Learning from Toledo, OH

[Metro Jacksonville]

Learning from Toledo, OH



Can Jacksonville learn something from the Rust Belt's Glass City: Toledo, OH?

Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/content/view/743

[jeh1980]

Learning from Toledo, OH



Can Jacksonville learn something from the Rust Belt's Glass City: Toledo, OH?

Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/content/view/743

Sure they can! We all due respect, but I'm so sick and tired of having to hear about our downtown missing opportunities. And for what? I admit that we had some things that keep us back, but let's not forget some of the opportunities that we didn't miss that gave downtown our advantage. I like to see proof that Jacksonville DOES have some urban connectivity! Keep the faith!

[fsujax]

What a dreary looking place.  I wouldnt want to live there. Looking at those pics made me think our Downtown isn't that bad.

[Charleston native]

Indeed, fsujax. From the pictures, it seems that Toledo's pedestrian activity is almost non-existent, and Jax surely has more of it from pictures I've seen and during my visits. Trust me, Jax's downtown is pretty good in comparison to MANY other cities.

Toledo is also in northern Ohio, and those pics look like they were shot around Christmas time (there's a Christmas colored candle light display on one of the photos). During that time of year, it is dreary in that section of the country.

[gwole19]

I actually moved down here from Toledo last August. The only thing Jax could learn from it is how to support minor league teams and being able to drive anywhere in town within 20 minutes.  I worked in the Warehouse District, and my former law firm was one of the first businesses to move there (we were in one of the buildings directly across from right field of 5/3 Park). That area is pretty fun, but pedestrian activity is minimal expect during games or on the weekends. The new arena should be very nice. My only complaint with it was it further messed up the grid street system in downtown. I have been in and still have close friends that live in the lofts pictured (and a few that weren't). They are actually very nice, but suffer from limited downtown activity. Toledo is another town that doesn't take advantage of a downtown riverfront. They have been trying for years to do a riverwalk like San Antonio, but haven't gotten any traction. There is a new riverfront development on the eastside of the river that was factories and is being changed to a marina, market rate townhouses, stores, and other mixed uses. Obviously, the economy in that area is stalling development. I never thought of the area as dreary until we moved here. I was unaware the sun actually came out from behind clouds beyond the months of June and July...

[thelakelander]

The images were taking at 7am in the morning on a Saturday during a drive from Detroit to Indianapolis.  I've been traveling to Toledo roughly around once or twice a year, since 2000.  I also used to visit the city as a child during the 1980s when my dad worked for Owens Illinois.  The place is economically snake bitten and that area of the country does not get as much sun as we do.  Nevertheless, it was impressive to see the area around the new stadium having new signs of life, despite the city's economic struggles.  If proper urban design can have this effect on Toledo, it can half twice as much of a positive economic impact on Jacksonville.

Sure they can! We all due respect, but I'm so sick and tired of having to hear about our downtown missing opportunities.

jeh1980, you might want to cover your eyes in the next week or so.  When I get back to town, I'm going to do a "Learning from Old San Juan, Puerto Rico" photo article.

[Bike Jax]

Some of those pictures remind of what downtown looked in the the late 70's and early 80's around and to the east of the current non-courthouse property. Before the city allowed property owners to take down buildings to create surface lots. I have pictures somewhere. I'll have see about digging them up.

[Matt]

nice city. i love all the old buildings. makes me want to tie myself to the ones we still have....(history-hugger)

[Ocklawaha]

I certainly miss Houston Street, the old LaVilla area and the hundreds of homes in Fairfield (stadium) district which survived the fire and pre-dated 1900 only to fall to the bulldozers of 1990. But looking at the sad landscape of Toledo, I was trying to remember ANYTHING that Toledo is famous for... The it hit me "HOLY TOLEDO! Wasn't Corporal Clinger of the 4077 M.A.S.H. from Toledo?"

Ocklawaha

[Charles Hunter]

You are right, Ocklawaha!  Corporal Klinger was a big fan of the Toledo Mud Hens, and Packo's Hot Dogs!!

[DetroitInJAX]

Ha.  Looks like they have more historic building stock to work with than we do... and it looks like the facades are more well kept or have been restored.  Most of our buildings that look like that have been leveled in favor of parking lots.

[Ocklawaha]

I just re-re-reviewed this Toledo piece. I found "The Glass City" seems a complete mismatch for Toledo. Sure they might be the City of glass manafacturer but where the hell did it go? It sure wasn't used in Toledo! Anyone who has children or as a child (ageless or otherwise) and got turned on the L. Frank Baum's series of OZ books knows the adventures go far, far beyond one book and the classic Wizard of Oz. In the books one is introduced to "The Glass City". The description is a beautiful place and was set in the glass mountains (which in real life are in Central Oklahoma). Home of china glass people, and crystal lights, great glass houses and delicate glasswork one got the opinion that it was some New Age heavenly like dream world. When I hear the term Glass City my mind travels back to Dorothys house in Liberal, Kansas, to those Glass Mountains and the mythical glass city and then you guys go and post photos of TOLEDO! ^$&!@#$ retch, barf, gag... UGH!
Glass City? NOT!

Ocklawaha

[heights unknown]

Poor Toledo.  Yeah, Jax can learn from Toledo......To not raze old, historic buildings, fill in those surface parking lots, and do whatever it takes to enhance the image and viability of not only downtown, but the entire metro area (economically, financially, and commercially).

If it's Saturday, I'd hate to see what their downtown looks like Monday through Friday; downtowns should have more activity on Saturday, and even Sunday.

Heights Unknown

[gatorback]

I think the norherners just wanted to get out from all that snow it's aweful.  Why in the hell would anybody want to stay up there is beyond me when you have sunny warm florida as an option.

[Lunican]

Behind Toledo’s Water Crisis, a Long-Troubled Lake Erie

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/08/05/us/lifting-ban-toledo-says-its-water-is-safe-to-drink-again.html