Jacksonville is Losing its Identity

[Steve]

I think one component here is that we have SUCH a lack of tourism in our urban core. For example, how many people that live 15-20 miles away from Downtown Boston have dinner at Faneuil Hall or Union Oyster House on a weeknight? Union Oyster House has been around for 200 years. If let's say it was against the law for anyone but local residents of the Boston Metro to have dinner there, you think they'd have survived this long? What percentage of New Yorkers (counting the Metro Area of 22M) regularly go to South Street Seaport?

The residential population increases will help, but we've got to get more visitors into the urban core. They also sustain these after 5 places on weeknights, when locals need to get dinner on the table at home for the family and mom or dad is coming home annoyed after a crappy day at their dead-end job. Meanwhile, if mom or dad has to travel from time to time to another city for a meeting or a conference, they're going to eat out on a Monday or Tuesday night and have a drink or two (or more) with coworkers and/or colleagues they haven't seen in a long time.

[OspreyGrad]

If the city had the budget, I would love to see us build an observation tower directly across the river from the 1 Independent Square building. There is not enough space there for one, but the AI software that I used online managed to shoehorn one in place. I think it would bring in more foot traffic to the area and support the local shops. I gave the steel structure the same color as the old Jacksonville Landing's iconic roof.

[thelakelander]

Response to Steve's comments:

This is where losing the Landing hurt. It was the spot where out-of-town people would congregate. It was also programmed consistently without public tax money.

When my coworkers from Chicago would come to town, it was just about the only place you could count on being able to get dinner at night, seven days a week.

Its important to keep those types of places and add as much complementing activities around them as possible. We don't have that now, so it will take years to re-establish in DT.

[LadyBugJax]

I don't think Jacksonville has had any identity, other than being a collection of some great neighborhoods which have identities themselves.  The Civic Council did that survey many months ago....trying to come up with one. Perhaps they couldn't, either? 

[OspreyGrad]

Jacksonville is the River City. That is its identity. The Jacksonville Shipyards has been gone for more than 3 decades and people are still aware of the history. It was the lifeblood of downtown for multiple generations. My father was a civil engineer there from the early 1970's up until it closed. Some of the remnants of his work are still there. The St. Johns River is one of the main reasons why the Landing was so popular.

[fsu813]

Scott Matthews, history professor at FSCJ, has a fascinating 75 minute presentation on the Jacksonville's identity that I would highly, highly recommend everyone watching, if able. I've seen him present it in person annually during a local leadership program the past several years, and it has resonated with the attendees each year (their response is scored). It focuses on Jax and NE FL being a borderland/cross section of cultures throughout the past millennia.

In Florida but not of Florida, in the south but not of the South. Great stuff.

[vicupstate]

In Florida but not of Florida, in the south but not of the South. Great stuff.

From the very FIRST time I visited JAX, I was awestruck by the unique 'blend' of the South (including the Old South) with elements of Florida that Jacksonville possessed. Over time as I made subsequent visits and spent vastly more total time here, I realized the locals seemed completely oblivious to that unique aspect of their own city.

I always felt that should be highlighted and (for lack of a better word) exploited to the hilt.     

[jaxlongtimer]

This looks like a cross between the Seattle Space Needle or Las Vegas Stratosphere and either the Eiffel Tower or the Tokyo Radio Tower  . 

I do agree, even great cities have iconic landmarks that when viewed, tell you exactly where they are.  The best we have is the Independent Life/Wells Tower building and that's mainly due to its unique base. 

Maybe we can get Trump to relocate his 250 foot high golden arch to Jax.  DC doesn't want it and maybe the Feds would pay for it  .

[thelakelander]

I don't think Jacksonville has had any identity, other than being a collection of some great neighborhoods which have identities themselves.  The Civic Council did that survey many months ago....trying to come up with one. Perhaps they couldn't, either? 

Thinking about this, what would people say is the identity of these cities? All are river cities and currently have more vibrant and active downtowns than Jax.

(1) Providence, RI
(2) Grand Rapids, MI
(3) Kansas City, MO
(4) Louisville, KY
(5) Norfolk, VA

[thelakelander]

Jacksonville is the River City. That is its identity. The Jacksonville Shipyards has been gone for more than 3 decades and people are still aware of the history. It was the lifeblood of downtown for multiple generations. My father was a civil engineer there from the early 1970's up until it closed. Some of the remnants of his work are still there.

Shipbuilding and repair is still a big industry here. Fincantieri Marine and JMR both operate at the base of the Mathews Bridge and BAE just expanded recently.

The St. Johns River is one of the main reasons why the Landing was so popular.

I agree that the river is the historic life line that weaves a good part of old Jax culture together. Especially, the local foodways. However, we would not know that if walking around downtown. Its an opportunity for downtown, IMO.

[Charles Hunter]

This looks like a cross between the Seattle Space Needle or Las Vegas Stratosphere and either the Eiffel Tower or the Tokyo Radio Tower  . 

I do agree, even great cities have iconic landmarks that when viewed, tell you exactly where they are.  The best we have is the Independent Life/Wells Tower building and that's mainly due to its unique base. 

Maybe we can get Trump to relocate his 250 foot high golden arch to Jax.  DC doesn't want it and I maybe the Feds would pay for it  .

Which version? The St. Louis Arch or the Death Star? 

[OspreyGrad]

I think the Seattle Space Needle and the Tokyo Radio Tower got together to produce the River City Outlook Tower.

[Zac T]

In Florida but not of Florida, in the south but not of the South. Great stuff.

From the very FIRST time I visited JAX, I was awestruck by the unique 'blend' of the South (including the Old South) with elements of Florida that Jacksonville possessed. Over time as I made subsequent visits and spent vastly more total time here, I realized the locals seemed completely oblivious to that unique aspect of their own city.

I always felt that should be highlighted and (for lack of a better word) exploited to the hilt.     

100% agree. This is the main reason I love Jacksonville and couldn't picture myself living in any other part of Florida. Jax does have such a unique culture and vibe compared to the rest of the Florida but also unique from other major Southern cities. You get all the benefits of living a coastal Florida lifestyle while still having the charm and hospitality of a Southern city that you no longer get in Tampa or Orlando. When speaking to transplants that chose to move to Jax by choice (rather than work/military/family) and stayed, cost of living is usually #1 but this unique cultural combination is often #2. It's the reason why Jax's demographic and political patterns are vastly different than every other major city in Florida

[jaxjags]

This reminds me of my favorite trivia question. What is the second biggest city in Georgia - Jacksonville. Jacksonville is not Florida. Somehow, we need to better capitalize on that. We need to combine outdoor life (state parks, preserves, river/creeks everywhere, beaches) and southern charm (unique neighborhoods, hospitality, affordability) in a metropolitan area.

[Des]

I've been all over the country, and there are certainly other places I'd rather live. But a lot of those places are either extremely expensive, have limited job opportunities, or both.

I've also lived all over Jax, and I don't know; I think Jacksonville is pretty all right. It has its problems, but so does every city. Compared to other similarly sized cities, I don't think it's dramatically better or worse. It's relatively affordable, there's a decent job market, and there are plenty of different neighborhoods depending on what you're looking for.

It's not the most exciting city in the country, but it's a pretty practical place to live.

I also think there's sometimes an aversion to improving downtown or adding more amenities because people assume they won't use them, or because they're worried that more investment and development will increase the cost of living and push Jacksonville out of the little sweet spot it's in. Whether or not that concern is justified, I think it influences how people react to a lot of proposals to improve the city.