Author Topic: Urban Infill: A Courthouse Square for Jacksonville?  (Read 16863 times)

Metro Jacksonville

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Urban Infill: A Courthouse Square for Jacksonville?
« on: July 24, 2009, 05:01:44 AM »
Urban Infill: A Courthouse Square for Jacksonville?



Now that the Duval County Courthouse is finally under construction, Metro Jacksonville takes a look at the plans for the remaining courthouse parcels.

Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2009-jul-urban-infill-a-courthouse-square-for-jacksonville

urbanjacksonville

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Re: Urban Infill: A Courthouse Square for Jacksonville?
« Reply #1 on: July 24, 2009, 06:43:09 AM »
Ennis,

Did Misty mention getting the planning and architectural community involved in the formative stages of developing the greenspace around the courthouse. I fear plans will be finalized without getting public critique and we'll end up with another Main Street pocket park situation. A poorly designed and ill placed park that is underutilized by the city's public.
 
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Hurricane

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Re: Urban Infill: A Courthouse Square for Jacksonville?
« Reply #2 on: July 24, 2009, 07:27:37 AM »
For this space to be any bit successful, the homeless situation will need to somehow be cleaned up.  Look how nice Hemming Plaza is, yet most people won't walk near there unless they have a group of people with them or there is a large event going on. 

Yes - I know the homeless problem is a completely different topic all together, but the unfortunate truth is that a lot of people will avoid areas with homeless lingering around.  I hate to be a Negative Nancy, but we need to address topic...

Prax_N_Jax

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Re: Urban Infill: A Courthouse Square for Jacksonville?
« Reply #3 on: July 24, 2009, 07:48:18 AM »
i think it's just a shame that a parking garage came before the courthouse. Now the parking garage, covers a portion, eventhough not the greatest of architectual works, from a full panoramic view from our downtowns arteries. I also think had they gone vertical it would've completed our other structures. This just feels out of place. Here's hoping that the administration knows what they're doing.
Living in Jacksonville is like living in the province back home... so much potential for growth. not enough gitter done!

thelakelander

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Re: Urban Infill: A Courthouse Square for Jacksonville?
« Reply #4 on: July 24, 2009, 07:51:45 AM »
Ennis,

Did Misty mention getting the planning and architectural community involved in the formative stages of developing the greenspace around the courthouse. I fear plans will be finalized without getting public critique and we'll end up with another Main Street pocket park situation. A poorly designed and ill placed park that is underutilized by the city's public.
 

Unfortunately, no.  There was no mention of getting the public or local planning and architectural community involved.
"A man who views the world the same at 50 as he did at 20 has wasted 30 years of his life.” - Muhammad Ali

copperfiend

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Re: Urban Infill: A Courthouse Square for Jacksonville?
« Reply #5 on: July 24, 2009, 08:27:06 AM »
Here's hoping that the administration knows what they're doing.

lol

Deuce

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Re: Urban Infill: A Courthouse Square for Jacksonville?
« Reply #6 on: July 24, 2009, 08:57:15 AM »
Your comments are not necessarily out of place Hurricane. In fact the homeless problem confronts every project that unfolds downtown.

I laughed out loud when I got to the point that the article said and now back to Jacksonville and then there was a picture of crap after all the nice photos of Nashville. Tis a shame that great opportunities continue to be squandered.

fsu813

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Re: Urban Infill: A Courthouse Square for Jacksonville?
« Reply #7 on: July 24, 2009, 09:05:11 AM »
Jacksonville doesn't need a new "public square". There are already a lot of parks in the urban core, with more (Brooklyn) planned.

The Klutho Park string has everything it needs to be THE park in the city.....(lots of open, green space, water, city skyline views, baseball field, bandstand, fountain, even tennis courts & basketball court if you wanna count those)..... but it's been neglected for a looong time. That's soon to change, hopefully, with the upcoming parks project.

It'd be very nice to have another green space or mini-park Downtown, but a major "public square" isn't needed and would come at the expense of the existing and neglected parks already in the areas, i fear.


ralpho37

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Re: Urban Infill: A Courthouse Square for Jacksonville?
« Reply #8 on: July 24, 2009, 11:24:36 AM »
This is actually some positive news on several levels.  Some public green space will go a long way in connecting the courthouse with the surrounding city blocks.  It will encourage more pedestrian activity as well as create an attractive front door to the courthouse...  Also, as much as everyone loves to complain about our courthouse design, take a look at the one Nashville has.  At least ours doesn't look like that!

nestliving

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Re: Urban Infill: A Courthouse Square for Jacksonville?
« Reply #9 on: July 24, 2009, 12:05:45 PM »

what does the city intend to do with the old courthouse once the new one is finished. Does it not make sense to have a plan in place for that also to avoid our common move/neglect/demo mentality?

GideonGlib

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Re: Urban Infill: A Courthouse Square for Jacksonville?
« Reply #10 on: July 24, 2009, 12:13:32 PM »
I agree, until the homeless issues can be addressed, public spaces downtown are going to be homeless hangouts and not vibrant public spaces. Perhaps if the homeless shelters were spread out across town, closer to potential services and jobs it would go a long way to making downtown a vibrant place again.

Prax_N_Jax

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Re: Urban Infill: A Courthouse Square for Jacksonville?
« Reply #11 on: July 24, 2009, 12:28:16 PM »


this is Luneta Park in Manila, Philippines. loving the tree line. this park co habits within the urban core!



nice lil botanical garden



Rizal Monument in Luneta Park
Living in Jacksonville is like living in the province back home... so much potential for growth. not enough gitter done!

stjr

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Re: Urban Infill: A Courthouse Square for Jacksonville?
« Reply #12 on: July 24, 2009, 01:00:44 PM »
I noticed in this picture below that Nashville's building is both its Courthouse AND City Hall.  In the photos, the apparent size of their building is smaller than just our Courthouse.  How can this be?  Are our buildings bloated? I wouldn't be surprised  ;) .

Hey!  Whatever happened to just plain ol' COMMON SENSE!!

ralpho37

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Re: Urban Infill: A Courthouse Square for Jacksonville?
« Reply #13 on: July 24, 2009, 01:20:07 PM »
We're a bigger city than Nashville, so it makes sense that our government buildings would be bigger.

thelakelander

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Re: Urban Infill: A Courthouse Square for Jacksonville?
« Reply #14 on: July 24, 2009, 01:31:03 PM »
This is their historic courthouse (we tore our old one down for a parking garage).  There are other facilities, in the immediate area, that host portions of Nashville's courthouse functions.
"A man who views the world the same at 50 as he did at 20 has wasted 30 years of his life.” - Muhammad Ali