What Would You Like Downtown Jacksonville to Become?

[FSBA]

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.

This. When discussing downtown Jacksonville, most MetroJax threads seemingly turn into people bitching about a long list of alphabet soup agencies. The city has a 30+ year terrible track record trying to revitalize downtown.

[Kerry]

The problem is that all these past efforts are from the top down and the next person at the top doesn't share the same vision as previous people at the top - so nothing ever gets done.  Real change has to start at the bottom with the citizens and then have local politicians and civic leaders adopt what the people want done.  In the politician/activist relationship the entity that doesn't change is the activist.

[thelakelander]

^Great point. So true, so true.

[CityLife]

Good grief libertarians....Planning does not equal regulation...at all. Zoning does sure, but there is a lot more to the economic development/redevelopment/long range planning aspect of planning than just zoning. I'm an economic development/redevelopment planner and if I was DIA director there are some things I would deregulate. As to the whole liberterian notion of just let whatever be will be and let the free market do its thing. Sure, the public sector should try to facilitate the ease of business for the private sector...but we are also talking about how millions and millions of public dollars will be spent downtown. Without a proper long range vision of how to spend that money in the interest of the public and economy, we're just blowing money and wasting opportunities.

Downtown has always had leadership problems and structural problems, not a problem with "too much planning". In fact, I think most reasonable people would agree that its had a too little planning problem or poor quality planning problems. A quality planner, economic developer, or real estate guru should be able to make Downtown substanially better than it is. With help from involved citizens, organizations, and the private sector of course.

[Kerry]

Free market?  The free market left the building with the American Housing Act of 1949 and the Federal Highway Act of 1956 - and never looked back.

[Ocklawaha]

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.

So Kerry, how did you get involved in the OKC streetcar efforts? I was in the original MAPS tour groups where we did some of the brainstorming that became the OKC of today.

Lake is right about San Marco, the ONLY way to do surface rail on the southbank is to head due east roughly along the I-95/River alignment toward Beach, Hogan, Town Center etc.. Or get trackage rights over the FEC RY/IF/When the new FRA/FTA rule changes happen. This is in the works BTW folks, bringing our passenger/freight urban/intercity mix more in line with the EU.

[Kerry]

I first got involved with rail in OKC back in around 1999.  I built the first website for a grass-roots group of people who were trying to raise awareness to bring rail back to OKC after the 'downtown circulator' in the original MAPS project got switched to rubber wheeled replica trollies.

[thelakelander]

What was the economic benefit of the rubber wheeled replica trolleys in OKC?  Did they spur any TOD?

[Kerry]

What was the economic benefit of the rubber wheeled replica trolleys in OKC?  Did they spur any TOD?

LOL - no they didn't spur any TOD.  They have since been discontinued.

[thelakelander]

Thanks.  I just wanted it posted for everyone here to see.  I can't believe people here still see PCTs as a serious form of mass transit.

[fsujax]

^^Not everyone. Just your elected officials.

[jcjohnpaint]

Personally I would like to see Klutho Park restored and Main made two way from Springfield to the Landing.  I think a streetcar line is a must.  All of this is going to have to be community enforced.  50 yrs of stupid politicians (excluding few), I don't think we are going to see much change from anyone above including JTA. 

[jcjohnpaint]

I don't think we should ever underestimate the general public.  In 4ish years I have seen MJ work its way into so much.  Great job and this is how it will get done. 

[yellowvette94]

Really people, i think if i was not taxed so much,then i would love to go
and maybe even live downtown.

[edjax]

^^really yellowvette??  Taxed so much??  I received my tax notice today and yeap. Just as I thought I will once again pay LESS in taxes than the previous year despite the tax rate increase!! This years tax bill will be approximately $800 less than when it peaked in the mid 2000s.  So no I really do not feel I am overtaxed.