Elements of Urbanism: Grand Rapids

[Metro Jacksonville]

Elements of Urbanism: Grand Rapids



Grand Rapids, known as the Country's Furniture City, shines as Michigan's strongest metropolitan economy.  

Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/content/view/875

[stjohnsguy]

Note to Jacksonville Leaders:
When replanting trees along downtown streets use shade trees (Oaks,Maples,ect)NOT PALM TREES!!! In the summer it is 112 degrees every day.It is too hot to walk in a suit with no shade.JMO

[stjohnsguy]

Also how large of a Convention Center could be build on the Southbank JEA land?Across from the Shipyards.Anyone know the size of that property?

[Captain Zissou]

It is at least 40 acres.  I do not know of a convention center anywhere near that large, maybe in Dubai...

[Lunican]

The Orange County Convention Center (Orlando) is 2.1 million square feet (48 acres).

[TD*]

Good article. I enjoyed looking at Grand Rapids. I hope Metro Jax does a segment on Tallahassee Soon.

[Jason]

Great read.  Looks like the major pie in the face for Jax is the convention center situation.  For a city our size, we are grossly underserved.  That is the one thing that sticks out in all of these articles.


BTW, You forgot the 4th Fortune 500 company in Jax, Winn-Dixie.

[ProjectMaximus]

I don't think Winn-Dixie is HQ'd downtown. MJ is always comparing downtown companies in these city profiles.

Great read.  Looks like the major pie in the face for Jax is the convention center situation.  For a city our size, we are grossly underserved.  That is the one thing that sticks out in all of these articles.


BTW, You forgot the 4th Fortune 500 company in Jax, Winn-Dixie.

[ProjectMaximus]

And yeah, I've come to realize that the convention center is an obvious handicap for a city our size. National and regional conferences could help put the city on the map and contribute to new development.

[TD*]

I say Jax builds a new Convention center, 2.5 Million sqr feet, put it right on JAX BEACH.  This way it really is a destination,

[apvbguy]

I say Jax builds a new Convention center, 2.5 Million sqr feet, put it right on JAX BEACH.  This way it really is a destination,

where in JAX beach is enough open land? I agree a convention center would be great, but JAX beach?
it would be better placed nearer the core, where infrastructure is already in place.
there is a huge open tract of land on the southbank near where the duval school headquarters building is, that could be relocated and the property used and the skyway could easily be extended to serve the area

[Jason]

IMO, the old JEA southside generating station is no better than where it sits now (save the river view).  It would be much more isolated, no transit connection, and no surrounding ammenities to offer.  At least the Prime Osborne gives conventioneers quick access to the skyway and I95.

IMO, the "old" courthouse site is the best fit for a new center, assuming the skyway or some other form of transit can connect it ot the rest of the core. 

Also (another pipe dream) if the transportation center were to be compacted into the existing convention centersite, a new center could be built where the proposed transportation center sits now allowing it the same easy access to transit and give the transportation center back its spine and become a truely effecient Union Terminal as it once was.

[apvbguy]

IMO, the old JEA southside generating station is no better than where it sits now (save the river view).  It would be much more isolated, no transit connection, and no surrounding ammenities to offer.  At least the Prime Osborne gives conventioneers quick access to the skyway and I95.

the hotels and restaurants there wouldn't be close enough for it?

[TD*]

I think we should stop looking at the skyway as a viable transportation option, we all know its a blunder and will not be expanded very much more ever if at all.

[apvbguy]

I think we should stop looking at the skyway as a viable transportation option, we all know its a blunder and will not be expanded very much more ever if at all.

if you leave it the way it is you're right it's a blunder, but it could and should be extended and a few wise extensions could make it quite valuable