To City Leaders: My Bay Street vision & how to fix Downtown.

[marksjax]

An open letter to the City of Jacksonville,

The vision for Bay Street as an Entertainment District is/was, in my mind, to be host to big parties.

That has never happened really (other than the yearly Florida/Georgia Game).
The city has not put forth the effort to figure out how to do it.
I question the city leaders (past/ & perhaps even present) political will on this as well. But, it's never too late to change.

Example: Why not put a Jazz Fest stage under the trees at the old City Annex by the Hyatt? That is a perfect location.
Lots of shade (a good thing).

Example: Partner with Bill Warner and do a parade of the classic cars he brings to the Amelia Island Concours every year.

Example: Do a go cart race downtown.

Example: Do an arts and crafts/bazaar as an annual event.

Example: In general, be CREATIVE and give people a reason to go Downtown.

The Jaguar games (and any big event at the Sports Complex/Arena) are all about routing of traffic (cars = tailgate parties = traffic to the stadium) and have never been about pedestrian foot traffic. Bay Street is a thoroughfare for these big events and nothing else. That is a crying shame. Need to offer good alternatives to parking at the stadium and actually walking (I've heard that exercise is good for you, go figure).

Consider making Bay Street only for pedestrians and bicycles on the big events day? Or perhaps allow tailgating on Bay Street and then walk to the game? That would create the energy we need to make these events more viable than they are now. We aren't, as citizens, being given the full nature of what these events can do for Downtown. Bay Street is a pass through in and out. That is ludicrous!

So, I took it upon myself to produce my vision of what Bay Street should/could look like. Yeah I threw a party for the visiting Tartan Army (Scottish hardcore fans). We can learn something from our Scottish fans about having a good time and still acting like gentlemen as well (yes they can drink us under the table and have had more practice, lol).
 
It took the Scottish (and USA football/soccer fans) to show what we could look like every Jaguar game day. If we weren't so used to driving to and from the stadium and the traffic was more of a pedestrian variety.

No cones?! No police on every corner?! Why was this? How come (?) as we had 44,000 at a game and no cones on Bay Street or many police manning the intersections blowing whistles? Traffic still exited from the stadium in a timely fashion.
It worked better without the cones and cops. It made it easier to stop and get out of your car and party if you chose to. It also was better for the pedestrians (I walked from the stadium back to East Bay Street myself).

But mainly, the difference was more pedestrian foot traffic. We had a crowd that came before and after the match. That would not typically happen. Foot traffic, with publicity & promotion (thanks Times-Union!) is essential to changing the landscape down there.

Thanks to the city (or to whoever got us the match Saturday). More please.

We need to have more entertainment in our entertainment district!

This shows how it could be. No fights, no issues, just people having a good time and WALKING up and down Bay Street.

This is how you fix Downtown. More events not centered on car traffic so much. Give an incentive to park and walk to the Jags games please. And rethink (with the Sheriff on board) how to change their (JSO's) mentality as regards traffic flow to and from the stadium. If that does not change, any efforts at programming events is a waste of time. That is the key element that must  change. You need to challenge their argument for cones and all. It does not have to be that way.

And please remove the huge and ugly overhead directional signals. They aren't needed and do no good. We are worse off with them as it gives the impression of a freeway and not a pedestrian friendly street.

This was the type of event the Chamber and City should be hungry for. Got to get after it. Time is now. Nobody is getting any younger. Less talk, more action!

These videos and photos are the proof it can work.

Sincerely,
Mark Hemphill


Videos:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=2QpwAUx78iA/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mHmpJrg2QXo/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Li7LVBIQ25A/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=McXA5kDQVQY/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZN4OCPzT5dA/

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=s0KAafxTzN0/



Pictures:

http://www.flickr.com/photos/marksjax/sets/72157629936755202/

http://www.flickr.com/photos/marksjax/sets/72157629936637046/

[MusicMan]

Mark, Well stated. A direct and simple proposal to improve the "Entertainment District" that would actually save the city money. Hope it finds a sympathetic ear downtown.

[JeffreyS]

I hope they will one day figure out that most people are going to head home after a Jags game but that doesn't mean you have hustle everyone out as fast as possible.

[ronchamblin]

I agree Mark.  The idea of less structured traffic routing does have its merits, as it offers a feeling of freedom to those within it, and allows one to contemplate the idea of stopping to walk, to engage the city core.  Structured high speed exiting enforcement, while at times perhaps necessary, should not perpetually be the plan, as it offers no alternatives which might result in very good outcomes for the downtown core.  Structure and control has its place, but freedom should reign when possible, as it lets loose the powerful natural and creative forces hidden within the human spirit, and because of this freedom,especially when offered to thousands of people, the best possible vibrancy and good times will emerge more often within the city core.     

[dougskiles]

I agree with you Marksjax, 100%!!!

We took the rivertaxi from the southbank to the soccer game.  After watching 3 full boats pass us by and then paying $17 for 2 adults/3 kids (and taking the better part of an hour - including the wait), we decided that we were going to walk back to the car from the stadium.  It took all of 30 minutes to go from Everbank to our car (parked at the old crawdaddy's lot).

