Springfield's impact on other neighborhoods

[blizz01]

Why do you live here, Kerry?  Did you lose a bet?

[Kerry]

Why do you live here, Kerry?  Did you lose a bet?

Because my wife won't move....yet.

[Steve]

Screw it - you want to believe Springfield is making none, little, some, or amazing progress have at it.

Read: "I was proven wrong, but refuse to accept that I was wrong, so I'll just pretend I am still right!"

Humble pie tastes fantastic once you get used to the taste.

Not at all.  My bar just isn't set as low as your bar is.  If you are happy with the amazing progress of Springfield who am I to say you shouldn't be.  I have the benefit of traveling the country almost every week so my frame of reference isn't Springfield 2020 vs Springfield 2010 vs Springfield 1990.  It is looking at the rate of change of Springfield as it compares to the rate of change across a collection of places I travel to.

And maybe that is the root cause of the issue of perception.  You think Springfield's competition is against Springfield of 1990, and I think Springfield's competition, and by extension all of Jax, is our peer cities today.

If your motto is "Hey, we're better today than we were 10 years ago" then good luck with that.  The rest of the world doesn't see it that way.

There is nothing wrong with looking back and seeing how much better the neighborhood is than 5 years ago. There is also nothing wrong with aspiring to be better than we are today. You just shouldn't let one interfere with the other. One article about the neighborhood I don't believe is evidence that the neighborhood is going to stop work to improve.

[vicupstate]

As I said in an earlier post, Springfield has literally seen it all, if you go back far enough. From white flight, crime infestation, arsonists, becoming the default location of every crime North of the St. John's, the coal ash issue that arose for a bit, massive run-up in property vales to the massive crash that followed. Add to that  the 'new old home' construction company that tried to tear down every vacate house left. A commercial renaissance that flamed out and seems to be occurring once again. And can't leave out the Craig Van Horn story nor the SPAR drama episodes.

You literally could do a NetFlix documentary series on it.

All of that said, it seems to be doing as well or even much better now than at any time in the last half century.  I can't disagree with Kerry though that given the time period involved, there could and should have been more progress. I blame the disjointed, on-again off-again, leadership from the city.  The latest efforts seem to be a lot more independent of the city, so that is probably a really good thing.     

[Kerry]

Let me explain it a little differently.

Raise your hand if you are happy with the improvement of the Jags under Khan's ownership?  I think most of you would say No, and some of you maybe even Hell No.  Others might even take exception with using the word 'improvement' at all.

However, if you look at winning percentage over 8 season the team has shown constant improvement, especially if you take out the 2017 season.  Their winning percentage increased in 4 seasons and only declined in 3.  That is a positive slope - i.e. improvement.

But you say "the Jags aren't competitive and don't make the playoffs".  So what?  The 2019 Jags were better than every Jags team since 2012 (except the 2017 team) yet many are canceling their season tickets.

What football is to you urban development is to me.  I don't want Jax to be an also-ran City.  I want to compete...and WIN.

[Steve]

Let me explain it a little differently.

Raise your hand if you are happy with the improvement of the Jags under Khan's ownership?  I think most of you would say No, and some of you maybe even Hell No.  Others might even take exception with using the word 'improvement' at all.

However, if you look at winning percentage over 8 season the team has shown constant improvement, especially if you take out the 2017 season.  Their winning percentage increased in 4 seasons and only declined in 3.  That is a positive slope - i.e. improvement.

But you say "the Jags aren't competitive and don't make the playoffs".  So what?  The 2019 Jags were better than every Jags team since 2012 (except the 2017 team) yet many are canceling their season tickets.

What football is to you urban development is to me.  I don't want Jax to be an also-ran City.  I want to compete...and WIN.

Khan bought the team after 2011. He's had the team 8 seasons. His record over those 8 years is worse than the previous 8 years, or any 8 year period that Weaver owned the team.

So Khan's tenure on the field is worse than Weaver's tenure. If there were less business on Main Street or lower home values today than 8 years ago I'd agree with you.

[CityLife]

People that I couldn't get to come to my house in the late aughts/early teens for fear of crime and safety; now travel from the beach, Nocatee, and other places to go to Crispy's, Strings, etc. Nuff said.

It's pretty miraculous what Springfield has done without a CRA and complete lack of investment from COJ. Virtually any other city in the country would have sunk a lot more money into capital projects at a park like Klutho and provided programming. I mean, does COJ even help out with Porchfest? Imagine how much more reach that festival would have if COJ chipped in $50-100k a year to get a couple of headlining acts to play at the Klutho bandshell....Other than fixing the one way issue onto Main Street, has COJ made any kind of mobility or pedestrian related improvements in the last decade in Springfield? Is the City doing anything to actually fund Hogan's Creek Greenway or Groundworks Jax projects?

