The Vision

During the 1970's, the Skyway was seen as a vehicle that could connect major Northbank destinations. 

 During this era the majority of Downtown's retail destinations were centered around Hemming Plaza and Sears.  It was envisioned that with the Skyway, Hogan Street would become a vibrant pedestrian oriented corridor filled with street level retail between Sears and the Hemming Plaza department stores.

 Future concepts even had the Skyway going down Church Street to access the Cathedral District and the Gator Bowl.

Like the Detroit People Mover, the Skyway would connect directly with buildings along its path.

What Happened

The Skyway's struggle to attract riders can not be blamed solely on JTA.  Downtown no longer resembles the place it was during the years the Skyway was being planned. 

For a variety of reasons, the stores and buildings that were to be the generators of traffic for the Skyway no longer exist.

 During the planning stages, major retailers, such as Sears, were still in business.

By the time the Skyway came online, the Sears at Bay and Hogan Streets had morphed into an asphalt parking lot.

 The McCrory's store has become a gated gravel parking lot on the corner of Bay and Julia Streets.

The old flagship Furchgott's Department Store at Hogan and Adams Street has become a hulking eyesore of emptiness.

Empty storefronts facing Hogan Street in the Furchgott's building.

Rosenblum's is still in business.  Their locations are in Jacksonville Beach and on San Jose Blvd.  The building that once housed the men's retailer at Hogan and Adams is vacant and available for purchase.

When master plans aren't followed even new infill projects can create blocks of dead space.  The 1970's vision had Hogan Street lined with street level commercial uses.  However, when Barnett Bank constructed their tower in the early 1990's, their Hogan Street stretch became loading docks.

Hogan Street near Forsyth: Concept (above) and Reality (below)

The elaborate landscaping and crowded streets illustrated in the 1970's sketch never materialized.

 

Not all is lost

Although several of the major banks and retailers no longer exist along Hogans Street, there is still hope.

The Ed Ball Building is now the home of several City of Jacksonville Departments.  Unlike the City Hall Annex building on the other side of Hemming Plaza, several retail spaces still line the first floor of this building.

The Northbank's large employment base still creates a market for small businesses to survive.  Perhaps if we settle down and abide by a long term downtown master plan, downtown's streets can be filled with life again and the Skyway will be first in line to efficiently move residents around.

 
Article by Ennis Davis