More progress in Uptown Charlotte: Jax should take notes

cline · April 17, 2009, 10:05:47 AM

QuoteCharlotte has way more money than Jax, and banks, the largest bank in the US is HQ there, and if Charlie Rice had not sold out Barnett, who knows, maybe Jax could have a building that is 3-parts Rubix cube, too!

Very true. At the JaxPride luncheon yesterday, the speaker from Charlotte stated that one of the main reasons Charlotte has been so successful recently is because of the interest that the private sector has taken in the city. This is easy to do when you have 8 Fortune 500 companies in your city.

vicupstate · April 17, 2009, 10:10:28 AM

While the banks were very critical to getting the Johnson and Wales campus to DT Charlotte, I have not heard that they were significant backers FINANCIALLY of this project. Given their current state, that would be hard to justify anyway.

Springfield Girl · April 17, 2009, 10:11:34 AM

Will our leaders ever get it? Jacksonville's idea of Downtown growth is adding another facility to house the homeless while at the same time encouraging uses like The Art Institute and Florida Coastal Law School to locate in the suburbs.

thelakelander · April 17, 2009, 10:18:52 AM

Corporations tend not to jump on board, if the public realm is visionless and has no coordinated long range plan of what it wants to become in the future. If you're a CSX or Fidelity, supporting something like that would be like throwing your money in a fire.

I love the amount of excuses that this city generates. For every Charlotte, there is a Tucson or a Norfolk out there that is also able to get their plans off the ground. Is there anyone out there who would suggest those two places have a larger corporate presence than Jacksonville. Norfolk has one Fortune 500 company and its a railroad, yet they are able to get a light rail starter line out of the ground. Tucson has zero, but they have been able to jump start a small heritage streetcar line and now have plans for a modern streetcar system.

Norfolk (now under construction)

Tucson - Old Pueblo Trolley

cline · April 17, 2009, 10:26:35 AM

QuoteI love the amount of excuses that this city generates. For every Charlotte, there is a Tucson or a Norfolk out there that is also able to get their plans off the ground. Is there anyone out there who would suggest those two places have a larger corporate presence than Jacksonville. Norfolk has one Fortune 500 company and its a railroad, yet they are able to get a light rail starter line out of the ground. Tucson has zero, but they have been able to jump start a small heritage streetcar line and now have plans for a modern streetcar system.

You're right, it shouldn't be an excuse. But it sure doesn't hurt to have that kind of influx of cash from the private sector. By no means though should it prevent us from getting some sort of rail off the ground.

thelakelander · April 17, 2009, 10:29:18 AM

It doesn't hurt. Charlotte may be an exception, however compared to most second tier metros, Jax is pretty well off in the corporate world. This is a benefit we should take advantage of, like Charlotte has done.

I-10east · April 17, 2009, 01:17:54 PM

Quote from: cline on April 17, 2009, 10:05:47 AMVery true. At the JaxPride luncheon yesterday, the speaker from Charlotte stated that one of the main reasons Charlotte has been so successful recently is because of the interest that the private sector has taken in the city. This is easy to do when you have 8 Fortune 500 companies in your city.

Did the 09' F-500 list come out yet? Because in 08' Charlotte had seven Fortune 500's.

I'm not making excuses for Jax, but lets kinda hold our horses on making Charlotte out to be this "burgeoning megalopolis that no one in the South can keep up with", or something. Don't be surprised if Charlotte has six F-500's next year. I hate sunny weather and beaches.

On Gangland that comes on the History Channel, it kinda surprised me that Charlotte have a gang problem, from some gang called the Hidden Valley Ranch, or projects, or whatever; Whoa, what are they gonna do? Drown me in salad dressing? Notorious Charlotte, the next Chi-Town.

vicupstate · April 17, 2009, 02:50:43 PM

The number of Fortune 500 companies is irrelevant. Charlotte use to have ten F-500s about a decade ago. That didn't give it the DT or the transportation system that it has today. Population, form of government, etc. are irrelevant too.