The ceiling of Springfield is through the roof, if COJ could ever get it together and take the neighborhood to the next level.

[Kerry]

Let me explain it a little differently.

Raise your hand if you are happy with the improvement of the Jags under Khan's ownership?  I think most of you would say No, and some of you maybe even Hell No.  Others might even take exception with using the word 'improvement' at all.

However, if you look at winning percentage over 8 season the team has shown constant improvement, especially if you take out the 2017 season.  Their winning percentage increased in 4 seasons and only declined in 3.  That is a positive slope - i.e. improvement.

But you say "the Jags aren't competitive and don't make the playoffs".  So what?  The 2019 Jags were better than every Jags team since 2012 (except the 2017 team) yet many are canceling their season tickets.

What football is to you urban development is to me.  I don't want Jax to be an also-ran City.  I want to compete...and WIN.

Khan bought the team after 2011. He's had the team 8 seasons. His record over those 8 years is worse than the previous 8 years, or any 8 year period that Weaver owned the team.

So Khan's tenure on the field is worse than Weaver's tenure. If there were less business on Main Street or lower home values today than 8 years ago I'd agree with you.

So when you compare Khan ownership to Weaver ownership what time frame does that correspond to in Springfield - 1940?

Maybe you just need to give Khan 12 more years then judge.

[Snaketoz]

Kerry, I have often felt that you may be misinformed and truly prejudiced against Jacksonville.  Now you have removed all doubt.  You can't compare other cities' transformations unless you knew how bad the bottom was.  The changes in Springfield are amazing when compared to only a short time ago.

[Kerry]

Kerry, I have often felt that you may be misinformed and truly prejudiced against Jacksonville.  Now you have removed all doubt.  You can't compare other cities' transformations unless you knew how bad the bottom was.  The changes in Springfield are amazing when compared to only a short time ago.

I think vicupstate got it right a few posts back.  Yes 2020 Springfield is better than 2000 Springfield is better than 1990 Springfield, but when you divide it by the 20 years (or 30) it took to get from A to B, the annual rate of change is practically non-existant.

[Tacachale]

Kerry, I have often felt that you may be misinformed and truly prejudiced against Jacksonville.  Now you have removed all doubt.  You can't compare other cities' transformations unless you knew how bad the bottom was.  The changes in Springfield are amazing when compared to only a short time ago.

I think vicupstate got it right a few posts back.  Yes 2020 Springfield is better than 2000 Springfield is better than 1990 Springfield, but when you divide it by the 20 years (or 30) it took to get from A to B, the annual rate of change is practically non-existant.

The biggest growth has happened within the last 5 years. Put down the stick, dude.

[Snaketoz]

Kerry, I have often felt that you may be misinformed and truly prejudiced against Jacksonville.  Now you have removed all doubt.  You can't compare other cities' transformations unless you knew how bad the bottom was.  The changes in Springfield are amazing when compared to only a short time ago.

I think vicupstate got it right a few posts back.  Yes 2020 Springfield is better than 2000 Springfield is better than 1990 Springfield, but when you divide it by the 20 years (or 30) it took to get from A to B, the annual rate of change is practically non-existant.

You are confusing Springfield with San Marco getting a Publix.  I grew up in Brentwood/Springfield.  The changes in Brentwood are sad.  The changes to Springfield are amazing.

[Bill Hoff]

Just to reset - the article is about the impact of the Springfield Historic District's positive development on adjacent neighborhoods.

While Kerry can have his opinions, you can ask a Realtor and renter. Realtors will tell you those looking for "great" investments are moving North to New Springfield to find the same type of deals found in Springfield 10 years ago. Renters will tell you it's pretty darn hard to find quality rentals available in the Springfield Historic District these days, and people are also heading North to New Springfield to do so. Regarding rentals, the demand is high and the supply is artificially low, as MANY rental owners have converted to Airbnb exclusively, wiping out much of the supply. It's a legitimate problem - 2 different people on the SPAR board of directors had to look for months before finding a rental in the 'hood.

[77danj7]

Why do you live here, Kerry?  Did you lose a bet?

Because my wife won't move....yet.

Anything we can do to help convince her to move since you clearly aren't happy?

[jcjohnpaint]

Kerry,
Where is your wife now?