Paul Goldberger on Raleigh - could also apply to Jacksonville

[Ajax]

Much of this advice would be just as applicable to Jacksonville as it is to Raleigh: 

• Density is vital. But density means the number of buildings, not just how many people per square mile: "Great cities are full of buildings, the only open spaces are intentional." Infill is critical.

• Preserve older buildings. Goldberger quoted the great urbanist Lewis Mumford: "In a city, time becomes visible."

• Respect what we have. It's not necessary to mimic the style of existing buildings. Do respect their scale and resist bigger ones that cause older neighborhoods to "look adrift."

• Maximum density goes downtown. "Density must be managed intelligently," he said. "It is important to not allow maximum density everywhere."

• Use incentive zoning. Tie approval of tall buildings downtown to open space (plazas, public squares) on the ground. "If a developer doesn't want to do it and the city doesn't want to force its hand," he said, "then you have a problem."

• Drinking on sidewalks? They've been drinking and eating on the sidewalks of Paris for 200 years, Goldberger said.

http://www.indyweek.com/indyweek/if-raleigh-wants-to-be-a-world-class-city-it-needs-planning-personality-and-architects/Content?oid=4893997&utm_content=buffer9cfd0&utm_medium=social&utm_source=twitter.com&utm_campaign=buffer

[I-10east]

I'm tired of the term 'world class city' being passed around like pamphlets. I get the gist of the article don't get me wrong, but there are only a very few 'world class cities'.