/partying (lol) and I'd buy it as an investment property, heck, maybe spend a few days a year in FL and claim FL residency!  Sounds like a deal, but what kind of rent can you get for it?  And is it possible to rent it, or is the quota maxed out with the COA?

My only concern would be appreciation.  Send the link about the listing.  $250K sounds high (also on a psf basis) for a Jax townhouse compared to what I could buy in Riverside (I think).  I'd want upside in value, and I'd want to profit from rent.

http://www.zillow.com/homes/for_sale/82999976_zpid/30.325293,-81.649573,30.321334,-81.655259_rect/17_zm/1_fr/?view=map

428 east bay street, 32202

As for appreciation, once Berkman 2 is done and Khan develops the Shipyards, what do you think will happen to the market?

[Gunnar]

Wasn't there an issue with construction quality on the Berkman or did that only affect the parking garage?

[simms3]

^^^I wish all my money weren't going to pay rent/partying (lol) and I'd buy it as an investment property, heck, maybe spend a few days a year in FL and claim FL residency!  Sounds like a deal, but what kind of rent can you get for it?  And is it possible to rent it, or is the quota maxed out with the COA?

My only concern would be appreciation.  Send the link about the listing.  $250K sounds high (also on a psf basis) for a Jax townhouse compared to what I could buy in Riverside (I think).  I'd want upside in value, and I'd want to profit from rent.

http://www.zillow.com/homes/for_sale/82999976_zpid/30.325293,-81.649573,30.321334,-81.655259_rect/17_zm/1_fr/?view=map

428 east bay street, 32202

As for appreciation, once Berkman 2 is done and Khan develops the Shipyards, what do you think will happen to the market?

Well it appears to price less than the John Gorrie condos on a psf basis.  It is unique for the market.  But I'm not holding my breath for Berkman 2, and certainly not Shipyards (nor am I excited at all that Khan is developing the Shipyards...he's not a developer).  The surface lot next to the Hyatt could one day be a massive construction zone, though I wouldn't be holding my breath on that either.

~$150 psf seems like a good price, but this is a foreclosure it sounds like.  Means someone has to pick it off in person on the county steps, right?  Definitely were a ton of foreclosures in this development, that means while some people's basis is low, others who bought at $500K+ are way out of the money, and what's to prevent further foreclosures?  Pricing at Berkman doesn't seem stabilized yet and it won't appreciate until it is.

[jaxjaguar]

This is the problem I have with living downtown and JSO... My rent is way too high and I'm getting way too many parking tickets, to literally be stepping over hobos to get in my car. This guy has slept in the same spot in the middle of the sidewalk every day for the last month.

There are also about 4 other homeless people that sleep in the bushes in the empty lot next to my building. It doesn't matter if I have my buildings security guard say something, call JSO, or ask them to move myself. They're not being punished so they don't care at all. On Saturday I saw a huge pile of human feces, covered in flies, in the grass next to my car... It was absolutely disgusting...

I asked this guy to move today and he said, "I just got out of prison, I don't have to go anywhere."

I'm sorry downtown, I tried for 2 years to give you a chance, but I can't take it anymore. The second my lease is up I'm leaving and my friends won't be far behind.

[Bill Hoff]

This is the problem I have with living downtown and JSO... My rent is way too high and I'm getting way too many parking tickets, to literally be stepping over hobos to get in my car. This guy has slept in the same spot in the middle of the sidewalk every day for the last month.

There are also about 4 other homeless people that sleep in the bushes in the empty lot next to my building. It doesn't matter if I have my buildings security guard say something, call JSO, or ask them to move myself. They're not being punished so they don't care at all. On Saturday I saw a huge pile of human feces, covered in flies, in the grass next to my car... It was absolutely disgusting...

I asked this guy to move today and he said, "I just got out of prison, I don't have to go anywhere."

I'm sorry downtown, I tried for 2 years to give you a chance, but I can't take it anymore. The second my lease is up I'm leaving and my friends won't be far behind.

That's a pretty common sight in ATL, SF, etc. However, I'd encourage you to email our City Council & Mayor's office about your concerns. This general issue is on their radar, and the more people they hear from about it, the more urgency there is the address it.

[jaxjaguar]

Pardon my ignorance, but who do I email? I found this page, but it's not very helpful...

http://www.coj.net/city-council/city-council-members.aspx

[tufsu1]

^ call Downtown Vision...and then let them get in touch with JSO or COJ staff

[tufsu1]

^^^^Sounds like you gave DT Jax a true old college try and the city failed you.  Get out of dodge, move to Riverside or San Marco for a far superior urban living experience with more to do.

and thanks for the left coast perspective

[simms3]

This is the problem I have with living downtown and JSO... My rent is way too high and I'm getting way too many parking tickets, to literally be stepping over hobos to get in my car. This guy has slept in the same spot in the middle of the sidewalk every day for the last month.

There are also about 4 other homeless people that sleep in the bushes in the empty lot next to my building. It doesn't matter if I have my buildings security guard say something, call JSO, or ask them to move myself. They're not being punished so they don't care at all. On Saturday I saw a huge pile of human feces, covered in flies, in the grass next to my car... It was absolutely disgusting...

I asked this guy to move today and he said, "I just got out of prison, I don't have to go anywhere."

I'm sorry downtown, I tried for 2 years to give you a chance, but I can't take it anymore. The second my lease is up I'm leaving and my friends won't be far behind.

TBH, your initial post on page 1 elicited more sympathy (from me).  If it's just homeless people sleeping in bushes/entrances and occasional human feces, that's par for the course (anywhere).  Don't come out to San Francisco lest you be absolutely shocked; you might have PTSD from such a trip.

But "rowdy homelessness" where they actually cause trouble (like become violent or harass) or congregate legitimately too thickly with no enforcement, coupled with incessant parking tickets is a last straw, I agree.  And also FTR, most cities hand out parking tickets like you wouldn't believe - it's generally a huge source of revenue.  I think at this point most street parking in the entire city of SF is metered, and it's $600+ within a day of pickup if your car is towed.

So to Stephen's point above, just be sure you have real perspective on the situation.  Are all of the problems too much for *you* to handle, or are they really more than a city like Jacksonville should have (my initial thought was comparing Jax to other smaller cities I've been to that seemed cleaner and to have fewer homeless, but many *major* cities are actually quite gross and filled with homeless, but it's just something we deal with)?

^^^^Sounds like you gave DT Jax a true old college try and the city failed you.  Get out of dodge, move to Riverside or San Marco for a far superior urban living experience with more to do.

and thanks for the left coast perspective

Given our posting history, do you agree that Riverside and San Marco offer superior urban experiences or not?  Sometimes I can't tell with you.

[downtownbrown]

Wasn't there an issue with construction quality on the Berkman or did that only affect the parking garage?

The owner of Berkman 2, Choate Construction, did their due diligence and are proceeding.  They have an Atlanta developer who wants to complete the project, but of course the city can't ever make a decision about anything.  Last I knew the developer was hashing it out with the DIA.