City unveils Jaguars stadium plan

[thelakelander]

Several....

The first key is to not view current residents as needing a handout. Most people only need a hand. When put in a position to economically prosper, own businesses, houses, etc., the threat of displacement is decreased. However, as long as people are limited economically and don't own property, their livelihood will always be controlled by the whelms of those that do. If you don't have a seat at the decison-making table, you're likely on the menu. Find a community that has had a high level of displacement and I'll bet my house that community was not at the decision-making table to determine its future.

So terms like affordable housing, gentrification, mixed-use, etc. are literally buzzwords that get caught up in academic and political debate, moreso than what's happening on the street. Tackling issues like heirs property, building capacity for neighborhood groups, access to information, access to economic growth and having a seat at the decision-making table are the critical areas that ultimately stimulate inclusive revitalization.

Bronzeville is a good example. Some may view the neighborhood as gentrifying because property values are increasing and revitalization is taking place. I'd argue that its a form of withinttification, as Black people can increase wealth and invest in their community as well. That's not necessarily displacement. It's just the benefit of inclusive revitalization where a larger segment of the local population is benefitting.

Bronzeville (Chicago)

The neighborhood of Bronzeville on the South Side of Chicago has been gentrifying now for more than a decade. Formerly boarded-up beautiful brick homes along Martin Luther King Jr. Drive have come to life. New construction has gone up on land where high-rise public housing projects were spectacularly imploded starting in the 1990s. Median incomes and property values have soared.

Gentrification, though, means something different in Bronzeville than it does in other neighborhoods. In most U.S. cities the word has generally come to imply the gradual taking of a place from one group (usually poor people, usually minorities) by another (usually middle- or upper-class whites). But in Bronzeville, a historically black neighborhood – once Chicago's version of Harlem, the city's "Black Metropolis" – the gentrifiers are black, too.

Some of them have been there for years, ascending the income ladder as the black middle-class nationwide has dramatically expanded. Then there is the sense that others are "returning" 30 or 40 years after the black middle-class left Bronzville. Either way, there seems to be space enough in the neighborhood amid the vacant lots.

Bronzeville's historic "blackness" appears to overwhelm any sense of its identity as a neighborhood on the way up.
"The idea of gentrification as necessitating displacement – that understanding changed in this particular neighborhood," says Matthew Anderson, who teaches at Montana State University in Billings and grew up not far from Bronzeville. "Gentrification became a positive word."

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2012-12-31/how-black-gentrifiers-have-affected-the-perception-of-chicago-s-changing-neighborhoods






Some other examples include the following:

Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard (New Orleans)









Main Street (College Park, GA)



The Dueces (St. Petersburg)


All were crack cocaine dens during the 1980s, just like Jax's long redlined urban core communities. While in various states of revitalization, the common elements they really share are decent neighborhood organization, visioning and cultural heritage storytelling. It becomes much easier to move in a positive direction when various initiatives are rowing together in that direction.

Combine these elements with the 3Cs of urbanism, along with real market dynamics and you have a good recipe for progress.

In Jax, that's historically been a real struggle. Downtown is a great example of the struggle. In the last few years, community groups and stakeholders in LaVilla and the Historic Eastside have began to do things differently. The examples in these other communities, along with the loss of Brooklyn over the last decade, may have been the kick in the butt to be proactive with what's left and what the future may hold. Its more effective to connect with similar communities, understand their struggles and successes and then apply the process of the successes within your environment.

[marcuscnelson]

Roof is different looking. Yeah they changed some things the entrances tropical jungle look gone. sides of the roof you can now see the field below the roof.

You're right. Comparing the 2023 rendering (first) to 2024 rendering (second):




The interior renderings have also changed, it looks like to keep the current scoreboards and remove some of the more dramatic features:




Also changes to the entrances, less of that jungle look as you mention:

[jaxlongtimer]

JLT - your "Nate Monroe" link goes to the Business Journal article, not Nate's column

The renderings are confusing about the roof. In the 'above' views, it looks gone, or transparent; in the 'inside looking up' views, it looks like it always has.

Wrong Nate Monroe link. I didn't catch the entire presentation. What's everyone's opinion on the CBA and where that money would be going?

Nate Monroe link fixed.  Check it out again.  Thanks for the call out.

[thelakelander]

Roof is different looking. Yeah they changed some things the entrances tropical jungle look gone. sides of the roof you can now see the field below the roof.

You're right. Comparing the 2023 rendering (first) to 2024 rendering (second):

Metropolitan Park has also changed. It looks like we're going back to what was demolished years ago.

