Top 10 Things to Make DOWN-town a BOOM-town

[mtraininjax]

SunCruz goes 3 miles offshore in International water to operate.

[reednavy]

You can sit on Atlantic Beach and see that crappy ass boat sitting out there many days.

[Ocklawaha]

Don't know how they do it in St. Louis, but several Mississippi River City's have casinos over the water, one even built like a giant steamboat. I didn't know WHY, but that's an interesting loophole; with the annual flooding I really don't know how they survive. Same thing happens on the Red River in Shreveport, another huge casino, which after it went up... well...it IS THE SKYLINE!

Those who don't think such venues as Casino, Museum, Aquarium - Marineland Jacksonville, or anything else would make it on the JEA site, note when coming into town on I-95, for the last 2-3 minutes of your trip toward the overland bridge, that Casino would rise right straight in front of you. A off ramp and on ramp to 95 South coming from that area, The Southbound lanes would need a Flyover but if they lower the highway, that would be easy. Northbound could be effected by branching off 95 between Emerson and Atlantic, running alongside 95, over Atlantic and down to the new area. A connecting surface street running East - West, could tie into the Hilton and Garage.

OCKLAWAHA

[Keith-N-Jax]

There's plenty of room downtown for alot of things especially on the North Bank.

[RiversideLoki]

^Is that similar to how SunCruz casinos operate?

Ehh.. sort of. SunCruz operates in "international waters", 3 miles off the coast. As long as the machines aren't operational during the cruise in/out they're fine.

Of course that also means that they also skirt regulation. SunCruz games have some of the worst odds in the casino industry.

[zoo]

Late to this thread, but...

Imo, top focus should be applied to things that help build a community from the ground up by better utilizing our existing assets

IMO, our central park is and should be the springfield parks along Hogan's creek.

4.  End the practice of stampeding 60 thousand potential customers out of downtown in 25 minutes after games.

Amen, amen, amen!!!!!

[mtraininjax]

In order for Hogan's Creek to be the central park of Jax, we need a few things done first:

1) Tear down Park View Inn and remove debris.
2) Clean up Hogan Creek, remove the ash residue and other nastiness from the creek.
3) Light up the park, add better facilities, and put up fencing around the park to funnel people into main areas.
4) Add security to the area in the form of more police patrols (good place for the horses to patrol).
5) Encourage small business zones for retail spaces close to the park. Right now there is plenty of space for this.
6) Promote it, as the City needs to promote the park for all kinds of events, year round.
7) Possibly expand and provide tennis and other jungle-gym items, such as what Boone Park offers in Avondale.

I love the idea, and these are a few of the many suggestions I am sure others have. I think it would be great to get the old park back and being used.

[stjr]

In order for Hogan's Creek to be the central park of Jax, we need a few things done first:

1) Tear down Park View Inn and remove debris.
2) Clean up Hogan Creek, remove the ash residue and other nastiness from the creek.
3) Light up the park, add better facilities, and put up fencing around the park to funnel people into main areas.
4) Add security to the area in the form of more police patrols (good place for the horses to patrol).
5) Encourage small business zones for retail spaces close to the park. Right now there is plenty of space for this.
6) Promote it, as the City needs to promote the park for all kinds of events, year round.
7) Possibly expand and provide tennis and other jungle-gym items, such as what Boone Park offers in Avondale.

I love the idea, and these are a few of the many suggestions I am sure others have. I think it would be great to get the old park back and being used.

I have said it before, there is no need to limit ourselves to one park.  This isn't a "park site" competition, it's about doing what is right for the long haul for greater downtown.  Having parks in several areas will help all corners of downtown thrive and make the sum of parts even greater.

The Shipyards and JEA sites could serve "downtown residents" living in other areas of town as well as offer a differing set of amenities, the least of which is direct access and viewing of the St. Johns River.  These sites also are shaped and sized differently and may accommodate better such features as playing fields for soccer, football, baseball/softball, etc. as well as outdoor staging, not to mention public access.

We need to keep an open mind and not let the needle get stuck in the groove.

[mtraininjax]

There are not enough resources to take this to all parks. Fix one park downtown, make it a "model" for the others and work to build them. This will take more resources to fix the creek, and who in Springfield would not relish a cleaner Hogan's Creek?

[Cricket]

The definition of a boomtown is a town that experiences rapid economic growth. Does anyone really believe that upgrading and renovating a park (or parks) will somehow result in a boom for the city of Jacksonville? Can you just hear the folks in GA, SC, Tampa and SFl, "hey, let's head over to Jax, they have some nice parks with live music, shopping, new lights and everything". Sure, all of that would be nice but ....

