Connect Eastside and Springfield?

[stephendare]

In light of Joey Marchy's question, (  http://www.metrojacksonville.com/forum/index.php/topic,6752.0.html) would it be possible to reconnect the two neighborhoods by visually celebrating the connection down second to A Phillip Randolph?

[stephendare]

[urbanjacksonville]

Good idea. Some banners on light poles might help connect the two neighborhoods pride-wise. I feel there is an especially strong connection between the neighborhoods during football season b/c I use 1st to APR so often getting to the stadium and back.

But why down second and not first?

[thelakelander]

Long term, look at the old rail lines that ran between the communities.  Something that has historically separated them, could unify them through creative urban design.  It could potentially become a linear urban greenway, stretching into downtown or a mix of linear urban park space and mass transit.

[stephendare]

good call joey, i meant first.

Lake where would you suggest a rail line or urban greenway on the map?

[Lunican]

The old railroad right of way parallels Palmetto St. The tracks end around 4th street.

[stephendare]

Perhaps some widening and landscaping as well?

Its a pretty cool path.

It misses confederate park, but it does connect up to FCCJ, Bethel Baptists, the Karpeles, The Municipal Swimming Pool, the Kennedy Center, The Bandstand at the park on  A Phillip Randolph and the Childrens Museum.

Thats not a bad drive if you think about it.

[stephendare]

The Intersection of Main and 1st is a great opportunity for all three components of the area to be celebrated visually.

Going North, it comes right after Confederate Park and the massive unhighlighted grounds of the JEA facility and plant.

There should be somthing prominent there to tell people that FCCJ, Karpeles, Bethel and the park system are to the west, and the Kennedy Center, Childrens Commission and A Phillip Randolph Plant to the East.

The Pearl is there and the unfortunate facade of the neglected Earl Horne building.  That intersection could become quite a neighborhood assett if utilized properly.

[stephendare]

Here is a series of views from that corner.  Surely something could be done to connect springfield, FCCJ and the route to the facilities of the East Side.



Starting with the southeast corner, turning counterclockwise.

[stephendare]

man alive that is some tacky ass black gate work.
all of that should be landscaped and created into a CEPTED designed public greenspaceing.

Both in the first picture and on the vast JEA property.

Jason, could the facade of the Earl Horne be better utilized as a public art project that served as a place locator?

[stephendare]

[thelakelander]

The old railroad right of way parallels Palmetto St. The tracks end around 4th street.

There are actually two railroad right-of-ways running right next to each other.  The active track is owned by NS and dies out around 4th Street.  The other is just to the east of it and like the S-Line, is now owned by COJ.  It runs from 8th down to the Hogans Creek/Duval Street viaduct area.

With little effort, it could easily become something like Detroit's Dequindre Cut.  The Cut was an abandoned rail corridor that was recently converted into a multi-use path.  However, unlike our S-Line trail, they designed it in a way that leaves room for a future light rail or streetcar line.

[sheclown]

It never occurred to me, but now that you are talking about it, it seems like such a great idea.

[urbanjacksonville]

I like the greenway idea. Are there any numbers on the cost per mile of the durkeeville greenway?

[stephendare]