Moving to Jacksonville- Pros & Cons- Please share with me (Miami: foreclosures, mortgage)

[psouth]

If you have never been exposed to major shopping, entertainment, culture, and a progressive city such as Atlanta or Dallas then you just might like Jacksonville. You wouldn't realize what you are missing. Other real cities have had what Jax has been missing for many years now. It is very much behind and lacking. Just not a fun or opportune place to live. Sorry.

[NorthsideJacksonville]

I travel on the regular; Yes, Atlanta and Dallas have all you describe but the downside is that they're overblown suburbs. Jacksonville could do better in the entertainment and shopping arenas but I think we're content with what we have. Personally, Regency Square and The Avenues should combine and become a mega-mall

[LoveBoating]

As for the "younger generation" who wants to move here, please remember, Jax ISN'T So California or Las Vegas......no entertainment "hot spots" like those areas/cities have! As far as crime goes, parts of Jax is pretty bad on the crime thing, but other parts are not at all. I know, I have a Police/Marine/Fire Scanner and there sure isn't much happening here in the Southside/Fwy 95 area where we live.
The job situation is pretty bad here, but since my wife has a Bachelors Degree in Business/Accounting, she didn't have much of a problem finding a job here. As for me, I'm still looking and HOPING!!
Boating? Oh yes!! Plenty of water around Jax to get into!!
This reply coming from a married couple (61/60 years old) who (right now anyway) thinks living here is TERRIFIC with plenty for us to do! Been living here for 3 1/2 months!

[basilwalter]

Originally Posted by psouth

Sorry Northside Jacksonville, I guess I was being a jerk about Macys and Nordstrom. Jax is OK. Where I live here is a rat hole compared to Jax. I like Jax.

psouth, where do you live in Fl?

[fsu813]

psotuh,

1) Technically Jax is the murder capital of FL, but pretty much only is bad areas. If you don't go in the bad areas (and there's no reason for you to) then your perfectly safe as anywhere else.

2) Violent crimes & home invasions aren't anymore an issue here than in any other city.

3) Last I checked most job markets in the US are anemic. When the economy is average or good, so is the job market

4)I have no idea about being a "call center captial of the southeast". I haven't heard anything about this ever and if it is, i have no idea how it would affect anyone's life.

5) I kind of recall the Forbes list you were looking at but those lists are all ridiculous. I saw a list of the most "unhappy" cities about a month ago and Atlanta, Portalnd, etc were near the top.....those are great cities that people LOVE to live. In fact you used Atlanta as a shining example.

6) The Jags are not hapless, obviously, and yes they have had trouble selling out thier tickets. However, if you care you keep it in perspective: The Jags stadium is one of the largest in the NFL and Jax is one of the smallest markets.

7) I do agree it's a very "Bible belt" kinda city. Some see that as a positive, i don't just because usually progress ideas are stifled in Bile belt towns.

8) Jax has Macy's and various other high-end shopping. I guess you haven't been here in a while.

9) Jax is growing. Again, I guess you haven't been here in a while (or looked stats).

I've lived in Miami, Atlanta, Tallahassee, and Jacksonville, and Jax is good fit b/t a large city and a large town. It's basically a small city. Which is just fine. It's very family friendly, it's great if you like the outdoors, it's a big sports town, the medical hub of the SE, great for big business, and the future is pretty darn bright. The only stain is the current state of economy whihc is limited growth & business.

[psouth]

Originally Posted by psouth
Sorry Northside Jacksonville, I guess I was being a jerk about Macys and Nordstrom. Jax is OK. Where I live here is a rat hole compared to Jax. I like Jax.

I never wrote the above statement anywhere. There must be a glitch in the quoting system.

[psouth]

Originally Posted by fsu813

psotuh,


3) Last I checked most job markets in the US are anemic. When the economy is average or good, so is the job market

Unfortunately like many other parts of Florida Jax never had a healthy booming job market. It was based mostly on real estate, banking, mortgage brokering, construction, and retail. We all know what has happened to these industries now especially in Florida. Most of the banks such as BOA, Wachovia, Wamu, etc. have laid off. The mortgage companies are in total disarray such as Countrywide, again BOA, PHH Mortgage on Gate Parkway, and many others. This has happened everywhere especially in Charlotte where many are located but these other cities have other industry to absorb the blows.

4)I have no idea about being a "call center captial of the southeast". I haven't heard anything about this ever and if it is, i have no idea how it would affect anyone's life.

