11/05/2007
Naval museum for the Southbank?
by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
A development group thinks a Naval museum anchored by the retired USS Charles Adams could serve as the perfect catalyst for increased pedestrian and tourist traffic on the Southbank.
At Thursday’s Jacksonville Waterways Commission meeting, Bert Watson, government relations coordinator for the USS Adams, laid out a plan to bring the vessel to Jacksonville and dock it at River City Brewing Company where he and his partners believe the ship will become a destination for both locals and out-of-towners.
“We want visibility without imposing an impact on the Southshore development,” said Watson of the proposed marina the owners of the Aetna Building plan to develop.
Watson told the Commission he wasn’t looking for approval, but was after the Commission’s blessing to continue researching the topic. In order to proceed beyond the conceptualization stage, Watson said he must submit a 750-page application to the Navy before March 30.
On November 1st, the Jacksonville Waterways Commission (which is tied to the City Council) voted to endorse the concept of berthing ADAMS in JAX. Final endorsement from the Commission will depend on the future submission of a detailed Business Plan, and related Financial Plan (upon which work can now begin, given Commission support of the berthing... they understood we couldn't put a plan together without a location defined). The next step will be to go to the JAX City Council and also get their support (about 1/2 of all City Councilmen have already said they support the proposal).
Bert Watson gave a superb presentation (Powerpoint), and then there was an extensive Question & Answer session. There were 2 Commissioners who, during the Q & A discussion, voiced some concerns (parking, impact on nearby boat ramp, lack of a detailed financial plan, etc). One Commissioner expressed concern that there was "no organization behind the effort". Jim Aldrich explained about ACVA, and our concept that once the City says they support the idea, then a local "501c3 Museum group" will be formed. In spite of the concerns from the 2 Commissioners, these 2 Commissioners voted to Endorse anyway. On the other hand, during the Q & A, there were about half a dozen Commissioners who were very vocal in their outright support of the idea. One had recently been to Charleston, and Patriot's Point, and she said, basically, this is a wonderful thing to do, and can be of great benefit to the City ! The failed SARATOGA effort surfaced, but everyone agreed that ADAMS is a much different (smaller, more appropriate to JAX) kind of proposal. Another key point - the Chairman and Vice Chairman of the Waterways Commission are both City Councilmen, and both of these men expressed strong support of the idea.
There were no "NO" votes when the Commissioners voted on the Motion to endorse the ADAMS concept. Bert has been told that he will get a "copy" of the Endorsement.
After the presentation, several - commissioners and people from the audience - came up and voiced strong support of the proposal; all offered support, a couple offered guidance and references to other that might help, and one offered to help directly!
That afternoon, the ACVA JAX Team put together the urgent action items that now must get into high gear - additional fund raising, establishment of 501c3 in JAX, and commencement of work on elements of the Application. This is what we have been waiting for. The door has been opened and it up to us to continue opening it so that we can walk through it. This is why the fundraising letters have been sent. We have asked for this opportunity - it is ours for the taking and take it we must. It is a great part of the reason we have banded to gether. Please contribute some funding, some names and contacts of others who can contribute, and please share the inspiration felt by the ACVA Board and the ACVA JAX T team !! We can now control our destiny - it is up to us to kick this can down the road.
We're picking up knots fast !!! We owe Wayne & Bert a big ATTAYBOY for achieving this success !!
Send your donations to the ACVA. Checks should be made out to "The ACVA, Inc." and sent to:
ACVA Executive Secretary
c/o Dave Myerly
5 Bush Road
Denville, New Jersey 07834-2906
JAX VISIT. On August 11, 2008, Captain Dave Tungett, Program Manager for the Navy's Inactive Ships Program met with Bert Watson, Jim Aldrich, and Tom Schodowski in Jacksonville to view the planned site for ex-USS CHARLES F. ADAMS DDG-2 on the St. Johns River. In addition to presentations from the ACVA/JHNSA leadership, Capt. Tungett met with representatives from the Mayor of Jacksonville’s office, local hotels, and Duval County Schools who highlighted the positive benefits of the ship museum to the community in Jacksonville.(http://www.adamsclassddgvets.org/images102/ADAMS_IN_JAX.jpg)
PHILLY SHIP VISIT. On August 28th ACVA/JHNSA leaders visited to CHARLES F. ADAMS in Philadelphia to update Donation Application planning ideas before their meeting with NAVSEA PMS 333. Bob Branco, Bert Watson, Jim Aldrich, Pete Mansel, Craig Bernat, and Steve Weber completed another good survey of the Adams and a tour of ex-USS EDSON to develop some new display ideas about about preparing ADAMS as a museum.