There were tons of people walking along Bay Street.  I remember thinking what a shame it is that we don't capture this energy for the other events held at the sports complex.  Walking across the Main Street bridge at night is a real treat, too.

[urbanlibertarian]

I'm all for this but...Devil's Advocate asks:  Wouldn't this result in fewer overtime opportunities for police officers?  Jaguars fans are probably more likely to be suburbanites than soccer fans and jazz fans so wouldn't it be more dangerous for pedestrians  downtown before and after a Jags game?  I mean pedestrians and cyclists are constantly getting creamed by cars out in the burbs, right?

[Rynjny]

Love this idea..thinking the same thing going to the game on sat.

[Noone]

No cones?! No police on every corner?! Why was this? How come (?) as we had 44,000 at a game and no cones on Bay Street or many police manning the intersections blowing whistles? Traffic still exited from the stadium in a timely fashion.
It worked better without the cones and cops. It made it easier to stop and get out of your car and party if you chose to. It also was better for the pedestrians (I walked from the stadium back to East Bay Street myself).

But mainly, the difference was more pedestrian foot traffic. We had a crowd that came before and after the match. That would not typically happen. Foot traffic, with publicity & promotion (thanks Times-Union!) is essential to changing the landscape down there.

Mark, Great points and another success story for a merchant that wants to Make it Happen Downtown. Why no cones and police? That is a great question and because of this factor your business as well as others benefitted.

Did the pending tropical storm and emergency preparedness trump an event at the stadium? There is a city reorg and the pending contract negotiations over city Entertainment venues. Was part of your success just dumb luck because if it wasn't for this tropical storm then it would have been special event traffic pattern enforcement as usual?

RC makes a great point "a feeling of freedom."

[fieldafm]

Mark, first off you are my hero.  Secondly, tried grabbing a drink Saturday before the game but there were simply too many Scots(what a great 'problem' to have).  Thirdly as you know I've always thought Bay Streetshould be closed for FL/GA like it was for the Super Bowl.  How was business for you at the Teal Town Downtown last year?

[Adam W]

I think it's a great idea. Anything to get people downtown. There are lots of possibilities.

I do, however, think it should be part of a greater strategy that must, first and foremost, address the relative lack of businesses and residents downtown. Getting businesses to move downtown should be one of the top priorities of the Mayor's office and City Council.

There are some people (like my in-laws, for example) who will not go downtown, regardless of the events. And that's because they view downtown as being a bum-laden wasteland. They're scared of it. That will only change once there are more people living and working downtown.

So, basically, I think it should be part of the grander scheme of things. But it's a great idea and I totally appreciate your sentiments completely!

[marksjax]

Mike,
Thanks for the kind words. Teal Town wasn't so much a money maker for us as it was a good example of how to create an event that excites people enough that they have to be there.

Adam & Urban, I agree this might be too much to expect the Jaguars fans to buy into given 17 years of tailgating and driving to the lots near the stadium. I understand that and have no issue with it. What has to be considered is more how the traffic in and out is handled. JSO changing this voluntarily will be a hard nut to crack. They are on a different page than we are.

If they would try it out it might be a good thing as they could save some money on overtime. You do know that we are paying for all traffic personnel (Jags do not pay for it) right? It may be a status quo thing with the JSO personnel expecting/needing to make the overtime. I wonder what is the actual cost to the city for these services?

Noone, my guess was the Jazz Fest threw a wrench in their normal plan. Maybe the cones were being used over there, lol.
Anyway, it was a pleasant surprise to see no cones and very few officers blowing their whistles which is somewhat a buzzkill.     

[marksjax]

Urban, You bring up a good point and gives me an idea:

Scenario: Bay Street East (from Ocean St to the stadium) becomes only for pedestrians, bicycles, motorcycles and parked cars (angle parking to be allowed game day ) that gives them the ability to tailgate if they wish. That creates a party, we are making a positive change for the better!

Turn Forsyth, Adams, Duval, Ashley & Beaver Streets into the main in and out routes. Cars go by and see the party on Bay Street and are curious!  They ask, "What the heck is going on over there? I'm stuck in traffic and they are cooking hamburgers and WALKING to the game no less! Wow, when did that happen?". Am I still in Jacksonville?

That is another way to take Jacksonville to the 'Next Level".

Get on board 'cause this train is leaving old ideas behind... Let's do it!

[Tacachale]

Mark, you are quite right. Sadly the modern football stadium experience is designed at every level to move suburban fans in and out by car as briskly as possible. It's really a shame.

[gomias]

Love the Festival Ideas.  How about a Taste of Jacksonville on Bay Street?  Chicago does a great job with their Taste of Chicage event.

[comncense]

Though I know Downtown and 5-Points are two totally different animals, it would be nice to see Downtown put on a block-party type of party like 5 Points seems to be able to do easily. I can't recall a real block party downtown or on Bay Street for that matter, since I've lived here other than during the Super Bowl.

It would be nice to pull bars and restaurants from Downtown, San Marco, Springfield and Riverside/Avondale and do a big block party event downtown.