JaxPort widens cruise terminal site search to both west and east of Dames Point

[thelakelander]

JaxPort is now looking at potential cruise sites west of the Dames Point. 

http://jacksonville.com/business/2010-05-24/story/jaxport-widens-cruise-terminal-site-search-both-west-and-east-dames-point

If a decision is made to head west of the bridge, I think the best locations are the Ford Plant, the Shipyards or the JEA site.

[reednavy]

doesn't that defeat the whole purpose if they relocate it and still have it west of the bridge? I know the current site is temporary, but if we want larger ships to come in, we have to go east.

Heck, they may be saying this just to ease tensions with Mayport or buy more time.

[tufsu1]

this is likely just lip service....unless Carnival tells JaxPort they never see bringing a larger ship to town

[CS Foltz]

I just don't understand why there was not a Plan B to begin with! Great job Jaxport! Mayport did not want the "Cruise Terminal" in their backyard to start with.........why not put it somewhere that wants it! May I suggest City Hall?

[thelakelander]

this is likely just lip service....unless Carnival tells JaxPort they never see bringing a larger ship to town

Unless the idea to go after a smaller niche market, Mayport is still the most logical site, as long as the design is properly integrated into the community.

[tufsu1]

I just don't understand why there was not a Plan B to begin with! Great job Jaxport! Mayport did not want the "Cruise Terminal" in their backyard to start with.........why not put it somewhere that wants it! May I suggest City Hall?

why should a small group of land owners always have veto power over things that are good for the entire community?

[CS Foltz]

tufsu.....I don't live there anymore than you do! I do know people who do live there and have not heard any of them say "They want  a Cruise Terminal"! If that area does not want it........why force it in there? Local populace should have a say in what happens in their world, just as any voter should have a say in what happens at City Hall! Voters are supposed to be represented by their Council persons and that is not happening either! Mayport does not want it.........what the hell.........go elsewhere!

[NotNow]

I just don't understand why there was not a Plan B to begin with! Great job Jaxport! Mayport did not want the "Cruise Terminal" in their backyard to start with.........why not put it somewhere that wants it! May I suggest City Hall?

why should a small group of land owners always have veto power over things that are good for the entire community?

Property rights.  Which is why they will build the new terminal in Mayport.  JaxPort owns the land that is affected in the end.

[cline]

tufsu.....I don't live there anymore than you do! I do know people who do live there and have not heard any of them say "They want  a Cruise Terminal"! If that area does not want it........why force it in there? Local populace should have a say in what happens in their world, just as any voter should have a say in what happens at City Hall! Voters are supposed to be represented by their Council persons and that is not happening either! Mayport does not want it.........what the hell.........go elsewhere!

Mayport is within the City of Jacksonville.  The "local pupulace" you speak of are residents of the entire City.  I would bet if we had an informal vote, the majority of the City would agree that Mayport is an appropriate spot.  Why should a vocal minority sink something that benefits the City as a whole?

[CS Foltz]

Gentlemen............I keep coming back to the people who live there and have stated they don't want it there! I could point out what happened in 1776 when a small group took it upon themselves to say "NO"! What is the difference? Big Brother should not decide for me and by my standards the City of Jacksonville should not decide for that world either! You need to make note of how Jaxport came to acquire the property proposed for that use and decide yourselves! I do not agree with that system of acquiring property and hold my position. If they don't want it, why force the issue? Jobs....pay dictated by Cruise Line.......taxes maybe but their lawyers will end run that and I can't wait till the first waste water issue takes place and fouls the waters there! Fuel....same situation! Power...........JEA would love them to come in......how does that help the City or the taxpayer?

[thelakelander]

The most recent reports are that even the few people in Mayport are split on the issue.

[reednavy]

Gentlemen............I keep coming back to the people who live there and have stated they don't want it there! I could point out what happened in 1776 when a small group took it upon themselves to say "NO"! What is the difference? Big Brother should not decide for me and by my standards the City of Jacksonville should not decide for that world either! You need to make note of how Jaxport came to acquire the property proposed for that use and decide yourselves! I do not agree with that system of acquiring property and hold my position. If they don't want it, why force the issue? Jobs....pay dictated by Cruise Line.......taxes maybe but their lawyers will end run that and I can't wait till the first waste water issue takes place and fouls the waters there! Fuel....same situation! Power...........JEA would love them to come in......how does that help the City or the taxpayer?

ok

[Captain Zissou]

tufsu.....I don't live there anymore than you do! I do know people who do live there and have not heard any of them say "They want  a Cruise Terminal"! If that area does not want it........why force it in there? Local populace should have a say in what happens in their world, just as any voter should have a say in what happens at City Hall! Voters are supposed to be represented by their Council persons and that is not happening either! Mayport does not want it.........what the hell.........go elsewhere!

Mayport is within the City of Jacksonville.  The "local pupulace" you speak of are residents of the entire City.  I would bet if we had an informal vote, the majority of the City would agree that Mayport is an appropriate spot.  Why should a vocal minority sink something that benefits the City as a whole?

I agree with cline.  CS, I appreciate your enthusiasm, but I think your priorities are off base.  This isn't a bike rack or a pocket park, it's a cruise ship terminal.  It will have a city wide, or even NE FL wide impact, so the city or NE FL should all be able to have a say.  Sure, there will be added traffic and congestion to the area, but there will be more money spent by those visitors in the area.  
This is the best location on the city for a terminal, sorry handful of citizens in Mayport.

[CS Foltz]

lake............I think your probably correct on that!  Definition of a giraffe - a horse designed by committee! Mayport is split  for sure and I lean towards those against..........but that is me!! I think it is just my rebel streak coming to the forefront.....the older I get, the more obstinate I get especially when authority  refuses to take all sides into consideration such as this Cruise Terminal! Benefit a few and I fail to see how it benefits the many!

[Jim]

Dames Point - 160 ft
Matthews - 152 ft
Hart - 141 ft

With each location closer to downtown, we reduce the potential vessel size.   Most unfortunate as those locations mentioned by Lake would make for fantastic cruise ports.   

Given the size of our current cruise terminal, it gives the impression that Mayport simply isn't big enough to handle a permanent cruise terminal....especially the larger ships.  Except maybe between the ferry and Mayport NS.

I still believe the location most beneficial to all involved, with the most available space and allowing for the largest ships is the north edge of Blount Island (Vicks Island).  Or north of New Berlin (west side of the channel between 9A and Blount Island) provided nothing is already scheduled for that location.