Lesson for Jacksonville Planners: Urban living is the future (University: theater, university)

[Robyn55]

Originally Posted by jsimms3

^^^That is true. People who live in the suburbs do do so for more peace and quiet or better schools, but everyone loves coming into the city. I know that kids growing up in the suburbs of Philly, New York, Boston, Atlanta, and Chicago grew up riding the rails into the city to hang out downtown or in other urban neighborhoods. Also, tiny Charlotte (tiny is relative...Charlotte seems so much larger than Jacksonville) gives off this vibe almost moreso than any place I have been. Everyone in Charlotte travels into "Uptown" or Dilworth to hang out on a daily basis. Charlotte is extremely suburban (outside of Uptown and Dilworth, the whole city is like the northern suburbs of Atlanta or in our case Baymeadows). As a result, their Uptown feels very much like a city and people are everywhere from 9 a.m. to 12 a.m. (later on the weekend).

Where I live I actually feel like the "cool local" who has to put up with all the tourists, visitors, and suburbanites who come in and clog up the area on a daily basis. On a lighter scale, it must be like what Manhattanites feel like all the time. It's a special draw, an energy per se, and this is the energy that people love about cities. Visitors feel it when the come in from their suburbs, and for a little while they are jealous. Residents feel it 24/7, but they want to feel that pulse 24/7 and don't have a need for more peace and quiet.

Jacksonville is missing that energy, completely. There's not that cool factor or that hustle and bustle. Living in the city does not energize you or make you feel special, and this is the feeling that many people, especially young people, like (in addition to being near each other, "running into" things to do, and other factors).

Yup - Atlanta is wonderful:

Police: 20-25 teens storm Ga. train, attack riders - WSJ.com (http://online.wsj.com/article/APeba64bf662f744a7ab3cbf7b593f884e.html - broken link)

FWIW - I like Atlanta - but would never go on Marta. Robyn

[fsu813]

Jeez. You really need to get out more. Learn your city.

Then again, you are probably right in that there's not much to do for grandparents in the evenings on downtown.

[fsu813]

Originally Posted by fsu813

There will be some big news about downtown in the coming weeks/months. Ie, business relocations.

Numero uno: EverBank calling on AT&T Tower? - The Daily Record - Jacksonville, Florida

1000 jobs relocating to downtown. "maybe"

[JBtwinz]

This would be a nice solid step in the right direction

[KerryB]

Originally Posted by fsu813

What are you reading? Who said anything about injecting anything artificial? Who said anything about highend development? Who said anything about a big project?

I guess it was past due for a rant about how everything is hopeless.

Fortunatley, that's not the case.

The only "big news" that I mentioned is the relatively big news of multiple noteable businesses relocating to downtown, in the coming weeks/months.

Very good news.

I said it. Because it's true & you know it. Stop patronizing people here & linking only to articles that only adhere to your mission. Like I said earlier, you're obviously part of some downtown advocacy group because that's basically all your posts consist of. You're an online billboard.

I've said this time & time again. No one here or anywhere has to take mine or your word for it. Anyone can see or research this stuff for themselves. Go to metrojacksonville.com if anyone wants to see what's truly going on with the city. There's countless unbiased articles, discussions, etc that paint quite a different picture. They actually just posted one today: Downtown Jacksonville Ranks Last For Job Growth

Why don't you link to that stuff? Or link to the countless homes & structures in your beloved Springfield that are still being demolished with no end in sight?? Oh, right. Because that's "bad stuff" that doesn't fit with what you're trying to do.

You can obviously post about whatever you want. Just stop being so misleading, especially to me because I know better. Downtown doesn't need people like you trying to blow smoke up it's rear. It needs to accept the very real & major problems that its facing, be real about it & try to work through it.

Or, keep posting about streetcars that'll never happen & other nonsense. Either way I guess.

[fsquid]

says that Everbank is still considering the suburbs. I don't know if it is possible, but the Chamber should throw them some incentives and get them to consolidate downtown. Make it a no brainer on their part.

[Robyn55]

Originally Posted by fsquid

says that Everbank is still considering the suburbs. I don't know if it is possible, but the Chamber should throw them some incentives and get them to consolidate downtown. Make it a no brainer on their part.

I'm not sure the city should give incentives to anyone - but Everbank seems like a poor target IMO:

Federal regulators order EverBank to stop 'unsafe or unsound' practices | Jacksonville Business Journal

Not exactly a good corporate citizen judging from the article. Robyn

[fsquid]

those consent orders are a dime a dozen. Like having a weakness found in an audit. You accept it then fix it.

[fsu813]

Originally Posted by KerryB

I said it. Because it's true & you know it. Stop patronizing people here & linking only to articles that only adhere to your mission. Like I said earlier, you're obviously part of some downtown advocacy group because that's basically all your posts consist of. You're an online billboard.

I've said this time & time again. No one here or anywhere has to take mine or your word for it. Anyone can see or research this stuff for themselves. Go to metrojacksonville.com if anyone wants to see what's truly going on with the city. There's countless unbiased articles, discussions, etc that paint quite a different picture. They actually just posted one today: Downtown Jacksonville Ranks Last For Job Growth

Why don't you link to that stuff? Or link to the countless homes & structures in your beloved Springfield that are still being demolished with no end in sight?? Oh, right. Because that's "bad stuff" that doesn't fit with what you're trying to do.

You can obviously post about whatever you want. Just stop being so misleading, especially to me because I know better. Downtown doesn't need people like you trying to blow smoke up it's rear. It needs to accept the very real & major problems that its facing, be real about it & try to work through it.

Or, keep posting about streetcars that'll never happen & other nonsense. Either way I guess.

So the paranoia has finally taken grasp.

"Obviously part of some downtown advocacy group" ?????

(ha) I wish! I work in the medical field. Rather boring in comparison.

Downtown has plenty of flaws, as have been documented. (Pssst...that's why this thread was started, if you didn't notice).

It also has many great things, which aren't nearly as well known by some people...as can see by many uninformed comments.

And please do visit www.metrojacksonville.com. Every day.

It's the best, most well-informed and educated discussion about all things transportation, urban, planning, development, revitalization, and even features important history. There's some nonsense on there too, of course, as they can't ban everyone, but it's usually pretty intelligent conversation. Oh, and that site has mentioned everything i've ever posted on City-Data realting to urban living, as well. So which is it?

I think you'll find your rants to be dismissed rather quickly there as just that. You won't find many serious, in-the-know people there who think anything is "hopeless".

But, I don't like exaggerated or ridiculously sweeping statements or assumptions, so I correct them. And there seem to be plenty out there.

It's a thankless task, but obviously needed.

If you'd like more examples of incorrect, exaggerated comments being passed as fact...i'd be happy to oblige. (Hint: "...still being demolished with no end in sight" is another wildy false statement. Would you like more examples?).

[Robyn55]

Originally Posted by fsu813

Jeez. You really need to get out more. Learn your city.

Then again, you are probably right in that there's not much to do for grandparents in the evenings on downtown.

Too bad. In most places (probably this metro area too) - people in my age group (55-64 - and we're old enough to be grandparents) have the highest incomes and the most disposable income. No downtown area worth its salt wants to chase people like us away. Robyn