NAVSEA MEETING. Our meeting on Friday August 29th with Capt Dave Tungett and Glen Clark lasted over 4 hours and the discussion created a good path for providing answers to the questions on the Donation Application. Later in the meeting we discussed Curatorial Plan questions with the Naval Historical Center Curator, Mark Wertheimer. We also obtained lists of Naval Historical Center artifacts from all of the ships in the DDG-2 class that are available to develop excellent displays to memorialize all 23 ships in the museum. The revised Donation Application is due to NAVSEA at the end of January 2009.
Legislation has been drafted that, if enacted, will authorize an agreement between the City and the Jacksonville Historic Naval Ship Association to bring a U.S. Navy warship to the Southbank Riverwalk and use the vessel as a living history museum.http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/downtowntoday.php?dt_date=2010-07-16
The ordinance, sponsored by Council member Bill Bishop, is scheduled to be introduced at the council’s July 27 meeting.
The ship is the USS Charles F. Adams, a guided missile destroyer that was decommissioned in 1990. It is currently berthed at the Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility in Philadelphia.
The Adams was the first ship in the Navy built and commissioned as a guided missile destroyer. The 437-foot vessel was well-armed with five-inch guns as well as missile and torpedo launchers.
“Pound for pound, it was the most dangerous ship ever built,” said John O’Neil, a retired U.S. Navy captain who is executive director of the JHNSA. He served on the Adams in the Gulf of Tonkin during the Vietnam War and recalls shooting missiles at enemy fighter planes and pounding shore targets with the ship’s guns.
Eventually, 23 Adams-class destroyers were built and deployed. In addition to being the first of its kind, the Adams is also the last remaining example of the design.
“The Adams class did for surface warfare what the aircraft carrier did for naval aviation,” said O’Neil.
The legislation represents the latest step in the association’s quest to bring the ship to Jacksonville and create a museum to allow people to experience what it was like to serve on the Adams.
Bert Watson, president of the JHNSA, said the total cost to bring the ship to Jacksonville and open it to the public will be about $5 million. Having the City on board will put the association in a position to begin raising money in earnest.
“We’ve been working on getting this legislation for four years,” he said. “The legislation will beget the fundraising.”
Watson said the Navy is prepared to donate the ship for use as a museum. After it is towed to Jacksonville, Watson said it will be dry-docked and the exterior will be made suitable for a long-term exhibit. Volunteer labor will refurbish the interior and create exhibits.
After the Adams is moored on the Southbank near the Acosta Bridge, it will be a living classroom and “the only naval ship museum in Florida or Georgia,” said O’Neil.
Watson said the association chose the location for several reasons. It’s near Friendship Park, Southbank restaurants and the water-taxi dock. There’s also some parking available at the site and by mooring the Adams parallel to the bridge, the museum site doesn’t require much shorefront property.
O’Neil said there has been some criticism of the association’s ability to raise funds to make the museum a reality. He said he’s confident, based on the response from hundreds of Navy veterans all over the world who served on the Adams and the other destroyers in the class.
He also said cutting the ribbon on the museum will be the first step. Keeping it open will be the next step and he’s just as confident about that as he is about raising money.
“We estimate 93,000 visitors the first year, not including school field trips,” said O’Neil.
Watson said the association’s goals go beyond merely raising enough money to bring the plan to fruition.
“To make this project work, we need for the community to participate and embrace the project,” he said.
Toward that end, the association operates the Adams Class Naval Ship Museum at the Landing that includes displays of artifacts salvaged from the Adams and a selection of military souvenirs. It’s staffed by officers and sailors who served on the Adams and other guided missile destroyers of its time who are able to answer questions and provide their own living history.
“The store is doing very well. We have at least 100 visitors on Saturdays,” said JHNSA board member Wayne Misenar, who served for four years aboard the Adams as its electronics materiel officer.