This fact was on the local news a few months back. The mayor was taking heat because of the lack of good jobs and the lack of education in the area. It seems call centers are the main employers in Jacksonville now with around 100,000 workers making around $9 per hour. There are plenty of openings in the classifieds since it is very high turnover especially with the transients in Florida. It also said the city has been largely unsuccessful attracting new and different industries because of the education factor. At least the mayor acknowledged these facts and vowed to work on it.

5) I kind of recall the Forbes list you were looking at but those lists are all ridiculous. I saw a list of the most "unhappy" cities about a month ago and Atlanta, Portalnd, etc were near the top.....those are great cities that people LOVE to live. In fact you used Atlanta as a shining example.

Granted most cities are hurting because of the economic downturn but over 140,000 people moved to Dallas last year alone. Things are still pretty good in Texas and the cost of living is much lower. Atlanta is usually in the top 4 or 5 every year if not number 1. It is usually voted best city for young people and singles which means it is great for young married couples as well due to its vibrancy. Cities with more young people are the ones that thrive in every way. By the way Jax ranks last on the list even behind Cleveland and Buffalo. Here is the link:

Best Cities For Singles - Forbes.com

6) The Jags are not hapless, obviously, and yes they have had trouble selling out thier tickets. However, if you care you keep it in perspective: The Jags stadium is one of the largest in the NFL and Jax is one of the smallest markets.

Many Florida teams have problems attracting fans due to the transient population and people supporting their teams where they came from. Jax is the biggest city in Florida by far with the largest population. People just don't want to get behind their team. Other much smaller markets such as Buffalo and Cleveland don't have this problem. Sports teams usually bring people together and bring a sense of unity which as I said is seriously lacking.

8) Jax has Macy's and various other high-end shopping. I guess you haven't been here in a while.

There is no Macy's I'm aware of and I've been to every mall. The Regency Square Mall is downright scary by the way with all the thugs and riff raff. Not that Macy's is exactly the shizzle either. About the only higher end store is Dillards which is really not high end elsewhere. Even Pittsburgh has Macy's, Nordstrom, Bloomindales, Sax, Neiman Marcus, etc. Jeez. What gives?

9) Jax is growing. Again, I guess you haven't been here in a while (or looked stats).

I've lived in Miami, Atlanta, Tallahassee, and Jacksonville, and Jax is good fit b/t a large city and a large town. It's basically a small city. Which is just fine. It's very family friendly, it's great if you like the outdoors, it's a big sports town, the medical hub of the SE, great for big business, and the future is pretty darn bright. The only stain is the current state of economy whihc is limited growth & business.

The big problem with Jacksonville compared to these other cities above and elsewhere is it just doesn't have the sizzle. It doesn't have the WOW factor to attract people and young people at that. It seems to have kept itself behind in too many ways which is now really hitting home with the economic crisis in banking and real estate. It could be a decent and vibrant city if it progressed and moved forward. Unlike other real cities Jacksonville is just a sprawling bedroom community with nothing tieing people together or bringing people in. I just don't see how you could leave Atlanta or Miami for Jacksonville. Miami maybe but not Atlanta. Atlanta has everything including quiet family type areas much better than Jacksonville. Not to mention the world class shopping and entertainment. As I said before, when I mention Jacksonville to other people they usually just laugh and tell me it's not a real city.

[michaelcarter2008]

i think anything along southside blvd is good. jus check by st johns town center or avenues mall very nice

[jsimms3]

Psouth, you must not realize Jax has just over 1 million people whereas the Cleveland area has almost 3 million people and Pittsburgh has almost 2.5. You are right we don't have a Macy's and Macy's is not anything special with a few exceptions. Sizzle? You are right it does not have any sizzle. People moving here are usually aware of that fact. I would not live in Jax as a young single, but many people move here that are young for the climate, lower cost of living, beach, and other variables. Most people I know do not live in locations simply for the namesake, usually there is a reason. Miami may be the only place where I know people who live there simply to live there and say they live there. Some of the dumbest people I know are these people, and they do not live well.

I do not think people on this forum are trying to argue Jax is a booming epicenter with abundant nightlife and Europeans and whatever, but we are content with the way Jax is and im sure we would all like to see our city move forward in that more big city direction.

[basilwalter]

Why are we paying so much attention to this character? He already slipped and admitted that he was being a jerk.
If you really want to know what psouth is up to read his posts on other Fl forums.
He is just full of hate for all of Florida, immigrants, especially hispanics. Read his other posts. He needs help.