Jacksonville has been back of the herd for much too long. C'mon, more shopping, more lights, better parks, more arts, more two-way streets, a museum ... these are all very nice amenities and I am sure they will  bring some long-term results. But none of those improvements will lead to a boom. What we need is some bold thinking on the part of our political leaders and city planners. Get out of the box and come up with ideas that will make this town stand out from the others and that don't take 10 or 15 years to implement.

[sandyshoes]

Just a flight of fantasy, but it might be nice to consider turning some of our many vacant buildings into more free-standing (not megaplex) theatres or playhouses that can also show films so there would be more venues for the Film Festival to expand...more locations to rush to (would lead to more restaurants/coffee houses popping up nearby, in another currently vacant building) to feed the hungry filmgoers,  and yep maybe even a few streetcars would be just the ticket to rush filmgoers to the next movie on their agendas.  When it's not film festival season, rent these buildings out as rehearsal space or for private parties or art exhibits, or even house some workspace for independent filmmakers. Discuss.

[Captain Zissou]

In order for Hogan's Creek to be the central park of Jax, we need a few things done first:

1) Tear down Park View Inn and remove debris.
2) Clean up Hogan Creek, remove the ash residue and other nastiness from the creek.
3) Light up the park, add better facilities, and put up fencing around the park to funnel people into main areas.
4) Add security to the area in the form of more police patrols (good place for the horses to patrol).
5) Encourage small business zones for retail spaces close to the park. Right now there is plenty of space for this.
6) Promote it, as the City needs to promote the park for all kinds of events, year round.
7) Possibly expand and provide tennis and other jungle-gym items, such as what Boone Park offers in Avondale.

I love the idea, and these are a few of the many suggestions I am sure others have. I think it would be great to get the old park back and being used.

My favorite idea so far.  This would also drive up land values around here and create opportunities for some nice infill between DT and Springfield.  I'd volunteer for a clean up if that would be in any way helpful.

[Ocklawaha]

Just a flight of fantasy, but it might be nice to consider turning some of our many vacant buildings into more free-standing (not megaplex) theatres or playhouses that can also show films so there would be more venues for the Film Festival to expand...more locations to rush to (would lead to more restaurants/coffee houses popping up nearby, in another currently vacant building) to feed the hungry filmgoers,  and yep maybe even a few streetcars would be just the ticket to rush filmgoers to the next movie on their agendas.  When it's not film festival season, rent these buildings out as rehearsal space or for private parties or art exhibits, or even house some workspace for independent filmmakers. Discuss.

Yes, like a combination of LIGHT RAIL/STREETCAR, COMMUTER RAIL, EXPRESS/QUALITY BUS, and a FINISHED SKYWAY. Once we have the only FIXED and COMPREHENSIVE transit system in the South, we won't have to want for anything. But that will take leadership with thought!

OCKLAWAHA

[stjr]

The definition of a boomtown is a town that experiences rapid economic growth. Does anyone really believe that upgrading and renovating a park (or parks) will somehow result in a boom for the city of Jacksonville?

Cricket, if you read the entire thread you will see that parks were only one of many elements suggested to attract visitors and residents and improve Downtown, not a stand alone improvement.

Jacksonville has been back of the herd for much too long. C'mon, more shopping, more lights, better parks, more arts, more two-way streets, a museum ... these are all very nice amenities and I am sure they will  bring some long-term results. But none of those improvements will lead to a boom. What we need is some bold thinking on the part of our political leaders and city planners. Get out of the box and come up with ideas that will make this town stand out from the others and that don't take 10 or 15 years to implement.

Cricket, again read the thread for lots of ideas.  There is unlikely going to be a single event that creates a "boom" Downtown.  It will take a variety of upgrades working in concert together.  All the amenties you dismiss plus a few others are the investments in what Downtown needs to induce people to want to spend time and live there.  By the way, nearly all the suggestions made could be implemented in 1 to 5 years with others significantly phased in during that time with followup in future years.

You say "get out of the box".  What are your new ideas that we are overlooking?  I didn't see you mention these.  Help us out!

[mtraininjax]

Cricket, love the passion! Why don't we try and fix something that is close to all of our hearts and one that has been a problem for a long, long time, Hogan's creek. You fix the creek, then the whole area will blossom. The creek is sick. We can fix it and then watch the whole area blossom, which will add the shops, theatres, life back to what was the MAJOR park of Jacksonville.

It can happen, all we need to do is believe.