Has Anyone Thanked Brad Thoburn?

[stephendare]

For finding the funding and political will to finish Main Street?

Especially after all the hell and ruckus we all raised over his appointment at Planning Director?

[City Slicker]

Nice thought, but is he really the person to thank?  I think it was a Public Works project. 

[thelakelander]

Can Brad find some funding for rail and DT wayfaring signage?

Both are well overdue.

[vicupstate]

I'm for giving credit wherever it is due, including I assume, Corrine Brown.

To be fair, no one on this site ever accused Thoburn of not having valuable skills, or not producing results, including obtaining government funding.

The issue was the appropriateness of him being selected to be the Chief of Planning.  As you stated, such things AREN'T part of that job. 

Now that nothing is being planned in the city, the appropriateness of his filling that position is somewhat moot FOR THE MOMENT. 

[alta]

Has anyone thanked the thousands of citizens that have advocated for this for decades???  Probably not.  What are your connection's to Brad??   

[downtownparks]

Brads a good guy, and a former Springfielder. However, if I am not mistaken, the money was acquired prior to him taking over the planners job. Corrine Brown certainly deserves some credit, she was able to get federal dollars to close the gap from what COJ and DOT had into it.

[sheclown]

Thanks Brad Thoburn!

[uptowngirl]

So I understand, we were promised something, 50% was delivered. The other 50% was not going to be delivered, and we thank someone for figuring out how to give us the 50% of what we were already promised? So if my boss says I will pay you 60K to work for me this year, only pays me 30K finds the other 30K next year to give me I should be "thankful"?

I thank anyone and everyone who works on getting ANYTHING done on Main st. So I am not withholding that....just wondering why one person is being thanked for doing what was already promised, or am I missing something?

Has anyone thanked the homeowners and tax payers in Springfield who have helped turn this neighborhood around and made it what it is today?

Thank you Homeowners, investors (good ones), renters (good ones), businesses (good ones) for everything you have done for Springfield...YOU are the life blood of the neighborhood and are the root of Springfield's success!!!

[jbm32206]

Couldn't agree with you more, UTG! People are paid, and paid quite well, Thorburn is one of them. If he did his job, then he did his job and he's well compensated for it. I don't see where he deserves more of a pat on the back then anyone else that does what they're paid to do.

Oh...and I also agree with thanking all of those who have poured their heart, soul and money into Springfield, making this a fantastic neighborhood to live in!

[zoo]

Thank you Homeowners, investors (good ones), renters (good ones), businesses (good ones) for everything you have done for Springfield...YOU are the life blood of the neighborhood and are the root of Springfield's success!!!

Ditto!

[jtwestside]

So how does one find money that:
a. doesn’t exist
&
b. isn't theirs to find?

Did he divert funds from a project in his own department? Solicit funds from donors?

[downtownparks]

What did Thoburn do for the mayors office immediately before he was Director of Planning?

[downtownparks]

So in 2004 when the Main St funding was acquired, would lobbying the Feds for money, specifically Corrine Brown, have been his job?

[downtownparks]

Thoburn served eight years in the Mayor's Office working on federal and state government affairs for the city, and has been the interim director of the planning department since Mike Saylor's resignation in September to run for City Council.

Really?

[downtownparks]

Last modified Fri., December 24, 2004 - 01:23 AM
Originally created Friday, December 24, 2004

State OKs Main Street funds

It will enable completion of 12-block boulevard project

By DAVID BAUERLEIN
The Times-Union

Calling it a surprise Christmas gift, Springfield neighborhood leaders learned this week that state funding will be available next year to finish turning 12 blocks of Jacksonville's Main Street into a landscaped boulevard.

In a letter to the Springfield Preservation and Revitalization Council, the state Department of Transportation said its budget starting July 1 will contain about $2.5 million for Main Street, which runs through the historic Springfield neighborhood.

That money will be on top of $4.5 million that City Hall earmarked for Main Street this month as part of a $141 million bond package for citywide projects.

"It's just enough," Liz Peak, program director for the Springfield Preservation and Revitalization Council, said Thursday with a mixture of relief and jubilation. "There's no cushion in there."

The city previously tore up Main Street between First and Fourth streets and rebuilt it with a tree-filled median flanked by antique-style streetlights and brick crosswalks. The design for a similar revamp has been done all the way to 12th Street, but that was stalled for lack of money.

"We believe, and the neighborhood certainly believes, that it's an important project," said Susie Wiles, spokeswoman for Mayor John Peyton. "It's partly completed and the mayor made a commitment to get it fully completed."

It would probably take about a year and a half to finish, according to the Public Works Department. Wiles said the city will be "ready to go" as soon as the state releases its funding. The work does not have an expected starting date.

Peak said finishing beautification of Main Street will have a "tremendous impact" in continuing the turnaround of Springfield. Located north of downtown, Springfield was built after Jacksonville's Great Fire of 1901, slid into decline but has experienced a revival as City Hall tries to bring back urban neighborhoods.

Springfield's success in attracting homebuyers has made Main Street ripe for new businesses to move in, but merchants are reluctant to take the plunge until after the Main Street work is done.

"They don't want their first year of existence to coincide with construction," Peak said.

The roadwork figures to be disruptive because the existing pavement will be torn out and JEA will dig down for replacement of utility lines under the road. Peak said the water lines date back to the founding of Springfield and the clay pipes are so old that water leaks have caused erosion that leads to potholes and a bumpy ride on Main Street.

david.bauerleinjacksonville.com, (904) 359-4581