Breathing Life back into the Jacksonville Landing

[stephendare]

Fat Tuesday drawing primarily african americans?  When was that?  Every time I went in there you needed sunglasses because the crowd was so white.

Its true, in its last days it was predominantly African American.

Then they 'fixed' that, by demanding ID for anyone coming to the landing after 9pm and charging 'cover' to get into the Landing itself.

It only took about 6 months of that and nightlife at the Landing ended abruptly.

Of course thats way before the Sleiman buyout.

[jacksonvilleconfidential]

Oh yes! I totally forgot about that. Probably because I was not allowed in after 9PM when they started that ;0)

[urbanlibertarian]

Love all the ideas for a fresh market, streetcar (privately financed, of course) and street side activity area.
However I don't think the city should force downtown parking businesses to put up signage advertising their product.  Can't government help things along without passing an ordinance or regulation?  Couldn't the city just work the parking businesses and other downtown merchants and come up with something that is voluntary?

[thelakelander]

Imo, the city should lead by example and put decent "P" signage on their own garages.

[jacksonvilleconfidential]

Yes, P Signage is much needed cause there is plenty of parking downtown. Ive lived here my entire life and frequent Downtown. I have not ever had to turn around and leave because I couldnt find a parking spot.

finding it is half the battly.

[stephendare]

It sounds like this trolley deal would save the Landing 16 million dollars or so.

Is that an accurate guess?

[thelakelander]

I don't think Sleiman is paying for the proposed garage across the street.  Kuhn's former buddy is going to construct it.  Its supposed to include parking for the tower next door, as well as the Landing.

[jacksonvilleconfidential]

It sounds like this trolley deal would save the Landing 16 million dollars or so.

Is that an accurate guess?

I think Stephen and I spoke of this in person recently, the Trolley is turning out to be a pretty good deal, now we just need to expand the hours...and I hear thats a definite possibility for the near future.

Im not sure of the $ amount of savings, but 16M is no chump change.

[thelakelander]

I think Stephen is referring to a real starter streetcar/light rail line that would run down Water Street, from the Prime Osborn to the Hyatt.

Assuming its privately funded, the Landing would not have to fit the bill alone.  The City, JTA and major landowners along the route would all have to work together to construct a mile long line that could be less than $10 million total.

[KenFSU]

I've always really enjoyed the Moonlight Movies they do out at the beach. I wonder if a similar classic movie concept could work at the Landing now that they have the big screen up. Could be a regular thing, or maybe seasonal (horror movies in October, holiday movies in December, romantic comedies in February, blockbusters in the summer). It would be cheaper than putting on a concert and seems like it would have the potential to draw people in who would in turn spend money at the restaurants and shops. Throw up some popcorn and refreshment vendors and you've got yourself a fine afternoon or evening. I for one think it'd be pretty cool to go to the Landing during December, watch Home Alone on the big screen under the warm glow of the Christmas tree, and drink some delicious hot cocoa with my wife. It would give me a reason to go there, and I know I would end up spending money at the shops and getting lunch or dinner while I was there.

A more casual boat tour would also be cool. Something you could hop on with no obligation to eat dinner or take to a set destination. More of a boat that just casually circles around downtown, picks up and drops off from various locations, plays music, etc. You have dinner at the Landing, you hop on the boat, hang out, have a few drinks, enjoy the ride, maybe meet some new friends. I love similar tours down in Los Olas in Ft. Lauderdale. The water taxi is far too practical and no-frills to be considered an entertainment option. You pay $5, sit in the dark, take a 10 minute loop in silence, and then either have to get off or pay another $5 to take another 10 minute loop. A rip off if you're in it for the scenery, but I'd gladly pay $10 plus drink costs to have a fun experience on the St. Johns.

[jacksonvilleconfidential]

Thats an awesome idea Ken. I too have enjoyed Moonlight Movies at the Beach several times. They were also doing them at Treaty Oak on the Southbank  (Movies in the Park) this past April, I wasnt able to attend any of them so I dont know how attendance was. But the ones at the beach were always packed.

http://www.jacksonvilleconfidential.com/2008/04/movies-in-park.html

[BridgeTroll]

A booze cruise from the Landing!!  Wahoo!

[rjp2008]

The movie idea is also very good. All the successful mixed-use retail urban centers have movie theaters - Jax Landing does not. Movie theatres work because it brings after hours money in, and it's family friendly. Which brings me to...

Shift the focus to family-friendly/kid-friendly activities/venues
Was down there for a bit tonight and I realized there's almost nothing for children there. What's worse, it's so Hardrock-bar oriented now, that it drives a possible kid audience away.

So how bout exchanging some of those tennants for...

A special kids YMCA fitness center
A massive rock/climbing wall/funhouse thing
A dance/music school area for kids
A permanent Wii station with massive TV screen

[Ocklawaha]

Love all the ideas for a fresh market, streetcar (privately financed, of course) and street side activity area.
However I don't think the city should force downtown parking businesses to put up signage advertising their product.  Can't government help things along without passing an ordinance or regulation?  Couldn't the city just work the parking businesses and other downtown merchants and come up with something that is voluntary?

I think Stephen and I spoke of this in person recently, the Trolley is turning out to be a pretty good deal, now we just need to expand the hours...and I hear thats a definite possibility for the near future.

For CERTAIN Stephen, Lakelander, and a handfull of others are talking about REAL STREETCARS on REAL TRACKS with REAL WIRE OVERHEAD. Faux trolleys will NEVER create a tourist boom, and not in any way gauge the success of a real streetcar line. Even the craftsmanship in our PCT Trolleys, Stephen raved about in another thread, will pale in the light of the old world craftsmanship in a REAL streetcar. It's the difference in fine imported carvings and woodcuttings and a really pretty mobile home. They both have wood inside, and are both well made, but worlds apart.

As for privately financed, THAT is possible. It might happen as either a musuem, a for-profit corportation or some of both (we already have them up and running as corporations). It might also be a City function. In any case it should not damage the hands-off view of some political party's. A mile long test streetcar line could be strung down Water Street, and perhaps a tiny bit of Lee or Davis for example. A small museum and shop at Lee or Davis, near the massive parking, serves the landing AND the Skyway, AND the Transit Center, AND any new BAY STREET STATION development area. The streetcar museum itself will draw about 500,000 visitors per year downtown. Backed up by TWO regional marketing firms, including a recent one. That's about 6 Super Bowl games full of "NEVER BEEN TO JAX FOR ANYTHING" trouists. They visit the museum, ride the streetcars, and gosh-gee-batman, they end up on River Walk, the Hyatt, Bay Street Station, Omni, Landing, Florida Theater and God knows where else. Suddenly that empty "parking garage site" becomes a new highrise, Then another and another, Soon with streetcar and skyway expansion, another dozen go up. The building boom reaches ONE BILLION DOLLARS! WHY? Because THAT is what streetcars are causing to happen in cities all over the country. 1 Billion, 1.4 Billion, 5 Billion, 2.3 Billion etc... Now just how much would that REALLY cost us even if the city financed 100% of it? Factor in the new taxes, tourism, and building boom and we end up with a net gain of hundreds of millions OVER ANY JTA BUS PLAN!

AMAZING? Maybe so, but the facts are hard numbers, industry published and internationally accepted.

WE CAN AND SHOULD DO THIS NOW...

"CLANG! CLANG! CLANG! WENT THE TROLLEY..."

Ocklawaha

[thelakelander]

Now just how much would that REALLY cost us even if the city financed 100% of it?

A lot cheaper than the money we've already wasted on the courthouse site.