Just get it done. This is a NAVY town and I think we deserve/should support something like this. Besides, would be pretty cool to cross over the Main street bridge and see a warship parked on the river...maybe we could use the cannons to blow some holes in the Landing to open it up to Laura street...j/k take it easy people...unless you agree, in which case I'm not kidding...lol.
Not sure about Metro Park either.How about utilizing the School Board building area?
Not sure about Metro Park either.
Toward that end, the association operates the Adams Class Naval Ship Museum at the Landing that includes displays of artifacts salvaged from the Adams and a selection of military souvenirs. It’s staffed by officers and sailors who served on the Adams and other guided missile destroyers of its time who are able to answer questions and provide their own living history.http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/downtowntoday.php?dt_date=2010-07-16
“The store is doing very well. We have at least 100 visitors on Saturdays,” said JHNSA board member Wayne Misenar, who served for four years aboard the Adams as its electronics materiel officer.
The Intrepid Sea-Air-Space Museum is a military and maritime history museum with a collection of museum ships in New York City. It is located at Pier 86 at 46th Street on the West Side of Manhattan. The museum showcases the World War II aircraft carrier USS Intrepid, the submarine USS Growler, a Concorde SST and a Lockheed A-12 supersonic reconnaissance plane. The museum serves as a hub for the annual Fleet Week events. Visiting warships dock at the cruise ship terminals to the north, and events are held on the museum grounds and the deck of the Intrepid.
It's a cool idea, but I don't know about the 93,000 a year number. It takes a whole lotta maintneance to keep something like that afloat also. Metro park might be a better location for it though.
Not sure this is a great idea. Comparing the Charles F. Adams to the USS Missouri is a bit of a stretch. The Iowa Class BB's were the most powerful (U.S.) warships ever built, and I would guess that most people that visit Mighty Mo are there (in Pearl Harbor) to see the USS Arizona. 12% of all visitors is not really relevant if 90% of that 12% really came to see something else. I can't imagine this (Charles F. Adams) being a huge, or even large, attraction. I live in Philadelphia, and the USS New Jersey (the most decorated battleship in US history) moved to Camden about nine years ago and it barely survived the last state budget cuts. Yes, Camden is a dangerous and troubled city, but it also has a minor league baseball stadium, an aquarium, a (major) concert venue, and state university.
I'm definitely in favor of an additional waterfront attraction. I just think time, resources, and money can be more effectively spent on something better.
I thought the Charles F. Adams proposal would not need city money. Is this true?
I thought the Charles F. Adams proposal would not need city money. Is this true?
Maybe 3 years ago. There are a bunch of unknowns.
During the period of the Charter Revision Committee meetings Waterways had to meet in the Lynwood Roberts room and it was at this meeting where the group was making a pitch to Waterways to use the 680' Landmar Pier when it came out of bankruptcy. Lake Ray was on board supporting the group. That end which is the longest pier would require the less dredging and maintanance of the others.
It was at a more recent Waterways meeting that the group mentioned that it has raised around $100,000. Dredging? If the city pays that is city money. Dock? If the city pays that is city money.
Again, I hope they are out of this world successful and raise $15,000,000. It just has to pay for itself.
I can't wait to hear what has happened that they now want to go back to the Acosta location. I think it is the better location if it is shown that it is. Definately more people in that concentrated area.
Update from today's Daily Record:
Next step for naval museum on SouthbankQuoteLegislation has been drafted that, if enacted, will authorize an agreement between the City and the Jacksonville Historic Naval Ship Association to bring a U.S. Navy warship to the Southbank Riverwalk and use the vessel as a living history museum.http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/downtowntoday.php?dt_date=2010-07-16
The ordinance, sponsored by Council member Bill Bishop, is scheduled to be introduced at the council’s July 27 meeting.
The ship is the USS Charles F. Adams, a guided missile destroyer that was decommissioned in 1990. It is currently berthed at the Naval Inactive Ship Maintenance Facility in Philadelphia.
The Adams was the first ship in the Navy built and commissioned as a guided missile destroyer. The 437-foot vessel was well-armed with five-inch guns as well as missile and torpedo launchers.
“Pound for pound, it was the most dangerous ship ever built,” said John O’Neil, a retired U.S. Navy captain who is executive director of the JHNSA. He served on the Adams in the Gulf of Tonkin during the Vietnam War and recalls shooting missiles at enemy fighter planes and pounding shore targets with the ship’s guns.
