JTA's revised Autonomous Innovation Center plan

[marcuscnelson]

Seems like we're approaching a real decision point here. Either we let them build this or we don't.

I guess the rendering is like, theoretically more interesting. I'd wonder if it's still the same price though. And at the end of the day, this is a garage and parking lot for self-driving cars that they have to beg us to trust work.

Why are there people hanging around? I couldn't read the text on the first few images on my phone.

At the risk of stating the obvious, and maybe even defending JTA a little bit, it's pretty straightforward who the people in the rendering are.

They're clearly the transportation leaders from all over the world who have come to Jacksonville to collectively hoist Nat Ford onto a gilded throne and congratulate him on expending the full mass transportation budget of America's largest city on a fleet of 40 remote control golf carts that plod nonsensically over a 4 mile range, only occasionally run over the homeless, and probably won't drive clear off the side of the Main Street Bridge if they encounter a quarter inch of rain.

Only reason that the Autonomous Innovation Center will be empty is if said leaders have already departed back to their archaic, lesser cities with a clown car of their own under one arm and a framed 8x10 of Nat Ford under the other.

I just had to share this with some friends who found it very funny.

[thelakelander]

^Although the DDRB has no control over this, in regards to them reviewing the look of the proposed AIC building, JTA will be allowed to move forward with the Bay Street Innovation Corridor. It's funded and no one is seriously lining up to kill it. So this innovation center will be built. With that said......we all know its going to be more expensive then whatever the estimate is now.

[Charles Hunter]

Ken, how could I not see The Vision? I guess I am just one more backward thinking hick.

[fsu813]

Why are there people hanging around? I couldn't read the text on the first few images on my phone. Is there a restaurant included? Pot dispensary?

This would not be mixed use or have a retail component facing Jefferson or Broad Streets, although that has been recommended to JTA. So, there would likely be no people on the sidewalk or random people walking through a dead block of space to access the nearby apartments, Whole Foods, Bold City Brewery and everything else continuing to pop up in Brooklyn and LaVilla.

Lake, you forget.... those people are walking to & from the new jail built in LaVilla!

<saracasm>

[thelakelander]

LOL!

[jaxlongtimer]

Why are there people hanging around? I couldn't read the text on the first few images on my phone. Is there a restaurant included? Pot dispensary?

This would not be mixed use or have a retail component facing Jefferson or Broad Streets, although that has been recommended to JTA. So, there would likely be no people on the sidewalk or random people walking through a dead block of space to access the nearby apartments, Whole Foods, Bold City Brewery and everything else continuing to pop up in Brooklyn and LaVilla.

Lake, you forget.... those people are walking to & from the new jail built in LaVilla!

<saracasm>

I thought they were walking because it was quicker and safer than riding the AV's  .  The ones on the second floor deck are JTA execs stepping outside to get better cell service on their iPads as they search Indeed listings for a new job as they were all just fired for gross incompetence.

[edjax]

I think it’s time for a change in leadership at JTA

[Ken_FSU]

I think it’s time for a change in leadership at JTA

If we all complain loud enough, like really loud, we might just see a shakeup that leads to Nat Ford being replaced by Lori Boyer atop the JTA, and Lori Boyer being replaced by Nat Ford atop the DIA. The LERP statue at the Landing will be replaced with a 110’ reflective chrome clown car, and the Autonomous Innovation Center will be replaced by an unlicensed parking lot with a lien on it or a grass field to be RFP’d at a later date.