A Closer Look at Philips Highway

[Metro Jacksonville]

A Closer Look at Philips Highway



Philips Highway was once the home of Jacksonville's hottest suburbs.  Now it is a prime corridor for infill growth and redevelopment.

Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/content/view/936

[vicupstate]

In Charlotte, it is South End, not West End.

Great article.  Jax is at a turning point in it's future based on it's immediate transit decisions.

[copperfiend]

Can we some people into office who have any kind of vision. We need leaders who don't get excited over distribution centers and strip malls.

[thelakelander]

In Charlotte, it is South End, not West End.

Great article.  Jax is at a turning point in it's future based on it's immediate transit decisions.

Thanks.  I've been traveling too much.  I'm getting my neighborhoods and cities confused.

[copperfiend]

Has anybody noticed the new Sheraton branded hotel on Baymeadows? It seems very out of place considering the number of businesses that have closed in that area. Perhaps it will be a catalyst for that dying stretch.

[southerngirl]

Ennis writes: "However, with coordinated and proper planning between the City of Jacksonville, JTA, FDOT , the private sector and local residents, it can be an attractive gateway to the city of Jacksonville."

The MOST overloooked and under-represented piece of this puzzle is the "local residents" portion -- you know, the ones who are already living in these areas and whose voice has been overlooked in any of the planning regarding Philips (most recently the Jackson Square development) to-date?

Seriously, the way to make this happen smoothly and more cost effectively is to get the neighbors involved early and actually listen to their ideas and legitimate concerns. That way, you can avoid lawsuits that are SURE to come, and everyone feels like their voice and tax dollars aren't being wasted on yet another project that lines the pockets of the Paul Hardens of this town and empties the pockets of the taxpayers snd homeowners.

Seems to me like the COJ Planning Dept could not care less about the residents in existing neighborhoods that its OWN Comprehensive Plan says they are supposed to protect.

[WhatsUpJacksonville]

Is Chopstick Charley's still open? I live about a mile from Phillips and Emerson and a commuter rail would pretty much be amazing. The need for a car for me would be nearly non-existent, and who doesn't love that.

Another great post by the MetroJax crew...good job Fellas!

www.WhatsUpJacksonville.com

[wwoodruff]

I live across form chopsticks and as far as i can tell its still open. I have wanted to wander in and see what it was like but not to sure if i would come back out lol...

Walter

[Knowbusiness]

Used to eat Chopstick Charlie's years ago. They had great food or a dive.

[TD*]

Is the Tallahassee Elements of Urbanism coming tomorrow morning?

[thelakelander]

I had some more images to upload.  It will run either tomorrow or Friday at the latest.

[MattnJax]

As most of you know, the northern section of Philips from Atlantic Blvd to Emerson St is the worse. It's full of hookers and drug dealers on every corner. A lot of the problems come from all the run-down motels in the area as well as Southside Apartments on Westmont St. Now I'm no fan of Wal-mart, but it was nice that they built a new store along that section a few years ago. Also nice is the new Jerry Hamm Chevy dealership down near Emerson. The land that the old dealership was on is the land that *fingers crossed* Jackson Square will be built on. Hopefuly, all the new commercial development over the past few years will transform the area. With Jackson Square being a key piece of the redevelopment transformation.

[nicktooch]

Has anybody noticed the new Sheraton branded hotel on Baymeadows? It seems very out of place considering the number of businesses that have closed in that area. Perhaps it will be a catalyst for that dying stretch.

i work for a hotel brand that has a location right down the street from that new Four Points by Sheraton.  the location that i work at is close to the SJTC.  being an extended stay hotel, we have plenty of guests that stay here but work out by the baymeadows location.  that side of town seems unsafe to them, plus the location seems to be decades old.  some of our major accounts have transeferred their employees from that hotel location to newer properties further north on southside blvd.  to say the least, a new, not-so-well-known brand of hotel in jax in that area seems a bit hopeless.  at least they finally knocked down Chevy's! lol now they just have to knock down Bennigan's...

[thelakelander]

and Miami Subs....and Waffle House....and Village Inn....and the overgrown abandoned golf course....and Roadhouse grill....and Pizza Hut....and Steak n Ale

[David]

It's like this wave of abandonment & decay sprialing outward from the center of the city. First it hit Emerson, then Univ blvd, now Baymeadows.

I'm old enough to remember when Univ blvd (Englewood area) still had some pep. A drive in movie theater on the corner of Univ & Phillips,a  krispy kream donuts where the  cash america pawn shop is now. A few other nicer establishments dotted the area as well. There was no railrail over pass at the Phillips intersection either, that train would always catch us on the way to school.

Emerson's always been bad in my lifetime, except the Market Square Mall Arcade & Skateworld is where most of us spent our early teen years in the area. Oh and you haven't lived until you've delivered pizzas to the north strecth of Phillips hwy. Gator Lodge, City Center motel, Mt. Vernon plus  all the crackheaded trailer parks. It's pretty hard to deliver a pizza when a SWAT team's got the hotel you're trying to deliver to surrounded.