What Would You Like Downtown Jacksonville to Become?

[Metro Jacksonville]

What Would You Like Downtown Jacksonville to Become?



What to do with downtown Jacksonville has always been one of the most popular topics in Metro Jacksonville's discussion boards. Now the time has come for your involvement in determining downtown's future. This week, public workshops will be held for the Downtown Investment Authority's Business Investment and Development Strategy. This implementation tool will set the project priorities for downtown redevelopment between 2014 and 2025.

Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2013-nov-what-would-you-like-downtown-jacksonville-to-become

[deathstar]

What would I like Downtown Jacksonville to become?

Alive.

[Noone]

The point of no return happens today and will show not only the commissioners of FIND but the world that we are not totally LOST.

Here is part of my list that should be part of the permanent record that was submitted at the 10/23/13 Committee workshop on a Finalized list of short term investment projects.

1. RAM dock needs to be opened when RAM is not open. 24/7 Public Access.

2. USS Adams is positive and needs to move forward.

3. 24/7 Public Access to the floating dock that is currently at Shipyards and legislatively guaranteed.

4. Public Access and economic opportunity 24/7 for a floating dock, kayak launch at Catherine St. at Berkman next to Shipyards.

5. Kayak launch 24/7 Public Access next to Duval county school board and JEA property. Also include a bike rack.

6. 24/7 Public Access to the Historic Promised 680' Downtown Public Pier. 2010-604

7. 24/7 Public Access at Sydney Geffen Park with a bike rack and a Mayor Brown kayak launch logo

8. Kayak launch and logo at Palmer Terrace Park in Dist. 4

9. 2013-384 an amendment for 24/7 Public Access and economic opportunity to Hogans Creek. DIA resolution of support because it is an active piece of legislation.

10. 24/7 Public Access and economic opportunity for the current floating dock that is under consideration on the Southbank Riverwalk.

Any of these actions will tell the world to VISIT JACKSONVILLE and our St. Johns River our American Heritage River a FEDERAL Initiative in our new highly restricted DIA zone.

[Koula]

I love the idea of a road diet on Riverside Avenue and Forest Street corridor, as well as on Bay Street. It's not often that the car traffic on those roads is extremely heavy, and a road diet would benefit pedestrians and cyclists that frequent both those areas all year round, not just on game days. While a road diet would calm traffic in the specific areas mentioned, it would be beneficial to have it extend out the whole length of Bay Street (where Bay and Myrtle meet up, near the JTA offices) to promote connectivity with JTA bus & skyway services and to help cyclists get from Downtown to Riverside via Myrtle Avenue.

[urbanlibertarian]

IMO downtown has never suffered from too little planning or regulation.  On the contrary, I think making it easier and cheaper to start businesses and develop properties would be the best way to let downtown become whatever it will become.

[Kerry]

Here are my list of items.

1)  Return all downtown streets to two-way
2)  Remove the elevated portion of the Hart approach ramps
3)  Remove the elevated portion of Main St through the Southbank
4)  Prepare for removal the Skyway by implementing a streetcar network connecting Riverside, Downtown, Springfield, and San Marco
5)  Reconfigure the Landing so the focus is on the Street and not the river (for crying out loud - when coming down Laura Street 'Jacksonville' is spelled backwards).
6)  Tax surface parking lots out of existence.

Downtown Jax has a lot to offer but it seems the primary objective is to move people through it as fast as possible.  We shouldn't be fostering mass exodus every day at 5PM.  Downtown should be a place people don't want to leave.

[Noone]

DIA to be on First Coast Connect 89.9 fm at 9

[Bill Hoff]

As boring as it sounds, basic maintenance of sidewalks & planters would be nice.

[Ocklawaha]

STREETCAR is only a 4-letter word in Jacksonville.

[Keith-N-Jax]

A mixture of San Diego and Baltimore's water front district.

[IrvAdams]

I am a member of several software developer 'meetups'  that meet downtown once a month after working hours at two different locations, one on Bay St. and one on Forsyth. Both are in restored historic buildings, and the associated companies themselves (plus other hi-tech) are headquartered there.

The Downtown area is becoming an incubator for hi-tech, and all I can say is it is a convenient, comfortable and interesting place to be either during working hours or afterwards during the evening.

The takeaway I'm getting at is: do whatever you can do to coax people to stay downtown longer, and not just pass through or do the 9-to-5 and leave, the more positive feedback you will get. The area sells itself, just needs more people.

Downtown rocks!

[fsujax]

lights, signs, life!

[Kerry]

STREETCAR is only a 4-letter word in Jacksonville.

While participating in grass-roots efforts in OKC over the last 15 years I can tell you it was a 4 letter word there as well.  However, now that a system is being put back in people who were vocal in their opposition just 12 months ago are now complaining they are being left off the initial route.  All you need is a 1 to 2 mile starter system and let human nature take over.

Run a system from Friendship Fountain down San Marco Blvd to San Marco Square and watch how many people all of a sudden want it.  When you catch fire with enthusiasm people will come from miles away just to watch it burn.

[thelakelander]

Regarding San Marco, you won't be able to get a streetcar across FEC's tracks at grade. If you're trying to tie San Marco Square in, a short extension of the Skyway to Atlantic Boulevard makes a lot of sense and would be cheaper.

[Kerry]

The Skyway has a fundamental flaw - it separates people from the street.  Anyhow, I don't want to turn this into a streetcar thread so I'll just leave my comments as they are and give someone else the last word on the subject.