What Would You Like Downtown Jacksonville to Become?

[IrvAdams]

^^ A pothole party? Now that's a creative idea! Schedule it and many will attend, I'm sure. 

[Ralph W]

Pothole? A great name for a downtown underground nightclub, featuring, of course, a designer selection of imported weed.

[Noone]

I-10,  I've generally empathized with your sentiments at least somewhat and have felt you were treated unfairly most of the time. Gotta say though that you've gone overboard here. Obviously you know something that all urban planners and theorists don't.

Thanks PM for the first take. Then you said that I went 'overboard', that's a pretty strong word. I try to stay reasonable and REALISTIC with my comments, and many people confuse that as being 'complacent' or 'suburban-minded'. Some things will NOT be changed (Hart Bridge ramp, the Main Street Bridge ramps, State, Union, Ocean, Main traffic patterns) whether you like it or not; Someone will say 'You don't know that', well I have very strong opinions, and there they are. No one in their right minds with the DOT isn't trying to reduce any lanes on them major arteries (making them two-way will reduce lanes).

I guess that the 'urban planners and theorists' rather worry about things that have little impact on the core, instead of building within it. I'm looking at things like the Chase DT, the tech company in the Greenleaf & Crosby, the Laura Trio, the Barnett Building which hopefully will get Florida Blue you know, things that matter; Not something that's controlled by the DOT, and will never change. The Hart Bridge ramp doesn't interfere with traffic at all, it's convenient, and it keeps tailgaters cool and protects people from the rain; the Fuller Warren Bridge also protects people during the Riverside Arts Market; I guess since that bridge only carries auto traffic, there's no need for that either. My thing is if possible, do not tear down any DT infrastructure, and continue working on the core, which doesn't sound extreme at all to me.

I remember when a short time poster said something about extreme people on certain websites. I would like to think that MJ is open-minded, but the more and more times when it seems like you can't have an opinion about something (that's not even extreme) the more I think the he was right. My whole new thing is 'agree to disagree', which is cordial, and not confrontational; Atleast after the first disagreement. Maybe that's a better way of going about things, instead of one person being quintuple-teamed against.

 

+1

[downtownbrown]

^^ A pothole party? Now that's a creative idea! Schedule it and many will attend, I'm sure. 

I volunteer to help finance press release, placards, tee shirts, social media, etc. for anyone who wants to organize.  I wish I had time, but I am a willing underwriter.  "Third Anniversary Pothole Party: A Celebration of Government Inaction in Downtown Jacksonville".  The anniversary is April 11th.

To me this is similar to Broken Window policing.  If you can't fix a hole in the road, how are you going to revitalize downtown?

[Bridges]

^^ A pothole party? Now that's a creative idea! Schedule it and many will attend, I'm sure. 

I volunteer to help finance press release, placards, tee shirts, social media, etc. for anyone who wants to organize.  I wish I had time, but I am a willing underwriter.  "Third Anniversary Pothole Party: A Celebration of Government Inaction in Downtown Jacksonville".  The anniversary is April 11th.

To me this is similar to Broken Window policing.  If you can't fix a hole in the road, how are you going to revitalize downtown?

I freaking love this idea.  Even if it is something small like a meeting at the pothole, put a "Happy Birthday" balloon on it, maybe a hat too.  Then we'll all walk to Marks and share a pint and some of our favorite stories about the pothole and road it used to be. 

[downtownbrown]

a picture in the media of a cake with a hole in it ought to resonate.  Cheerful "Thanks City Counci!!" smiley faces, and "Thanks, Mayor Brown!!!" posters on the chain link fence.  "Save the Hole!". 

[Bridges]

Ha! This could work.  Other cities have done stuff like this and its worked.  Painted political characters over holes, tagged the mayor and council in photos, etc.

And not just for this hole, but for other neglected repairs around the city.  Just film a little video of it and post pictures and video online tagging mayor and council. 

I'm in for April 11th.

[downtownbrown]

spread the word, you Hero Members!!!  I agree the symbolism could be far reaching.  We need Hole In The Road Gang tee shirts.  is there a graphic artist in the house?

[urbanlibertarian]

[downtownbrown]

^awesome pics

[thewendyjx]

I think it would be great if it was easier to navigate, more public parking, and more family friendly things to do.

