For all the money the city put into attempting to make Bay Street the entertainment district of downtown, Peyton himself should be over there fixing problems.
Jacksonville's entertainment district, or "E-town" as they like to call it, consists of 2 bars. E must be for Empty.
I just got back in from sending a little time in Winston-Salem, NC. During my last visit there (around 2002 or so), they had just kicked off a "restaurant row" project to encourage nighlife, entertainment and dining on a compact stretch of Downtown's 4th Street.
Today, it appears the project has been quite successful. Perhaps we should consider a similar type of business recruitment program for Bay Street, E-Town or whatever we're calling it today?
Restaurant Row is a project proposed to recruit at least ten new dinner restaurants within a compact area of downtown, generally along 4th Street between the Stevens Center and Main Street. Emphasis will be placed on the recruitment of applicants that are already in the restaurant ownership and management business.
The concept of a Restaurant Row area is designed to work in tandem with the development of an Urban Entertainment District, to be anchored largely by live music venues and other forms of entertainment. Restaurant Row will include lunch and dinner restaurants all within easy walking distance of each other, and within easy, safe walking distance of public parking.
Federal funding has been approved for the City of Winston-Salem to provide subordinated financing to restaurant owners interested in Restaurant Row. With input from Wachovia and BB&T, a private-public restaurant loan program has been created whereby the City of Winston-Salem will be able to provide a subordinated loan equal to 37.5% of a project cost, up to $150,000 per applicant subject to the applicant and participating lender providing 62.5% percent of the project cost. Interest rates are 3-5 percent; term up to 15 years. Loan repayments deferred for 2 years.
In order to encourage the concentration of restaurants in a compact pedestrian friendly area, 3% loans are available for new restaurants locating in the street segments shown on the map in red. However, for any dinner restaurant interested in locating in area of downtown zoned CB, illustrated in yellow, loans are available at 5% interest.
http://www.dwsp.org/development_projects/restaurant_row.phpHere's a few images of "Restaurant Row" today (I took these images 8am, Wednesday morning).
bad image, but you get the concept. Fill an adjacent string of existing empty storefronts with dining and nightlife businesses.
work around and incorporate existing business, that complement the corridor.
the remaining vacant lots then become better opportunities for quality infill development.
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