Author Topic: Urban Projects Struggle To Stay Alive  (Read 18823 times)

jeh1980

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Re: Urban Projects Struggle To Stay Alive
« Reply #30 on: January 16, 2008, 11:58:44 PM »
I wouldn't say that all of these urban projects are scratched of delayed. A lot of these projects, mostly residential, couldn't be built until the residential real estate market is restored. And PLEASE, we all due respect, but even the mayor and the city council wanted these projects to get built. The people of Downtown Vision said so themselves. I know, I've been to there downtown office four times. It's like I said, it's the fallen real estate market that kept some of the project from being built not the city. After all, I think that we have been murmuring and complaining for the wrong reasons. All of that can't get anything done and its won't make this city any better. I'm sorry but it's true ::). We will see some, if not all of these projects get built. So there's really no need to worry. 8) Jesus Loves You... Stay Positive!

thelakelander

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Re: Urban Projects Struggle To Stay Alive
« Reply #31 on: January 17, 2008, 12:31:41 AM »
Quote
I wouldn't say that all of these urban projects are scratched or delayed. A lot of these projects, mostly residential, couldn't be built until the residential real estate market is restored.

Wouldn't that make them.......delayed?

Quote
It's like I said, it's the fallen real estate market that kept some of the project from being built not the city. After all, I think that we have been murmuring and complaining for the wrong reasons. All of that can't get anything done and its won't make this city any better.

I don't believe you can blame the city for some of these developments falling through, but I also don't think we do the city any good looking at things through rose colored glasses.  We have problems that we need to face up to and fix to move forward in the future.  It doesn't get anymore positive then being able to admit we're not perfect and working to strive for perfection by addressing the negative factors that hold the core back.
"A man who views the world the same at 50 as he did at 20 has wasted 30 years of his life.” - Muhammad Ali

vicupstate

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Re: Urban Projects Struggle To Stay Alive
« Reply #32 on: January 17, 2008, 09:14:08 AM »
I wouldn't say that all of these urban projects are scratched of delayed. A lot of these projects, mostly residential, couldn't be built until the residential real estate market is restored. And PLEASE, we all due respect, but even the mayor and the city council wanted these projects to get built. The people of Downtown Vision said so themselves. I know, I've been to there downtown office four times. It's like I said, it's the fallen real estate market that kept some of the project from being built not the city. After all, I think that we have been murmuring and complaining for the wrong reasons. All of that can't get anything done and its won't make this city any better. I'm sorry but it's true ::). We will see some, if not all of these projects get built. So there's really no need to worry. 8) Jesus Loves You... Stay Positive!

The slump in the housing market is no doubt a huge factor in the housing slowdown DT (and citywide), and the city government is not to blame for that.

However.... The city IS to blame for the courthouse not being under construction (and probably close to finished by now) and by extention ALL of the office and other projects that were proposed as spinoff from that.

Private money follows public money, the BJP proved that.

Also, had Peyton not screwed it up, the Landing might be undergoing a major expansion/renovation as well.  Instead, all we ended up with is some amusement park renderings, and an outdated '80's centerpiece for DT.  YOU MUST OPEN THE DOOR WHEN OPPORTUNITY KNOCKS!

The Haydon Burns Library project might also be further along if the city had not taken an inordinate amount of time to select a buyer for it.

The Main St. pocket park was been a waste of $700K that could better have been spent differently (like Smart parking meters !!) .

I could go on, but I think I've made my point. 

Just because the housing market is slumping, does not mean I'm going to give a "pass" to the city for all the mistakes they have made, and the complete dearth of vision. 

YOU can lower your standards for our public servants, I choose not to.   
"The problem with quotes on the internet is you can never be certain they're authentic." - Abraham Lincoln

Steve

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Re: Urban Projects Struggle To Stay Alive
« Reply #33 on: January 17, 2008, 11:04:01 AM »
Seriously - how muck is LaVilla being held back because it's separated by three blocks with no sidewalks and dirt.

Lunican

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Re: Urban Projects Struggle To Stay Alive
« Reply #34 on: January 17, 2008, 11:16:29 AM »
Plus closed streets. It is Jacksonville's ground zero, except the terrorists in this case are over in city hall.

jaxwilll

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Re: Urban Projects Struggle To Stay Alive
« Reply #35 on: January 21, 2008, 11:12:52 PM »


   I think it's the mindset of the people that continues to hold Jacksonville back.  We are a very large city with small-town thinkers.  Furthermore, many of our white residents still prefer to flee from areas where non-whites are thought to be in greater numbers.  Simple as that.  The white flight that took place in the 1970's is still alive in the minds of many locals.  That's why the proliferation of development in Mandarin and the Southside, and thus downtown suffers.  People would rather drive 20 miles to work than entertain the idea of moving downtown.
 I live downtown and when I mention that fact to people elsewhere in Jacksonville, oftentimes they
1) ask why
2)ask if I'm afraid
3)say they haven't been downtown in years but remember it as a frightening, dark part of town
 
 Downtown has a public relations image problem that is based on past fears rather than reality.  I'd take a evening walk in Downtown over Arlington or Mandarin anyday.
  Even my neighbors, sad to say, shock me with their narrow-minded comments.  It seems they want to live around only people who look, think, vote like they do. They question why non-whites are walking down the sidewalks in front of theirr homes. (answer: because they are citizens of these United States and lived downtown long before you did.) 
  I just thought this was a missing piece of the puzzle to why downtown Jacksonville remains stagnant.  It is a reflection of our city's collective mindset.  The coolest, most open-minded of my neighbors have relocated from urban centers in more progressive cities. They are often disappointed. If they are non-white , they usually say they are not used to being treated with this subtle yet ever-present rascism that exists here.   There's the reality from a downtown pioneer.  Happy MLK day!   

downtownparks

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Re: Urban Projects Struggle To Stay Alive
« Reply #36 on: January 21, 2008, 11:24:18 PM »
I agree, to an extent.