[heights unknown]

A central point for the entire city for business, shopping, dining, entertainment, and also residential living. Don't care what anyone else thinks, but in my opinion a city's downtown appearance, i.e. skyline, infrastructure, etc., is very important. I remember years ago a friend of mine from Germany came to visit when I was still living in Jacksonville. This was in the early 90's. When he saw Jacksonville's skyline, he was pumped up and was ready to shop, dine, etc. After I took him on a tour and we were heading home, he was disappointed. I asked him why, and he said, "tall buildings and nothing going on!" It's good to have skyscrapers and a super skyline, this to me is also important. I feel Jax should, when the opportunity presents itself and the market is open to it, build 3 to 4 more super talls over 700 feet; however, buildings do not make a city. We are on the track in trying to lure people to live downtown; however, I feel we are lacking and behind in ensuring that there is more business, dining, shopping, and entertainment in our downtown. Whether one or the other is of more priority or should be first is up for debate and argument. But this is what I would like to see more within and of downtown Jacksonville.

[Ocklawaha]

+1M

A friendly place with shady sidewalks, trees and awnings. Creative infrastructure, street furnishings, directional signs, planters, lighting... Laura Street multiplied across with width and depth of the core. Hanging gardens from the Skyway along Hogan and perhaps Bay. Programs featuring retail, artistic, housing, education and office reuse of older downtown buildings. A place that rewards building owners who REFUSE to demolish that vacant property for a 'LaVilla Moonscape.' Historical markers, lots of markers, historical, cultural and entertaining. Sidewalk art, street performers, vendors, food trucks a veritable carnival of fun ways to kill a lunch hour. A waterfront that salutes our tremendous efforts to two world wars, our Spanish and Native American fore-bearers. A Huguenot park off of I-95, a museum of Southern Rock, Blues, Jazz and Zydeco music. A permanent park with a fitting tribute to our Gullah Geechee Corridor and AMAZING FREE BLACK HERITAGE! The signature (Negro League) museum of The Southern League of Base Ballists. Little Johnny Peyton's neighborhood arches... perhaps his best (maybe only) good idea. A tip of the hat to our old Main Street ferry landing with the great arched sign over the street advertising the ferry and the arcade in the old terminal. 'The Landing,' 'Brooklyn,' and a Sports District named 'Fairfield.' Lots of reuse and new housing. Heights' skyscrapers. A urban public wifi zone. Music, lots of music. A radical new fixed route mass transit system featuring a modal mix. A downtown convention center that doubles as a small cruise port terminal, marine/urban welcome station, surrounded by boutique shopping and dining to keep it buzzing night and day. Recycling the 'Prime Osborn' into 'Jacksonville Union Terminal,' your one stop surface transportation shop. FREE PARKING with timed zones... and a program of paying the meter for the first offense of every out of town car, and those Christmas shoppers. Colorful signs, neon, dancing, flickering, sparkling and dazzling lights. A fabulous Water Screen Holographic Projection under and along the sides of the Acosta Bridge, the worlds largest. A US Naval museum of ships and aircraft, somewhere along the waterfront dotted with fish cleaning stations and 'FISHERMEN WELCOME' signs. A revived Jacksonville Landing. Access to San Marco without waiting for the train. Hooking Big Jim back up to a steam generator just as God intended it. Lane diets, and WAYYYYY lower speeds along such racetracks as Main, State, Union and Bay. Access to the Baptist Medical complex from the Skyway/Prudential Insurance area without the frogger game. An well funded aquarium. A couple of big box stores. Statues of Admiral Jean Ribault, Captain General Pedro Menéndez de Avilés and Timucuan chief Saturiwa, along with Henry Morrison Flagler, Henry Bradley Plant and John Skelton Williams. Jakes painted streets during festivals and more festivals. Annual tall ship events DOWNTOWN.

Hear that buzz? I do. If you don't your not a believer!

[downtownbrown]

what a wonderful vision. 

[Gunnar]

A central point for the entire city for business, shopping, dining, entertainment, and also residential living. Don't care what anyone else thinks, but in my opinion a city's downtown appearance, i.e. skyline, infrastructure, etc., is very important. I remember years ago a friend of mine from Germany came to visit when I was still living in Jacksonville. This was in the early 90's.

Imagine how disappointed he'd be now - back in the early 90s there were still more buildings (although empty) downtown. I know positive things have happened in the mean, as well, but a lot of old building stock has disappeared since then, making dt imho even sadder.