Eventually, 23 Adams-class destroyers were built and deployed. In addition to being the first of its kind, the Adams is also the last remaining example of the design.
“The Adams class did for surface warfare what the aircraft carrier did for naval aviation,” said O’Neil.
The legislation represents the latest step in the association’s quest to bring the ship to Jacksonville and create a museum to allow people to experience what it was like to serve on the Adams.
Bert Watson, president of the JHNSA, said the total cost to bring the ship to Jacksonville and open it to the public will be about $5 million. Having the City on board will put the association in a position to begin raising money in earnest.
“We’ve been working on getting this legislation for four years,” he said. “The legislation will beget the fundraising.”
Watson said the Navy is prepared to donate the ship for use as a museum. After it is towed to Jacksonville, Watson said it will be dry-docked and the exterior will be made suitable for a long-term exhibit. Volunteer labor will refurbish the interior and create exhibits.
After the Adams is moored on the Southbank near the Acosta Bridge, it will be a living classroom and “the only naval ship museum in Florida or Georgia,” said O’Neil.
Watson said the association chose the location for several reasons. It’s near Friendship Park, Southbank restaurants and the water-taxi dock. There’s also some parking available at the site and by mooring the Adams parallel to the bridge, the museum site doesn’t require much shorefront property.
O’Neil said there has been some criticism of the association’s ability to raise funds to make the museum a reality. He said he’s confident, based on the response from hundreds of Navy veterans all over the world who served on the Adams and the other destroyers in the class.
He also said cutting the ribbon on the museum will be the first step. Keeping it open will be the next step and he’s just as confident about that as he is about raising money.
“We estimate 93,000 visitors the first year, not including school field trips,” said O’Neil.
Watson said the association’s goals go beyond merely raising enough money to bring the plan to fruition.
“To make this project work, we need for the community to participate and embrace the project,” he said.
Toward that end, the association operates the Adams Class Naval Ship Museum at the Landing that includes displays of artifacts salvaged from the Adams and a selection of military souvenirs. It’s staffed by officers and sailors who served on the Adams and other guided missile destroyers of its time who are able to answer questions and provide their own living history.
“The store is doing very well. We have at least 100 visitors on Saturdays,” said JHNSA board member Wayne Misenar, who served for four years aboard the Adams as its electronics materiel officer.
Why is councilman Bishop introducing the legislation? Its not even in his district. Whats up with that? Besides the Daily Record and Metrojacksonville where else is this HUGE news story being reported. This will significantley alter the landscape of Downtown. Anyone know the bill number yet? If this is going to happen this should be a front page news story.
Yesterday at Rules there were 3 appointments to the Jacksonville Waterways Commission.
1. 2010-406 Stephen C. Swann P.E. asked by councilman Brown to serve. No questions approved 7-0
2. 2010-460 Fred J. Engness asked by councilman Clark to serve. 1 question Basically responded with Grew up in Jacksonville, Have a boat, Like the water. Approved 7-0
3.2010-461 Gary L. Anderson not present and appointment deferred.
When legislation is introduced it can move fast and the people of Jacksonville (taxpayers) are scratching their heads and everyone is saying how was this allowed to happen.
Remember Shipyards? Lets give them everything and this will save Downtown. Where is the fiduciary oversite on this?
Again I support the USS Adams and I hope that they raise $20,000,000.
I think itd be cool to have an old carrier for a naval museum , but Im not even sure one could get under the Dames Point Bridge? defintely not under the Matthews , so it would have to be one smaller than an Aircraft Carrier.When I was working with the Save Our Sara group many years ago, the plan was to cut the conning tower off at the deck, lay it down on the deck, pull the ship under the bridges and then hoist the tower up and weld it back to the deck. So thats not a problem. The problem was raising the funds needed to do the start up. SOS also pledged no city dollars, just donations and they fell several million short. And that was back in the good days. Today? I just don't think its doable. Would llove to see it. I just don't think it will happen.
I think itd be cool to have an old carrier for a naval museum , but Im not even sure one could get under the Dames Point Bridge? defintely not under the Matthews , so it would have to be one smaller than an Aircraft Carrier.
