Gateway Jax seeks first-round design approval for Riverfront Plaza tower

[jaxlongtimer]

^ Definitely finding myself coming around to this thinking. The recent economic development focus from the City and Chamber has been on things like "the Small Business Capital of the Southeast" and attracting industrial jobs that are then located way out by Cecil or the airport or the seaports, not on new corporate headquarters.

Hopefully getting the UF campus open and growing is a chance to start thinking about what that kind of attraction needs to look like.

There is some chicken and the egg here.

It appears that one issue for employers locating downtown is the lack of poor mass transit connecting downtown internally and to surrounding urban, suburban and outlying areas.  Many employees do not relish long driving times through congested roadways followed by the hassle and expense of paid parking garages. 

Imagine being able to be productive on your laptop or tablet while riding reliable, long hour availability, frequent headway, secure and cost effective mass transit to your job downtown.  We have nothing close to that today.  Until we do, I don't see employers being able to attract the diverse workforce they need to have offices downtown.  The recent decline of JTA is sure to further discourage employers desiring downtown offices.

The City needs to join with JTA to create a regional master plan for mass transit in NE Florida.  Not holding out a lot of hope given the disjointed connection with JTA, its mismanagement, and the lack of a master plan for even downtown.  "Master planning" and coordination seems to be foreign concept across this region.

Unlike the suburbs, businesses downtown need a continuous, reliable and robust infrastructure (security, streetscape maintenance, mass transit, public amenities, promotion, etc.) partnership with government to sustain a presence there and to justify the premium investment necessary.  Jax hasn't demonstrated that, to date.