Roadtrip: Miami

[Jason]

Miami's growth has been just as sprawing as Jacksonville's, however, it happened much faster.  The one positive I can say is that their development boundaries that have restricted growth beyond a certain point have forced their explosive growth to start filling in and building up instead of growing further out. 

If Jacksonville establishes development boundaries and couples it with a descent mass transit system the potentials are endless.  I really believe that once these two things are up and running it will push Jacksonville into the next tier of Americam cities and set it apart from any other in the South.

[rjp2008]

Miami is Miami because of LOCATION - right on the warm tropical waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Because of that, it's a superstar. So, people with money want to be there and be seen. It also has a massive influx of immigrants from Cuba/Latin America who want to succeed financially. (Some by illicit means...). Thus, it's highly competitive.

But competition isn't everything. I'm sure Jax has the edge in terms of hospitality, friendliness, family stability, peacefulness.

[chipwich]

I would say Jacksonville's loation is better than Miami's.  We actaully have distinct seasons whereas Miami does not.  I understand that many who live and visit Miami want "fun in the sun" year round, but there are just as many people who can't stand the heat and would prefer to live in a more temperate climate.

Both Portland and Seattle are very popular, sucessful and populated.  They are also cool, cloudy and very rainy.

Our port is better situated than Miami's and our interstate connections are better as well.

We may never be as big as Miami or as culturally diverse.  I am ok with that and I don't know how to speak Spanish either.  Let's be proud of Jacksonville and do our best to develop new business and culture.  We may not have the best leadership at times, but the city is thriving despite that.

So Viva La Jacksonville!

[RiversideGator]

Miami is Miami because of LOCATION - right on the warm tropical waters of the Atlantic Ocean. Because of that, it's a superstar. So, people with money want to be there and be seen. It also has a massive influx of immigrants from Cuba/Latin America who want to succeed financially. (Some by illicit means...). Thus, it's highly competitive.

But competition isn't everything. I'm sure Jax has the edge in terms of hospitality, friendliness, family stability, peacefulness.

Jacksonville also has the edge over Miami in terms of per capita income.  Miami is really a poor city but because of the large numbers of people in the metro area there are also lots of rich people.

[thelakelander]

Miami is also only 35 square miles.  Its basically the inner city of Miami-Dade County.  If Jax was limited to its old Northside dominated city limits or if Miami covered the same amount of land area as Jax, the per capita income numbers would be different.