The difference is the public and the business sector have figured out how to create vibrancy DT, they understand the inportance of transit, they both desire that CLT be a first-tier city, and they have continued to put center city at the forefront of the city's consciousness. None of those things have occurred in Jax.

Jax doesn't need to be pointing a finger toward other cities in regards to crime either. I've seen at least three cable shows on Jax highlighting crime or homelessness. Jax has a much bigger reputation for crime than CLT ever has.

David · April 17, 2009, 02:53:48 PM

Quote from: I-10east on April 17, 2009, 01:17:54 PM
Did the 09' F-500 list come out yet? Because in 08' Charlotte had seven Fortune 500's.

I'm not making excuses for Jax, but lets kinda hold our horses on making Charlotte out to be this "burgeoning megalopolis that no one in the South can keep up with", or something..

Yeah, Charlotte's no Atlanta by any means. It just stings when Charlotte accomplishes certain things Jacksonville fails to because in some people's view (mine especially) Charlotte is like our rival sister city.

It seemed for awhile we were keeping up with them, but they do appear to be pulling ahead in several areas lately.

thelakelander · April 17, 2009, 03:04:49 PM

Sad to say, they have pulled far ahead, in regards to urban core connectivity and vibrancy. Whether it was going out and finding a college to invest in Uptown, embracing rail or seeking cultural attractions like Nascar's Hall of Fame, they are pretty aggressive in their efforts. Despite the aggressiveness, the impressive part is everything is coordinated to stimulate synergy between multiple uses. None of the projects there seem to be a result of isolated planning (ex. the Prime Osborn in LaVilla alone or the new courthouse not being designed to integrate with surrounding properties). Because of this, things are still booming in Uptown, while major construction in DT Jax has come to a standstill. We still have the bones and potential, but we'll never take advantage of either if we don't pull our heads out of the sand, develop a vision and stick to it.

Shwaz · April 17, 2009, 04:19:19 PM

QuoteThe number of Fortune 500 companies is irrelevant.

I believe Charlotte's F500 companies are much larger than the F500 co's here in Jax hence BOA Stdium vs. jacksonville Municpal Stadium.

vicupstate · April 17, 2009, 05:25:44 PM

The BOA Stadium is privately owned. That private owner sold the naming rights to BOA, so I don't see the relevance to the city's ability to develope it's DT. If the naming rights' proceeds went to the city itself, that would make sense, but in Charlotte's case it doesn't apply.

Shwaz · April 17, 2009, 05:33:57 PM

You missed my point... I wasn't talking about private ownership of the stadium or where / who the naming rights money goes to.

BOA is much higher on the list of Fortune 500 companies then anything we have here and can afford naming rights to an an NFL stadium vs. Jacksonville who struggles to sell naming rights to JMS.

On average we've had more nationally televised games then the Panther's too.

cline · April 17, 2009, 06:15:18 PM

QuoteBecause of this, things are still booming in Uptown, while major construction in DT Jax has come to a standstill. We still have the bones and potential, but we'll never take advantage of either if we don't pull our heads out of the sand, develop a vision and stick to it.

This is true. We have all the potential. As I see it, the problem is that we don't have the leadership in Jax willing to step up and champion true change. This goes for the public and private sectors. I haven't heard any real players in the business sector speak out about it. The Mayor seems to only be concerned with BRT and the Port. Lip service only goes so far. At one point Charlotte was in the same boat as Jax but the leaders (public and private sector) decided they wanted change. I'm not saying that we need to be Charlotte but they are a good role model for us. I found a speech given by the CEO of BofA talking about this sort of thing. It is an interesting read. Sure, it may be irrelevant how many Fortune 500 companies we have. What is not irrelevant is that we need both the public and private sector to really take an interest in our city and help bring change. This means more than just talking about it.

http://newsroom.bankofamerica.com/index.php?s=63&item=80

heights unknown · April 17, 2009, 06:55:22 PM

We need to quit being jealous and go out and get our own and/or do something! Quit trying to be like other cities and take the bull by the horn, initiate our own aggressiveness, and strive after our own identity (we have none really)!

Hear that Mayor Peyton?

Heights Unknown