Jeweler leaving Downtown after 82 years

[thelakelander]

By Karen Brune Mathis, Managing Editor

After 82 years in Downtown Jacksonville, Knott and Co. Jewelers will close June 30 and reopen at a Westside location July 5.
"We regret the fact we have to leave, but it's time," said associate Joyce Hamilton.

Knott was a tenant at the building when it was the Florida National Bank building.

The city bought the structure in 2006 and became the landlord. The city said Knott leases 1,285 square feet.

The timing of the move relates to the economy and, to some degree, Downtown's condition, Hamilton and Bennett said Wednesday.

The economy affected customers' disposable income to buy jewelry. "People just aren't spending the money they used to," Bennett said.

Parking has been difficult for some patrons, particularly some of the older customers who prefer more convenient access. And some customers are uncomfortable being panhandled when they find spaces and walk to the store, Hamilton and Bennett said.

Bennett said those factors collectively led to the decision to move the business now.

Full article: http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=547725

[menace1069]

By Karen Brune Mathis, Managing Editor

After 82 years in Downtown Jacksonville, Knott and Co. Jewelers will close June 30 and reopen at a Westside location July 5.
"We regret the fact we have to leave, but it's time," said associate Joyce Hamilton.

Knott was a tenant at the building when it was the Florida National Bank building.

The city bought the structure in 2006 and became the landlord. The city said Knott leases 1,285 square feet.

The timing of the move relates to the economy and, to some degree, Downtown's condition, Hamilton and Bennett said Wednesday.

The economy affected customers' disposable income to buy jewelry. "People just aren't spending the money they used to," Bennett said.

Parking has been difficult for some patrons, particularly some of the older customers who prefer more convenient access. And some customers are uncomfortable being panhandled when they find spaces and walk to the store, Hamilton and Bennett said.

Bennett said those factors collectively led to the decision to move the business now.

Full article: http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=547725

I get it...why would customers come downtown when they know they are going to be approached for money by panhandlers?
By the way, how many homeless shelters do we have here just in DT?

[strider]

By Karen Brune Mathis, Managing Editor

After 82 years in Downtown Jacksonville, Knott and Co. Jewelers will close June 30 and reopen at a Westside location July 5.
"We regret the fact we have to leave, but it's time," said associate Joyce Hamilton.

Knott was a tenant at the building when it was the Florida National Bank building.

The city bought the structure in 2006 and became the landlord. The city said Knott leases 1,285 square feet.

The timing of the move relates to the economy and, to some degree, Downtown's condition, Hamilton and Bennett said Wednesday.

The economy affected customers' disposable income to buy jewelry. "People just aren't spending the money they used to," Bennett said.

Parking has been difficult for some patrons, particularly some of the older customers who prefer more convenient access. And some customers are uncomfortable being panhandled when they find spaces and walk to the store, Hamilton and Bennett said.

Bennett said those factors collectively led to the decision to move the business now.

Full article: http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=547725

I get it...why would customers come downtown when they know they are going to be approached for money by panhandlers?
By the way, how many homeless shelters do we have here just in DT?

Probably fewer than many more vibrant cities. 

[Bill Hoff]

By Karen Brune Mathis, Managing Editor

After 82 years in Downtown Jacksonville, Knott and Co. Jewelers will close June 30 and reopen at a Westside location July 5.
"We regret the fact we have to leave, but it's time," said associate Joyce Hamilton.

Knott was a tenant at the building when it was the Florida National Bank building.

The city bought the structure in 2006 and became the landlord. The city said Knott leases 1,285 square feet.

The timing of the move relates to the economy and, to some degree, Downtown's condition, Hamilton and Bennett said Wednesday.

The economy affected customers' disposable income to buy jewelry. "People just aren't spending the money they used to," Bennett said.

Parking has been difficult for some patrons, particularly some of the older customers who prefer more convenient access. And some customers are uncomfortable being panhandled when they find spaces and walk to the store, Hamilton and Bennett said.

Bennett said those factors collectively led to the decision to move the business now.

Full article: http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=547725

I get it...why would customers come downtown when they know they are going to be approached for money by panhandlers?
By the way, how many homeless shelters do we have here just in DT?