Continuing to spread our attractions and resources too thin hurts all of them. The sports district is a mile away from the walkable Northbank core. Compact connectivity should play a role in where this thing ultimately ends up. With that said, being immediately adjacent to MOSH, RCB, a restored Friendship Fountain and riverwalk isn't a bad thing.
Daniel Bean remembers - vividly and fondly - the first time he stepped foot on the USS Charles F. Adams.http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2010-08-13/story/plans-attract-retired-destroyer-take-step-forward
"It was a great learning experience that I wouldn't want to repeat," Bean said this week about his days as a midshipman on the Adams back in the 1980s, a tour spent mostly on general quarters in the waters around Cuba.
Bean went on to qualify as a surface warfare operator and then to law school, worked as a Navy lawyer and eventually joined the reserves and started practicing civilian law.
Now a partner in the Jacksonville office of the Holland & Knight law firm, Bean recently consulted on legislation that would take a big step toward having the Adams return to Jacksonville, this time as a floating museum.
"It's one more thing for people to do when they're downtown, another reason for tourists to visit downtown and create more activity there," Bean said.
A first step
That legislation was introduced to the City Council on Tuesday night, marking the first official move by the city in the years that the Jacksonville Historic Naval Ship Association has been working on the project.
"We've got some traction," said John O'Neil, executive director of the association, which along with the Adams Class Veterans Association has been fighting to get the 50-year-old vessel a new home.
The city ordinance would provide the city's formal support for bringing the decommissioned destroyer to Jacksonville, a requirement before the Navy would release the ship. It also binds the city to supporting museum organizers as they negotiate with the state over using the site east of the Acosta Bridge where the ship would float. The city now has a pier there, which the museum association would replace once the ship arrives.
The bill doesn't ask the city for any money for the project, which organizers say will be totally donation-funded.
Mayport roots
A group of Navy veterans has been trying for years to save the destroyer, which had once been based at Mayport Naval Station. About 2007, it looked like Tampa was going to get the ship, but those plans fell apart, leading a Jacksonville-based member of the Adams veterans group to suggest the First Coast as a new home.
In 2008, the City Council unanimously passed a resolution supporting the idea, but that motion didn't have the legal force of an ordinance.
"It just sounded like a neat idea, but I was also kind of skeptical," said Bill Bishop, the councilman who introduced Tuesday's bill. "We sent them away saying, 'We like this in principle, but you have a lot of homework to do.' They did the homework."
That included working on raising donations, figuring out a plan for refurbishing the vessel and nailing down some details about the Southbank site. The entire project is expected to cost in the neighborhood of $9 million, mostly for the pier and repairs.
Already, the two groups involved have raised about $1 million in cash and in-kind donations, mostly for the studies required by the Navy for the application to get the ship.
O'Neil said the museum association has had preliminary talks with the state, which owns the submerged land over which the vessel would sit. Right now the city has a non-exclusive easement to use the site, and O'Neil said the state seems OK with the Adams sharing the space.
What's next
In coming weeks, the legislation will have to be approved by three council committees - Waterways, Recreation and Finance - and then go before the full council.
If it's approved, O'Neil said, it will be a major step toward getting the ship here with a projected arrival date of 2014. He said the association is ready to jump into the hard work of getting the ship fixed up and docked on the St. Johns River.
The Navy has a time limit on how long it holds onto ships that have been decommissioned, and if the museum association doesn't get moving, it will miss the opportunity.
"If we don't have it here in four years," he said, "the Navy's going to say you've had your chance, you're done."
It’s all about opportunities.
The Jacksonville Historic Naval Ship Association is pursuing an opportunity to bring the decommissioned USS Charles F. Adams to port in Jacksonville as a floating museum.
Attorneys at Holland & Knight are looking for opportunities to provide pro bono help to the community in an effort to reach 100 percent participation by its firm.
The two opportunities converged and now they are on a path to the same goal, bringing a new attraction to Downtown Jacksonville.
Attorney Chris Commander is a partner at Holland & Knight and practices in its mergers and acquisitions group. His focus is mergers and acquisitions, corporate finance and real estate areas.
“It’s tough to find pro bono opportunities in those areas,” said Commander. “So when Dan (Bean) approached me with this, I was glad to help out.”
Commander donated pro bono hours to work with the City’s Office of General Counsel regarding the submerged land agreement, easement acquisition and land use agreements for the project.
