Live blogging: Mayor Peyton to announce new downtown plan

[JaxNole]

So what is the next, real concrete step towards action?  Ideas are supposed to lead to action. 

Either we have too few or we have enough but the unwillingness to execute.

[thelakelander]

For action you need money to pay for the ideas.  How to get money for some of the projects that would help some Reality Check ideas was being discussed by the big players down in Orlando today.  Luckily, Metro Jacksonville was there to keep our region in the discussion.

[JaxNole]

What are some possible revenue sources that were discussed?

I suppose re-examining the city's budget is another option, but I don't trust that.  Let's say the budget is as lean as possible.

Are enough Duval citizens dissatisfied with the quality of life to support a tax increase?  Under leadership similar to Mayor Delaney's? 

Mayor-President Delaney has under his belt an impressive record with raising capital for the UNF expansion.  He had the constituent (business) acumen to ensure the Better Jacksonville Plan offered value to almost everyone.

[thelakelander]

^Just to be clear.  Are we talking about the Mayor's plan or funding mass transit?

[JaxNole]

Mayor Peyton's plan.

[thelakelander]

The only concrete thing the Mayor plans to move forward is the flex space idea at Metropolitan Park.  Everything else will come out of visioning efforts over the next two years.  Without knowing the final components, its difficult to know how much money will be needed or what the funding sources could be.  For example, if that vision ends up being a streetcar line connecting downtown to Five Points, it could be paid for with the $100 million BJP rapid transit funds.  If its a new convention center, it could be partially funded by Hyatt, for all we know.  I think funding should be a part of the visioning discussion.

[mtraininjax]

Let me get this straight, the mayor held a press conference to announce that he plans to gather a consensus vision over the next 2 years as to what the next Mayor should do in terms of the downtown plan? He's had 6 years to figure this out on his own. Peyton would not last 6 minutes in his own business.

Where is the talk of the aquarium? We could run light rail to it, make it a carival for everyday tourists. FYI the Atlanta Aquarium was financed by a $250 MILLION gift by Arthur Blank and Bernie Marcus, along with donations from Coca-Cola, Home Depot, UPS, and a number of large corporate sponsors. Jacksonville would be lucky to raise enough money for the water in the building, given the corporate donation track record in this town.

If the mayor has real vision, he would seek out the corportations left in town, get them involved in this grand plan, get them to donate to the worthy cause and make this a private/public solution. I am ashamed that he held a news conference for such drivel.

Jim Bailey, if you know what is right for you (you are too good a man) do not think of taking a run at mayor.