Urban Infill: First Baptist Academy Recreational Area

[Metro Jacksonville]

Urban Infill: First Baptist Academy Recreational Area



A look at the latest improvement project planned for Main Street.

Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2009-jun-urban-infill-first-baptist-academy-recreational-area

[jeh1980]

Pretty nice layout. It's good to replace something that's empty with a bit of life to it.

[ReviveJax]

It is not exactly what I like to see in a downtown area.  I would like to see things open downtown that give people stuff to do, that attracts people to downtown after working hours; however, anything is better than a surface parking lot.

[fsujax]

This is the site of an old gas station. I believe the church will clean the property or may have already cleaned it.  At least there will be some activity there now.

[comncense]

Yeah, not too excited about building something downtown that the general public won't be able to use. However, like someone above said, it's better than looking at a surface parking lot. How is it that FBC always has money to buy property downtown and yet it seems everyone else struggles to? Oh wait, I already know the answer to that...

[archiphreak]

I have to agree with Comncense.  Yet another piece of land being taken over by a church that will only further stifle downtown development due to regulations imposed by the city to not allow certain developments within certain distances of a church.  I wish they'd move and give all that land back to the city to develop projects that can be used by the general public more than 2 days a week.  LIke maybe some residences, or a grocery store, or a retail development like some of the malls in Atlanta.  Anything.

[brainstormer]

I'm glad they included a lot of trees in the design, and it is better than the empty lot that is currently there.  Can someone who better understands the streetscape deviation explain it to me?  Are they asking for a smaller sidewalk or larger one?  I guess I have a problem with granting an exception to the way the rest of Main Street looks.  And are they eliminating or adding parking along the street?  Perhaps, Lake, you or someone else can better explain this for me.

[heights unknown]

Yeah, I'm not too thrilled either if it's not for public use, however, it is better than a vacant lot.  What are the operational hours of that Academy?  Because that is what will drive when the activity occurs in that area.

Heights Unknown

[heights unknown]

I have to agree with Comncense.  Yet another piece of land being taken over by a church that will only further stifle downtown development due to regulations imposed by the city to not allow certain developments within certain distances of a church.  I wish they'd move and give all that land back to the city to develop projects that can be used by the general public more than 2 days a week.  LIke maybe some residences, or a grocery store, or a retail development like some of the malls in Atlanta.  Anything.

Yeah, wish we could have more commercial, retail and residential entities like Atlanta as you say "Archiphreak," however, FBC has been downtown forever and they're not going to move, ever and forever; the only time I think they might move is when we're all vaporized.  If they did move there is a motherload of land that would be sitting waiting to be developed; you know no one isn't going to develop the land right away.  I think it's best to leave FBC alone and just build around them and wish them well. They're not going anywhere.

Heights Unknown

[jaxlore]

Instead of a come to church and leave atmosphere, I wish First Baptist would encourage is members to support the downtown area, not just its own little self contained eco system.

[tufsu1]

Yet another piece of land being taken over by a church that will only further stifle downtown development due to regulations imposed by the city to not allow certain developments within certain distances of a church.  I wish they'd move and give all that land back to the city to develop projects that can be used by the general public more than 2 days a week. 

What a great idea...maybe the church will leave and even more buildings downtown can be vacant...and clearly we don't need those 7,000+ visitors to downtown every Sunday!

[fsujax]

well said tufsu1, just imagine what that part of downtown would be like without the church there. Day laborers, homeless, vacant lots, boarded up buildings.....guess that is better than a church. I gave DVI an idea one time to have a Sunday afternoon event for all the church goers Downtown.....remember FBC is not the only church downtown. I told Terry Lorince she should work with the restaurants, museums and other downtown establishments to open on Sundays and have specials, etc. anything to get people to hang out downtown after chruch is over. what could it hurt?

[thelakelander]

How is it that FBC always has money to buy property downtown and yet it seems everyone else struggles to? Oh wait, I already know the answer to that...

The entire block was already owned by FBC.

[hanjin1]

Yet another piece of land being taken over by a church that will only further stifle downtown development due to regulations imposed by the city to not allow certain developments within certain distances of a church.  I wish they'd move and give all that land back to the city to develop projects that can be used by the general public more than 2 days a week. 

What a great idea...maybe the church will leave and even more buildings downtown can be vacant...and clearly we don't need those 7,000+ visitors to downtown every Sunday!

The only thing is those 7000 visitors just go straight home after church, especially when you have police out there blocking all the roads and directing traffic away from downtown like it's a jaguar game

[thelakelander]

Sounds like the answer is to find a way to better incorporate them into downtown.  Btw, the same thing needs to happen with FSCJ and Bethel.  Imagine the benefit to downtown businesses if those eating after church ate at a few places downtown, instead of driving to Regency and the Southside.