“It’s been an interesting project and, because I have kids, I can see how it benefits the community both in tourism and education,” said Commander.
Bean, president of The Jacksonville Bar Association in 2009-10, stepped on the ship as an 18-year-old midshipman at the beginning of his Navy career, so it wasn’t difficult for him to decide to get involved with the project.
“This would be a great asset for Downtown,” said Bean, a partner who practices in the field of public-private partnerships. “If we could open some doors for children to experience war ships at an early age, maybe they would be more amenable to military service.”
Bean has given his time to represent the Jacksonville Historic Naval Ship Association’s interests in talks with government officials. The City Council is now reviewing Ordinance 2010-675, which provides the City of Jacksonville’s formal support and help with efforts of the Jacksonville Historic Naval Ship Association to coordinate local, state and federal authorities to bring the USS Charles F. Adams to Downtown as a floating museum, immediately east of the Acosta Bridge on Jacksonville’s Southbank. The association is not asking for any monetary support from the City. All it asks from the City is the permission to moor the ship near the Acosta Bridge.
Suzanne Judas is the firm’s Jacksonville office pro bono and community services partner, and she helped coordinate the pro bono efforts as the office surges to 95 percent participation throughout the last year.
“We challenged the office to take the Florida Supreme Court’s ONE challenge, for every attorney to take on one pro bono case during the year,” said Judas. “We are almost at 95 percent. We try to match people with the opportunity and provide them with the help they need to succeed.”
The City Council Rules Committee will discuss the issue of bringing the USS Charles F. Adams to Jacksonville at its meeting Tuesday, which begins with an agenda meeting at 9:30 a.m. and the regular meeting at 10 a.m.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- It looks more and more like the next Navy ship to call the First Coast home won't be a nuclear aircraft carrier, but only because a retired destroyer may get here first.
The city's finance committee unanimously approved an ordinance today to provide city support for an effort to bring the USS Charles F. Adams downtown to be used as a museum.
The ship, a guided missile destroyer commissioned in 1960, called Mayport home for year leading up to its decommissioning in 1992.
The Jacksonville Historic Naval Ship Association (JHNSA) wants to bring the ship to the Southbank near the Acosta Bridge. -more-
This is good news I guess.Heckyes. It provides another 'thing to do' in Downtown. One that even the suburban masses could get excited about.
I thought the Charles F. Adams proposal would not need city money. Is this true?
This would certainly be better than the glorified storage shed that houses the Maritime Museum.
Can someone attach the TU link to the lead editorial in the 1/9/11 Metro section. Huge Waterway issues. Its titled- Tourism-A Good Plan.
Our River. Will the ship be on the Northbank or the Southbank.
Or take it out to Palms Fish Camp on Hecksher Dr. A Preservation Park Project.
Don't you just love it. The group of the USS Adams made a presentation to Waterways asking that the ship use the 680' Promised Downtown Public Pier when it was announced that the 44 acre Shipyards/Landmar was in bankruptcy. Would there have ben an amendment to make that happen?
So in coming weeks the legislation will have to be approved by three council committees-Waterways, Recreation, and Finance-then go before the full council.
So now there is legislation 2010-604 Shipyards/Landmar and its only in Recreation and Finance. Why was it left out of Waterways?
4 new members in Waterways. Who is going to say NO to the Navy? I hope they are successful. Just a couple of months ago they needed $5,000,000. Now its $9,000,000.
Another underlying reason, example, concern, why the PROMISED DOWNTOWN PUBLIC PIER needs an amendment to 2010-604 to keep the pier separate. The Public Trust continues to be absolutely destroyed in this community.
2010-675 is the legislation for the USS Adams.
Last night at city council 2010-675 was introduced which will pave the way to bring the USS Adams to the Southbank. Introduced by Bishop and its not even his district. Sponsored by Johnson and Redman.
Continuing to spread our attractions and resources too thin hurts all of them. The sports district is a mile away from the walkable Northbank core. Compact connectivity should play a role in where this thing ultimately ends up. With that said, being immediately adjacent to MOSH, RCB, a restored Friendship Fountain and riverwalk isn't a bad thing.
Agreed.
(http://www.combatindex.com/hardware/images/sea/ssn/datapageimages/ssn699_wide.jpg)
USS JACKSONVILLE will be looking for a home in a few years.
