Urban Parks: Northbank Riverwalk

[ProjectMaximus]

I share your dream, Joe. That jog sounds terrific.

[JeffreyS]

Memorial park to the Cummer is easy on the sidewalk.  If we could get the riverwalk to the Cummer it would still be close enough access the park.  If I owned one of those riverfront condos I would worry about a riverwalk extension.

[thelakelander]

If I owned one I would want the extra value a riverwalk connection would bring to my investment.

[JeffreyS]

If my memory serves there are not any with private river front but if there are you might not want to lose that. I do think it will be good for the area which helps all of the property owners.

[aj_fresh]

Someone once told me that the land under the courthouse parking lot was primarily man-made infill, and for that reason nothing higher than one or two stories could be built on it

This is not true. Two of the greatest building ever built were constructed on landfill.

The site of the World Trade Center was located on landfill with the bedrock located 65 feet (20 m) below.[40] In order to construct the World Trade Center, it was necessary to build the "bathtub" with a slurry wall along the West Street side of the site, serving to keep water from the Hudson River out.[41] The slurry method devised by Port Authority’s chief engineer, John M. Kyle, Jr., involved digging a trench, and as excavation proceeded, filling the space with a "slurry" mixture composed of bentonite which plugged holes and kept water out. When the trench was dug out, a steel cage was inserted and concrete was poured in, forcing the "slurry" out. It took fourteen months for the slurry wall to be completed; it was necessary before excavation of material from the interior of the site could begin.[42] The 1.2 million cubic yards (917,000 m³) of material excavated were used to expand the Manhattan shoreline across West Street to form Battery Park City (along with other fill and dredge material.)[43][44]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/World_Trade_Center#Construction

[heights unknown]

Now when I lived in Jax, there was no Northbank Riverwalk; I will be coming to Jax in a couple of days, haven't visited in over 2 years, and I will be looking and surveying downtown (and taking pics).  One question; how does the Southbank Riverwalk compare to the Northbank Riverwalk?  The Southbank Riverwalk used to be the focal point of downtown, but from the look of the pics, the Northbank Riverwalk is now the focal point (riverwalk wise) and the Southbank Riverwalk has taken a backseat; am I right in this assessment?

Heights Unknown

[heights unknown]

I agree; and we do need to focus on those under developed areas on the river; but we also need to "worry" some of the parking lot areas in the core with some talls and super talls as well (developments), especially near and around the new Courthouse area; THEN we might be on to something.  But the Northbank Riverwalk really looks beautiful, cool, and very nicely built and well kept.  Downtown Jax really looks clean and pristine in these pics, or am I missing something?  A far cry than when I lived there and it was dirty, unkept, etc.

Heights Unknown

[Joe]

^The Southbank Riverwalk still offers the best views, but it has deteriorated with time. The wooden boards are really weathered. It makes sense b/c they must be well over 20 years old by now! Unfortunately the wood is clearly past its intended lifespan. It needs to be replaced, but there are no plans to do so.

If my memory serves there are not any with private river front but if there are you might not want to lose that. I do think it will be good for the area which helps all of the property owners.

I think there is the Red Cross, The Cummer, two properties owned by the Jax Women's Club, one private condo, and then condos with a public street inbetween them and the river. Don't hold me to that though.

The one private condo is really the only barrier (although the Cummer didn't exactly guarantee their support, they just said that they were open to the idea). I know exactly why that condo opposes the Riverwalk expansion too - I've been inside the building. If they extend the riverwalk, their pool would only be separated by a short wall. Their "private" space would become virtually public.

Of course, at the end of the day, I'm not sure they have the legal right to oppose an extension. They don't own the river, nor the right to build over it. However, the city council has been bullied into inaction over less before.

[ProjectMaximus]

The one private condo is really the only barrier (although the Cummer didn't exactly guarantee their support, they just said that they were open to the idea). I know exactly why that condo opposes the Riverwalk expansion too - I've been inside the building. If they extend the riverwalk, their pool would only be separated by a short wall. Their "private" space would become virtually public.

What's the name of this condo?

[Joe]

I don't remember. It's between Lomax and Lancaster Streets ... on the river, obviously.

[Lunican]

Here is an article from 2006:

Riverwalk roadblock

Condo residents say the mayor's plan for an extension will come with noise and trash

The Northbank Riverwalk was heralded by some visitors during the 2005 Super Bowl as one of Jacksonville's best assets.

But residents of at least one Riverside condominium oppose a plan to expand the walkway along their backyard.

http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/070806/met_22287510.shtml

[thelakelander]

All you need is some one like Charleston's mayor to drive quality of life improvements like this through the heart of the NIMBYs.  Hopefully, we'll get a progressive vision oriented administration in a couple of years.

[Doctor_K]

^ You runnin'?

[hillary supporter]

oooohhhhh, thats a great idea, lakelander!!!!! You should run for mayor. really

[deathstar]

Lakelander > the John's (Delaney, Peyton)

I wonder how much the operator for the rail on the river makes an hour. Hope he's got a TV, a newspaper, or a radio to keep him occupied!