[jaxlongtimer]

It looks like another Daily's... promise one thing in a rendering and build something much different in reality, usually of much less quality.

I wonder how much changed during the negotiations when the Jags and the City found out how much the original rendering would really cost today.  Just the change in the roof had to reduce the costs by millions or even tens of millions.  The Jags and City probably agreed on a maximum number for the construction and had the design altered to back into that amount.

[Skybox111]

Darn i liked those screens going all around.

[Ken_FSU]

Several....

The first key is to not view current residents as needing a handout. Most people only need a hand. When put in a position to economically prosper, own businesses, houses, etc., the threat of displacement is decreased. However, as long as people are limited economically and don't own property, their livelihood will always be controlled by the whelms of those that do. If you don't have a seat at the decison-making table, you're likely on the menu. Find a community that has had a high level of displacement and I'll bet my house that community was not at the decision-making table to determine its future.

So terms like affordable housing, gentrification, mixed-use, etc. are literally buzzwords that get caught up in academic and political debate, moreso than what's happening on the street. Tackling issues like heirs property, building capacity for neighborhood groups, access to information, access to economic growth and having a seat at the decision-making table are the critical areas that ultimately stimulate inclusive revitalization.

Bronzeville is a good example. Some may view the neighborhood as gentrifying because property values are increasing and revitalization is taking place. I'd argue that its a form of withinttification, as Black people can increase wealth and invest in their community as well. That's not necessarily displacement. It's just the benefit of inclusive revitalization where a larger segment of the local population is benefitting.

Bronzeville (Chicago)

The neighborhood of Bronzeville on the South Side of Chicago has been gentrifying now for more than a decade. Formerly boarded-up beautiful brick homes along Martin Luther King Jr. Drive have come to life. New construction has gone up on land where high-rise public housing projects were spectacularly imploded starting in the 1990s. Median incomes and property values have soared.

Gentrification, though, means something different in Bronzeville than it does in other neighborhoods. In most U.S. cities the word has generally come to imply the gradual taking of a place from one group (usually poor people, usually minorities) by another (usually middle- or upper-class whites). But in Bronzeville, a historically black neighborhood – once Chicago's version of Harlem, the city's "Black Metropolis" – the gentrifiers are black, too.

Some of them have been there for years, ascending the income ladder as the black middle-class nationwide has dramatically expanded. Then there is the sense that others are "returning" 30 or 40 years after the black middle-class left Bronzville. Either way, there seems to be space enough in the neighborhood amid the vacant lots.

Bronzeville's historic "blackness" appears to overwhelm any sense of its identity as a neighborhood on the way up.
"The idea of gentrification as necessitating displacement – that understanding changed in this particular neighborhood," says Matthew Anderson, who teaches at Montana State University in Billings and grew up not far from Bronzeville. "Gentrification became a positive word."

https://www.bloomberg.com/news/articles/2012-12-31/how-black-gentrifiers-have-affected-the-perception-of-chicago-s-changing-neighborhoods






Some other examples include the following:

Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard (New Orleans)









Main Street (College Park, GA)



The Dueces (St. Petersburg)


All were crack cocaine dens during the 1980s, just like Jax's long redlined urban core communities. While in various states of revitalization, the common elements they really share are decent neighborhood organization, visioning and cultural heritage storytelling. It becomes much easier to move in a positive direction when various initiatives are rowing together in that direction.

Combine these elements with the 3Cs of urbanism, along with real market dynamics and you have a good recipe for progress.

In Jax, that's historically been a real struggle. Downtown is a great example of the struggle. In the last few years, community groups and stakeholders in LaVilla and the Historic Eastside have began to do things differently. The examples in these other communities, along with the loss of Brooklyn over the last decade, may have been the kick in the butt to be proactive with what's left and what the future may hold. Its more effective to connect with similar communities, understand their struggles and successes and then apply the process of the successes within your environment.

Really, really great stuff Ennis.

Thanks for sharing.

Gives me a lot of optimism that you're personally involved and that we're committing to doing right by this community.

[Ken_FSU]

The interior renderings have also changed, it looks like to keep the current scoreboards and remove some of the more dramatic features:

The curved extensions of the existing boards definitely look like they got removed.

I think the giant Jaguars banners, that some confused for video boards, will end up making the final cut. Just based on some of the renders and information, I believe this is how we'll quickly and cheaply adjust capacity from 63,000 for Jags games (top image, below) to 71,500 for Florida-Georgia or other big events (bottom image).