4 to 8, depending on how you count them. But at least 4 traditional shelters of significant size within the Downtown core. This doesn't include non-shelter homeless services, of course.

Deconsolidating shelter services from just the Downtown core to multiple areas of Jax was one of the suggestions included in the report to City Council, regarding homeless shelter impact on Downtown Jax, several years ago. Other suggestions included using a portion of the bed tax to pay for homeless resources, having the local Chamber take a leading role in the issue, etc. All approaches taken by other cities to address their problems with shelters having a negative impact on Downtowns.

Councilman Gulliford, Boyer, Redman (at the time), etc attended these noticed meetings.

In stereotypical Jax fashion, after 3-4 meetings involving the public, homeless stakeholders, city reps, and creating a list of the recommendations/practices of other cities, nothing ever came of it and no follow up. I still have some of the materials (I attended a few of the meetings).

[Bill Hoff]

Nope.

It was a series of suggestions to balance the issue of providing shelter services for those in need with downtown quality-of-life, taken from peer cities (ie, Charlotte, Cincinnati, Miami, etc).

And nope, that's not my view. I have probably personally  evaluated & referred more people into permanent housing placements (a type of homeless program) in the area than any other individual over the past 5+ years.

But, it's a complicated issue. Not as black & white as presented in talking points, or your silly blurbs.

But I digress . . .

[Bill Hoff]

Touche.

[Downtown Osprey]

I've said this numerous times, I'm SO sick and tired of hearing people bitching and moaning about the homeless population downtown. I lived downtown for 2 years and never had a problem with it, and quite honestly compared to other cities, isn't that bad IMO. The problem is not the homeless, rather a lack of residents living in the area. Ever go to downtown during a big event when the streets are populated, businesses are busy? You don't even notice the homeless people.

Want to fix the solution? Go downtown, shop downtown, live downtown, otherwise please stop with the cliche "people are scared of downtown" argument.

[KenFSU]

Always a shame to see a longtime tenet leave, but this is another great location diagonal to Hemming Park that could be better utilized and enjoyed by more people, seven days a week, as a restaurant, cafe, bar, etc.

[acme54321]

otherwise please stop with the cliche "people are scared of downtown" argument.

It's not an argument.  Founded fears or not, a lot of people in this town are actually scared of going downtown. 

[thelakelander]

^Anyone scared to come downtown should stay in the burbs. It's never going to appeal to everyone. Focus on the people who are there and want to be there. Appeal to those interested downtown-type environments and the rest will work out naturally.

[SuzySpringfield]

I get it...why would customers come downtown when they know they are going to be approached for money by panhandlers?
By the way, how many homeless shelters do we have here just in DT?

I believe most require their population to leave during business hours. So no matter the number of shelters, the homeless are still displaced and in the precious faces of those delicate Southsiders for most of the day.

[johncb]

otherwise please stop with the cliche "people are scared of downtown" argument.

It's not an argument.  Founded fears or not, a lot of people in this town are actually scared of going downtown.

mostly old people, who don't go into downtowns anywhere.

Didn't there used to be several " old folks " homes downtown ? Werent the old hotels mostly full of old folks until the 70s ?

[whyisjohngalt]

otherwise please stop with the cliche "people are scared of downtown" argument.

It's not an argument.  Founded fears or not, a lot of people in this town are actually scared of going downtown.

mostly old people, who don't go into downtowns anywhere.

Didn't there used to be several " old folks " homes downtown ? Werent the old hotels mostly full of old folks until the 70s ?

They dead.

[thelakelander]

Half of downtown's population is probably senior citizens. There's at least three highrise senior housing apartment buildings in the Cathedral District. There's a few low-rise places over there as well.

[menace1069]

As far as my original post goes, I get panhandled at least twice a week walking to work.

I'm just throwing this out there...why couldn't we obtain an unused building downtown, retro it into studio apartments and then make it available to the homeless with the caveat that they be employed?

I know that crap happens to people and sometimes people just need some assistance getting back on their feet. If they can stay employed, let them live in the studio apartment for say a year.

There just seems to be alot of wasted space here that could be used in a more productive manner. Productive for downtown, productive for keeping someone off the street and productive for helping someone out.

Am I too far out there?