Downtown's Southbank Riverwalk Opens

Metro Jacksonville · February 26, 2015, 02:05:02 PM

Downtown's Southbank Riverwalk Opens

Sights and scenes from the grand opening of Downtown Jacksonville's new Southbank Riverwalk.

Read More: http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2015-feb-downtowns-southbank-riverwalk-opens

edjax · February 26, 2015, 02:34:03 PM

Impressed!! It looks awesome. Now I hope they set aside funds to keep it properly maintained. What is that box looking item in that one pic (Page 3, Pic 3)?

Ajax · February 26, 2015, 03:33:14 PM

Nice pics. I thought someone said the city wasn't going to allow bikes in the other thread. Did Redman get a special dispensation?

thelakelander · February 26, 2015, 03:42:06 PM

I guess they are allowed. Redman was determined to be the first cyclist to ride it.

Noone · February 26, 2015, 04:37:05 PM

Quote from: thelakelander on February 26, 2015, 03:42:06 PM
I guess they are allowed. Redman was determined to be the first cyclist to ride it.

+1 Look for new signage. The bike racks are there.

Marle Brando · February 26, 2015, 04:52:39 PM

Quite narrow, I do wish it's was like double the width it is now and still attached to the bulkhead. Guess I have to see those colorful pavers in person because the pics don't do them any justice.

edjax · February 26, 2015, 05:47:38 PM

I think 99% of the time the width will be sufficient for pedestrians and bikes to use it at same time. During special events I could see it as problem, but if huge crowds, bikes on it probably would not makes sense anyways.

Downtown Osprey · February 26, 2015, 09:57:05 PM

Checked it out this evening on my run. It looks wonderful! Job well done.

Keith-N-Jax · February 26, 2015, 11:04:17 PM

It does look very nice and I love those colors

johncb · February 27, 2015, 03:22:29 AM

I cant be the ONLY person who remembers the river walk of old ! Harbormasters,Crawdaddys,River Rally,all the little shops,etc ? At least then there was something to do,what is there to do down there now ?

Noone · February 27, 2015, 07:50:31 AM

Nice COJ press release.
We have a BARGE! Does Putnam county know about this?
Has this been before Waterways?
Tides are looking good. Plan on doing a RICO loop in some of the most restricted Waterways in the state.
Special shout out to any Past, Present, and future Hooter girls.
Any IBM'rs if you are still in the country.
Any candidate running for office that wants to do an Up for Whatever Bud Light kayak loop.
Any of the LOST + FIND Commissioners
Any DIA Board member with a COJ email address.
Any news media outlet outside of Duval county.

Visit Jacksonville!

Who's next?

PeeJayEss · February 27, 2015, 08:21:23 AM

Quote from: johncb on February 27, 2015, 03:22:29 AM
I cant be the ONLY person who remembers the river walk of old ! Harbormasters,Crawdaddys,River Rally,all the little shops,etc ? At least then there was something to do,what is there to do down there now ?

That's not the fault of the new Riverwalk. All that stuff has been closed for years.
Probably because people, though they might talk about it with such nostalgia, didn't actually support the businesses.

fieldafm · February 27, 2015, 09:14:08 AM

Quote from: Murder_me_Rachel on February 27, 2015, 08:53:14 AM
Quote from: johncb on February 27, 2015, 03:22:29 AM
I cant be the ONLY person who remembers the river walk of old ! Harbormasters,Crawdaddys,River Rally,all the little shops,etc ? At least then there was something to do,what is there to do down there now ?

Crawdaddy's was THE SHIT. My family used to go there for Sunday brunch all the time-- so great.

Sunday brunch was the bomb.

jaxlore · February 27, 2015, 09:28:46 AM

Crawdaddys was falling into the river and had to be torn down. Coney Island Joe's which was a lunch staple for me couldn't afford the rent and for a while had a stand in front of the Dupont Center but then retired up north. During that time period you saw a lot of infill throughout San Marco proper but nothing ever came back to the river. With the condo/apartments over there you think this would be the time for that area to make a come back but of course we will have "healthy town" sooner or later.

fieldafm · February 27, 2015, 09:47:50 AM

QuoteCrawdaddys was falling into the river and had to be torn down

Crawdaddys wasnt falling over, it was made to look that way intentionally. The restaurant closed because of debt management issues (and a host of other financial issues). It was sold to a restaurant holding company from Tampa, which had planned to reopen the restaurant under a different theme and gut the building... but they too had issues. Right before the Super Bowl, the former owner of the neigboring Raddison bought the building and tore it down because they didnt like the rustic aesthetics of the building (that owner ran into financial issues of their own with the site). There were several offers to buy the Crawdaddys site before the recession hit.