JeffreyS

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Re: Urban Projects Struggle To Stay Alive
« Reply #37 on: January 22, 2008, 06:20:17 AM »
Downtown living has made big strides. I feel like once the real estate market's down turn is over downtown will finally find that residential tipping point.
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Coolyfett

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Re: Urban Projects Struggle To Stay Alive
« Reply #38 on: January 25, 2008, 09:41:57 PM »
Give the homeless some roller skates, set up a sound system to play disco/techno/hip hop music, and let them skate around with wireless mics.

I was feeling sad until I read this line!!!! WOW!! This would be some funny shit!! ROFLMAO!! thanks
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Coolyfett

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Re: Urban Projects Struggle To Stay Alive
« Reply #39 on: January 25, 2008, 10:04:36 PM »

 I live downtown and when I mention that fact to people elsewhere in Jacksonville, oftentimes they
1) ask why
2)ask if I'm afraid
3)say they haven't been downtown in years but remember it as a frightening, dark part of town
 
 Downtown has a public relations image problem that is based on past fears rather than reality.  I'd take a evening walk in Downtown over Arlington or Mandarin anyday.

Wow man that's really sad. When I go building hunting downtown from about 1am to 3am in the morning there is nothing to worry about. There is no crime downtown.....I just come out park my car at a Hemming Park corner and walk. I may see a sleeping bum here or there and the occasional JSO patrol car and thats it. Just me and the streets and the buildings. There is no crime downtown.
Mike Hogan Destruction Eruption!

stephen159

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Re: Urban Projects Struggle To Stay Alive
« Reply #40 on: February 19, 2008, 04:03:37 PM »
personally I think they should stop trying to build luxury high rises and try converting the great vacant buildings already downtown. After they do that they can slowy start to get people back into the area and build clubs, resturaunts, cofee shops, etc. then the high rises will come it just takes pactience, and a little attention. ;)

MrPajitnov

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Re: Urban Projects Struggle To Stay Alive
« Reply #41 on: February 27, 2008, 11:39:53 PM »
I have been born and raised in this poor backwards little burg and I left for a year to live in (of all places) Des moines, Iowa. Sad part? I lived in downtown Des Moines (a city where the entire metro accounts for 500,00 people) and always had something to do or somewhere to go. Now I live just north of downtown and most days I have no reason to cross first street (unless I'm going to work or the burrito gallery).

The problems I see are primarily price, a distorted view of downtown from the outside (several of my friends who have lived in Jax for years are terrified of downtown), lack of a community feel, and no space whatsoever for anyone who isn't a multi-millionaire to do anything.

Why is Riverside and San Marco so cool now? poor people bought cheap houses and rented cheap storefronts and made the kind of places they want. Naturally the community starved suburbanite would see this is a thriving community to get into and slowly force the uglier and poorer sections out so they can have this great community all to themselves (anyone been to riverside lately? I leave for a year and when I come back it feels like san marco). If the city was to open some of the smaller buildings (I have 6 I can think of off the top of my head) up to anyone who would do something with them (and yes I mean the bohemian/artist/pioneer type) they may be surprised at the result. for now the only hope I have for downtown to do anything worth getting up for is Chamblin's (and every time I ask when he is going to open he always says 2 weeks or so, but he's been saying that for 5 months).

And would a decent grocery store be too much to ask?

thelakelander

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Re: Urban Projects Struggle To Stay Alive
« Reply #42 on: February 27, 2008, 11:51:04 PM »
Hopefully, The Library project will be something that becomes a catalyst for downtown vibrancy.  It will be an impressive scene, if pulled off successfully.
"A man who views the world the same at 50 as he did at 20 has wasted 30 years of his life.” - Muhammad Ali

pwhitford

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Re: Urban Projects Struggle To Stay Alive
« Reply #43 on: July 08, 2008, 09:39:45 AM »
Jacksonville needs to heed the call of the future:

Shortcut to: http://online.wsj.com/article/SB121538754733231043.html?mod=hps_us_inside_today

Enlightenment--that magnificent escape from anguish and ignorance--never happens by accident. It results from the brave and sometimes lonely battle of one person against his own weaknesses.

-Bhikkhu Nyanasobhano, "Landscapes of Wonder"

thelakelander

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Re: Urban Projects Struggle To Stay Alive
« Reply #44 on: July 08, 2008, 09:46:59 AM »
great article.
"A man who views the world the same at 50 as he did at 20 has wasted 30 years of his life.” - Muhammad Ali