(http://www.airshow-party.de/NAVY_Museum_Fotos_gross/F14_Gateg.jpg)
So where do we land the planes?
(http://www.ibiblio.org/hyperwar/USN/CloseQuarters/img/PT-p56.jpg)
PT 95, First of the famous Huckins Yacht 78' boats.
I love the ship as a downtown attraction, the museum is long past due. But like everything else we do in Jacksonville my fear is we'll build it, too little, too late. There is room for the old Tin Can at the Brewing Company marina or over at the planned Aetna marina. Once we're boxed at those tiny locations we'll be on the way to another insignificant, visit once and ho-hum attraction.
Certainly we have to start somewhere, but think 20 years down the road, the Adams is joined by the USS JACKSONVILLE, the planes on exhibit at NAS JAX have found their way downtown. Imagine the PT Boats that were 'invented' in Jacksonville, The USS Maple Leaf and Columbine collection, a scattering of Marine Corps landing craft, tanks and a 12,000 Square foot, state-of-the-art museum building. On either side of the Acosta, the River Walk, Southbank Skyway and surface parking for approximately 258 visitors a day suddenly become issues. Such things would force the whole project to move east perhaps to the JEA property where a simple Riverwalk extension would make the museum the eastern anchor of the Southbank attractions. No matter how much we want this museum near the Acosta Bridge, if it's highly successful as a major attraction, it's got to move for growing space.
OCKLAWAHA
This is a logical idea amd long overdue. I hope this gets done soon. My one and only complaint is the location. I think a better location would be closer to the sports complex, maybe somewhere in the shipyards project. Just a thought!
This aircraft carrier is the world’s most expensive parking lot
(http://l.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/eIqLLZuHUZF03BVWcC4h_A--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7cT04NTt3PTYzMA--/http://l.yimg.com/os/290/2012/01/14/aircraft-carrier-parking-lot_001049.jpg)
http://autos.yahoo.com/news/this-aircraft-carrier-is-the-world%E2%80%99s-most-expensive-parking-lot.html
What you're looking at is the deck of the U.S.S. Ronald Reagan covered in the vehicles of Navy Sailors heading to Naval Base Kitsap in Bremerton, Washington. At a cost of about $4.5 billion this is probably the world's most expensive parking lot.
It may seem phenomenal, but this is actually a common occurrence for the Navy and a lot cheaper and easier than transporting the vehicles almost any other way. The weight of one E-2C Hawkeye is approximately 43,000 pounds, or about 12 cars, and a Nimitz-class carrier usually carries four of those.
But more to the point, this does save the U.S. Navy money. First, the only other way to get vehicles owned by Navy sailors to their final destinations is to put them in another ship. Second, if they didn't send soldiers' vehicles they'd have to pay for transportation at the final destination. Both of which would absolutely would cost more money.
The U.S.S. Ronald recently served in Asia and was en route to Kitsap for upgrades and repairs
Saw this on Yahoo and it immediately reminded me of this thread.
Now this seems to be more to Jacksonville's liking - we can add a naval muesem and add surface parking at the same time. As an added bonus, we would have to tear down a bridge in order to get the carrier here in the first place, so it's the Trifecta - demolition, surface parking lot, something else no one will come downtown for - it's a perfect fit.QuoteThis aircraft carrier is the world’s most expensive parking lot
(http://l.yimg.com/bt/api/res/1.2/eIqLLZuHUZF03BVWcC4h_A--/YXBwaWQ9eW5ld3M7cT04NTt3PTYzMA--/http://l.yimg.com/os/290/2012/01/14/aircraft-carrier-parking-lot_001049.jpg)
http://autos.yahoo.com/news/this-aircraft-carrier-is-the-world%E2%80%99s-most-expensive-parking-lot.html
What you're looking at is the deck of the U.S.S. Ronald Reagan covered in the vehicles of Navy Sailors heading to Naval Base Kitsap in Bremerton, Washington. At a cost of about $4.5 billion this is probably the world's most expensive parking lot.
It may seem phenomenal, but this is actually a common occurrence for the Navy and a lot cheaper and easier than transporting the vehicles almost any other way. The weight of one E-2C Hawkeye is approximately 43,000 pounds, or about 12 cars, and a Nimitz-class carrier usually carries four of those.
