Jacksonville gets a new "frontdoor"

[madcapmagishion]

Originally Posted by fsu813

I've been in Jax for 20+ years, not long enough?

Evidently not!

[fsquid]

Originally Posted by fsu813

I've been in Jax for 20+ years, not long enough?

sure it is, I'm simply sharing a viewpoint that I've heard in my office many times when I've discussed this with coworkers. I am not allowed to share a viewpoint of other lifelong Jacksonville natives? Is there zero chance that this is a "boy cries wolf" situation like the others I've heard rattled off when discussing downtown revitalization?

[fsu813]

Originally Posted by bativac

I'm a lifelong resident, who is the child of lifelong residents, who are both the children of lifelong residents... So I'm like 3rd generation. My dad's grandmother lived in Springfield in a big beautiful house (that is now a vacant lot). So he was around firsthand to see the decline of these areas, and it happened over time and naturally - nobody forced people to move away. And you aren't going to force people back in.

I think the city tries too hard when it comes to downtown. They try too hard and they put up too many barriers to those who would start an independent business downtown.

Or they opt for the "festival" method of getting people downtown. Yeah, it was full-up for the Jazz Festival, and the fireworks shows, and for Art Walk... but then what? No business can depend on one night a month of sales. Nobody who goes downtown for the Art Walk is going to experience downtown - they're going for the Art Walk, and if they moved the event to San Marco or Riverside or something, the crowd would follow.

So now they're supposedly renovating the Chamber of Commerce building. Great! We'll have a beautiful new Chamber of Commerce building and..........? But hey at least a bunch of movers and shakers got a photo op and the chance to feel good about themselves.

I would love downtown to come back to life - my wife and I travel to several big cities a year to enjoy the "big city downtown" experience. It'd be great to have it at home. But it just can't seem to catch on in Jacksonville, and those of us doubting that it ever will aren't "naysayers." We've just heard it before and frankly are tired of hearing it.

*pant pant* rant over!

You are right. No business could survive with only 1 or 2 nights worth of business.

Hint: that should tell you that ALOT more people spend time & money there than you are aware of - more businesses are opening than closing.

Also, people enjoying Jazz Fest & Art Walk & The Landing & (insert event/unique venue here)......you think these things would be nearly as popular or well attended if they were in Mandarin, or Hodges Blvd? Heck no they wouldn't. Creative, eclectic events and venues are successful in creative & eclectic environments, that's why all the popular Arts are either in the Urban Core of Jax and the Beaches.

Anyways, the new Chamber building will be great. It's hard to imagine how the new courthouse was designed & built as a McMansion and the JaxChamber building is going to be modern and trend setting.

[FSUMikeJAX]

Originally Posted by fsu813

You are right. No business could survive with only 1 or 2 nights worth of business.

Hint: that should tell you that ALOT more people spend time & money there than you are aware of - more businesses are opening than closing.

This leads me to wonder if maybe there are resources available to business owners before they decide to open. For example, the Small Business Administration has a wealth of resources, from developing a business plan to basic bookkeeping.

There's a wealth of public information that the City of Jacksonville could aggregate and make available to those who are willing to invest in the urban core. The City should have an interest in making it as easy to succeed as a small business owner since sales translates into taxes and money flowing through the local economy.

The above is simplified, for sure, but it doesn't seem that Jacksonville has a business-friendly climate unless you consider large corporations.

[bativac]

Originally Posted by FSUMikeJAX

This leads me to wonder if maybe there are resources available to business owners before they decide to open. For example, the Small Business Administration has a wealth of resources, from developing a business plan to basic bookkeeping.

There's a wealth of public information that the City of Jacksonville could aggregate and make available to those who are willing to invest in the urban core. The City should have an interest in making it as easy to succeed as a small business owner since sales translates into taxes and money flowing through the local economy.

The above is simplified, for sure, but it doesn't seem that Jacksonville has a business-friendly climate unless you consider large corporations.

There's lots of free info - in fact the Small Business Administration has an office at UNF and they'll speak to you, at length, one-on-one, for free. They'll also give you a wealth of information on SBA loans, local business requirements, etc. The problems here in Jax run deeper than that.

Landlords who own downtown property tend to charge high rent and are unwilling to upgrade the property. My dad and I went looking for art studio space and several of the places we looked at needed new drywall, new electric, or new plumbing - all of which was to be done at our expense. This might be the norm for cities with healthy, vibrant downtowns, but Jacksonville isn't one of those places.

It seems many landlords here would rather property sit vacant than go out of pocket to upgrade, or come down on the rent a little.

Not to mention, the mindset of the majority of local residents has always been "let it go" or "tear it down" as regards any historic properties or older parts of town. Yeah, this is anecdotal, but talk to any random sampling of longtime residents (the ones more likely to vote and complain) and you'll hear pretty similar sentiments about not spending tax dollars downtown, not seeing the point in saving old buildings, etc. Probably a combination of the middle class here struggling to stay afloat and the sense that they've been burned on downtown so many times before.

But hey, the new Chamber of Commerce building designs sure look nice.

[madcapmagishion]

Originally Posted by jackhhampton

i have seen here good constructed bridge i would like to show our

origina]lly posted by Stats about all US cities - real estate, relocation info, house prices, home value estimator, recent sales, cost of living, crime, race, income, photos, education, maps, weather, houses, schools, neighborhoods, and more
general contract los angeles

WTH ???

[fsquid]

spammer has found the thread