[Jax_Developer]

Probably somewhat because the new scoreboard looked to add seats behind the uprights (w/ design & positioning) but now that entire space will remain the same. I think their only option is to extend the sides to get any new capacity (Daily's being the constraint on the other goalpost side).

Are the sides actually being extended though? It seems like the same height in the renderings.

[Joey Mackey]

So, is there a roof on this stadium or not? With the new rendering it looks like there is a translucent roof, with cloud images being reflected, that completely covers the entire stadium. Then on the side there is the more reflective, chrome shields.

[fsu813]

Roof is different looking. Yeah they changed some things the entrances tropical jungle look gone. sides of the roof you can now see the field below the roof.

You're right. Comparing the 2023 rendering (first) to 2024 rendering (second):

Metropolitan Park has also changed. It looks like we're going back to what was demolished years ago.

At a recent stakeholder meeting, the Metro Park design firm said they do not want a fixed stage, as public spaces are trending towards using mobile stages now. Everyone there seemed on board. And looking at the rendering design, I would wager its just a filler.

[Ken_FSU]

So, is there a roof on this stadium or not? With the new rendering it looks like there is a translucent roof, with cloud images being reflected, that completely covers the entire stadium. Then on the side there is the more reflective, chrome shields.

You're correct.

The entire stadium will be covered by a thin, membrane-like roof (made out of translucent ETFE, like SoFi uses). This will keep out the elements and reflect sunlight away from the stadium's interior, but still give an open-air feel.

The seats themselves will receive additional shade via that reflective canopy that covers most seating areas.

[acme54321]

So, is there a roof on this stadium or not? With the new rendering it looks like there is a translucent roof, with cloud images being reflected, that completely covers the entire stadium. Then on the side there is the more reflective, chrome shields.

Yeah.  The roof will be like the one at SoFi.  Semi-transparent may be a better description though.  From what I've seen it, the panels have an application that blocks a lot of light coming in, but still allows you to see out, similar to a printed bus window.

[Ken_FSU]

P.S. I think the financing solution is pretty smart too, right? Effectively filling the four-year gap between the early sunset of the half-cent Better Jax Plan in 2026 and the onset of the half-cent pension tax in 2030 with a half-cent sales tax to pay for the stadium? A pay-go approach vs. debt financing seems like a wise move that taxpayers won't really feel (they're already used to paying the half-center sales tax), and it still leaves the CIP intact to tackle other priorities. Not sure what the tradeoff is in terms of going this way vs. starting to pay down the pension debt immediately in 2026, but from an optics perspective, seems like about as good of a solution as exists.

[Joey Mackey]

P.S. I think the financing solution is pretty smart too, right? Effectively filling the four-year gap between the early sunset of the half-cent Better Jax Plan in 2026 and the onset of the half-cent pension tax in 2030 with a half-cent sales tax to pay for the stadium? A pay-go approach vs. debt financing seems like a wise move that taxpayers won't really feel (they're already used to paying the half-center sales tax), and it still leaves the CIP intact to tackle other priorities. Not sure what the tradeoff is in terms of going this way vs. starting to pay down the pension debt immediately in 2026, but from an optics perspective, seems like about as good of a solution as exists.

I am a little confused by the financing solution, but I am definitely not well versed or learned on the topic. From reading news articles it appears

(1) In 2000, a referendum passed which raised the sales tax by a half-cent to fund infrastructure projects in Jax. The sale tax was to sunset no later than 2030. This was called the Better Jacksonville Plan.

(2) In 2016, a referendum passed which raised the sales tax by a half-cent to fund the City's pension program. The raise in the sales tax was going to go into effect only after the expiration of Better Jacksonville Plan (2031 at the latest). I will call this the Pension sales tax.

(3) During Curry's Administration, the decision was made to end the Better Jacksonville Plan sales tax starting in 2026, which would kick start the Pension sales tax. They also planned to move projects that were funded by the Better Jacksonville Plan into the Capitol Improvement Project (CIP) - which to me means simply projects that City borrows money for to complete.

(4) Now, it is proposed to forgo ending the Better Jacksonville Plan sales tax early and continue it until 2030, which in turn will delay starting the Pension tax until 2031. It is also proposed to move projects out of the CIP and fund those projects from 2026 through 2030 with the Better Jacksonville Plan sales tax. Accomplishing that would give the City about 600 million more in borrowing capabilities in the CIP, which will be used to fund the renovation of the stadium.

I guess my confusion here is why was it even proposed and planned to end the Better Jacksonville Plan sales tax early by four years? That seems like just leaving money on the table for no reason.