But more to the point, this does save the U.S. Navy money. First, the only other way to get vehicles owned by Navy sailors to their final destinations is to put them in another ship. Second, if they didn't send soldiers' vehicles they'd have to pay for transportation at the final destination. Both of which would absolutely would cost more money.
The U.S.S. Ronald recently served in Asia and was en route to Kitsap for upgrades and repairs
This is a logical idea amd long overdue. I hope this gets done soon. My one and only complaint is the location. I think a better location would be closer to the sports complex, maybe somewhere in the shipyards project. Just a thought!
Northbank? Southbank? The group bringing the USS Adams needs money in the bank. Anybody going to the fundraiser at the Omni 6-10 after the Hemming Plaza rally?
Adams2adams.org to register. Its $75 to register. I support the Adams and hope they are successful.
At the 11/20/13 DIA Board meeting a resolution of support was approved to bring the USS Charles F. Adams Downtown at the Shipyards location. What a positive project for Jacksonville.I thought the ship would be located adjacent to the Acosta, not the Shipyards.
A lot of other announcements at this meeting. Dec. 9 a Public forum on the Landing.
Today at 3 pm could be a final decision on Hemming Plaza this will be in the Ed Ball Building.
Everyone else get ready to stick your hand out. Project range will be from $10,000 - $250,000 a yet to be announced amount of capital that will be approved by council then all the underwriting will be in house by DIA.
So much more.
Proposed New Mooring Site
Currently JHNSA is working with the City Council to introduce new legislation to berth the ex-USS CHARLES F. ADAMS (DDG-2) on the North Bank of the St. Johns River at the north/south bulkhead, just south of East Bay Street across from the Maxwell House Coffee Plant. This is an area that was part of the former Jacksonville Shipyards. This site offers significant advantages and cost savings compared to the South Bank site supported by the 2008 City Council Ordinance. The newly proposed site would require the mounting of mooring devices on the concrete pad on the east side of the uplands (which would be along the port side of the ship), and that river sand be removed from the mooring position to enable this historic guided missile destroyer to be berthed alongside the bulkhead. Utilities would be run from East Bay Street directly underground to the stern area of the ship where they would be positioned to provide service to the ship and to a trailer-style rest room and shower facility located at the port quarter area of the ship on the concrete pad on the uplands. Black metal and galvanized fencing, already in place, would be augmented and night lighting would be provided.
(http://i.imgur.com/NB3ceDu.jpg)
http://www.adamsclassmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/JHNSA-Business-Financial-Plan-June-2013-Edit-_2_.pdf (http://www.adamsclassmuseum.org/wp-content/uploads/2013/06/JHNSA-Business-Financial-Plan-June-2013-Edit-_2_.pdf)
I support the USS Adams coming to Downtown if it will pay for itself and not turn into a taxpayer subsidized decomissioned mothball sized aircraft money pit for the people of Jacksonville.
We are a Navy town.
We are a football town that is in a real scenario of losing an NFL franchise for one reason (ticket sales)
The Navy is giving them the ship. The city is giving them a location to dock the ship.
At a recent Jacksonville Waterways Commission meeting they were asked how much of the $5,000,000 required to make this happen have they raised. $100,000 was the figure thrown around. If anyone has an updated figure lets hear it. Don't get me wrong I hope they raise $10,000,000
Other concerns, Will the sedimentation patterns have any impact on the existing boat ramp?
The timing of the ord is key. Election cycle who is going to say NO to the Navy when running for political office.
Also there are a number of new appointments to Waterways and one of the first big pieces of legislation will be this benefit for Downtown. Who is going to vote NO for a waterway activity that will bring people to Downtown.
Who is building the new dock?
What is the exit strategy if it doesn't work. And the cost to have it removed if it comes to that.
Does anybody besides the taxpayers have any skin in the game?
Remember Shipyards. We gave them the money upfront and look what happened.
Remember the Equestrian Center in the BJP. That group was supposed to raise and have $5,000,000 too. How much of that has been returned to taxpayers?
The positives is the redo of the Friendship fountain area a lot of what is happening has come from the JCCI River Dance study and the report for Downtown Vision by Chan Kreiger and Associates. There will be an increase in overall activity but will it be enough for it to succeed financially on its own.
Remember Harbormasters?
Will we be saying remember the Adams?