Downtown Jacksonville Public Pier

[thelakelander]

I think you all may be still going the wrong way about the Shipyards pier.  Imo, it will never make the list, unless a vision can be sold behind closed doors showing what it can become, along with a preliminary cost estimate of immediate incremental improvements to make it accessible.  For example, Councilman Jim Love asked me for my opinion on the space.  However, he's interested in something with more detail and numbers that could be studied and used to support such arguments.  It's typically that way with any subject one would be interested in gaining public support for.  With that said, if you all have ideas in your head floating around, I'd be more than willing to sit down with you to help get them in a graphic / rendering oriented format to assist in your efforts.

[thelakelander]

Btw, I'll be downtown for a good while today between 9:30am and 3:30pm or so.  I'll be researching at the public library for a couple of MJ articles I'm working on, taking images for the Nov. construction update and making a GIS graphic for Transform Jax's NewTown efforts.  If anyone is interesting in meeting up at the Shipyards for a little while and discussing this issue, let me know.

[Noone]

Lake, Appreciate the offer on meeting at SHIPYARDS III. That is what it will need to escalate to if its not on the FIND list. Its just a list.

CG7 and Field will be scouting out McCoys Creek which I believe can happen immediately too. And Ock the paddle under the Times Union Bldg would be one of the biggest urban waterway DESTINATIONS to rival any Waterway in an urban Downtown.  I'll promote the heck out of it. Bring your blue bag and lets have fun.

Craig, Mike,  you guys can have McCoys put on the FIND list. I believe there is city property next to the creek and it can be as easy as Tomahawk Park. Craig, Field can't paddle or check it out today or tomorrow conditions are a little sporty anyway but I will soon and I'll report back to everyone.

Field submit it as a FIND project and see if you get ignored. City council meeting Tues. and Waterways Wend. Hey! Lets have a Pub Crawl to McCoys! I'm in. And if the city council hears about it I can hear them all right now "We need another round over here!" Lets Make It Happen.

Lake, You can submit something for the pier. You know we will all support you. Its just a list. But it definitely tells the people of Florida that the Promised 680' Downtown Public Pier is a true DESTINATION.   

[thelakelander]

Lake, You can submit something for the pier. You know we will all support you. Its just a list. But it definitely tells the people of Florida that the Promised 680' Downtown Public Pier is a true DESTINATION.

Unfortunately, I'm involved with too many things at the moment to tackle the Shipyards pier issue on my own anytime soon.  However, this has been a major priority of yours for years now, with little to no movement forward on what you've been posting daily on MJ, from the city's standpoint.  Although my time is currently limited for this issue, what I am offering is to provide you with visual backup support to sell your or anyone's ideas for the concept.

[CG7]

I walked the Shipyards today, and unless you actually get out on the property you don't really get a sense of how great of a public area it could be. I know everyone has their own ideas of what would make it a part of making downtown a destination. I know our friend noone has been advocating for the promised pier, but that isn't enough for me. I think the entire property from BerkmanII to Metro Park should remain a public park and garden. It will take some public/private money to get it done right, but this is too great of an opportunity to just let go. Don't take my word for it ,walk the property yourself and you will be hooked too.

[north miami]

I walked the Shipyards today, and unless you actually get out on the property you don't really get a sense of how great of a public area it could be. I know everyone has their own ideas of what would make it a part of making downtown a destination. I know our friend noone has been advocating for the promised pier, but that isn't enough for me. I think the entire property from BerkmanII to Metro Park should remain a public park and garden. It will take some public/private money to get it done right, but this is too great of an opportunity to just let go. Don't take my word for it ,walk the property yourself and you will be hooked too.

                  ******   Core Wild Lands  ******

     ".....walk the property...... "
      - CG7

[north miami]

I walked the Shipyards today, and unless you actually get out on the property you don't really get a sense of how great of a public area it could be. I know everyone has their own ideas of what would make it a part of making downtown a destination. I know our friend noone has been advocating for the promised pier, but that isn't enough for me. I think the entire property from BerkmanII to Metro Park should remain a public park and garden. It will take some public/private money to get it done right, but this is too great of an opportunity to just let go. Don't take my word for it ,walk the property yourself and you will be hooked too.

[north miami]

I walked the Shipyards today, and unless you actually get out on the property you don't really get a sense of how great of a public area it could be. I know everyone has their own ideas of what would make it a part of making downtown a destination. I know our friend noone has been advocating for the promised pier, but that isn't enough for me. I think the entire property from BerkmanII to Metro Park should remain a public park and garden. It will take some public/private money to get it done right, but this is too great of an opportunity to just let go. Don't take my word for it ,walk the property yourself and you will be hooked too.

"We as a society have failed to take notice of the aesthetics of the New American Landscape.We have failed to see the truth about our aesthetic condition.We have permitted both the city and countryside to become ugly monuments to commercialism,materialism,and bad taste.
The aesthetic heritage is too important to be left any longer in the hands of the usual architectural critics,urban planners,and environmental activists.
We must rethink the tired and restrictive notion that the only truly beautiful landscapes are those of spectacular snowballed mountains or vista such as may be found in National Parks.Fascinated with a particular grandeur,we have focused on the spectacle of place rather than on infinitely varied places."
- John Miller;      Ecotopia Narcissim and the New American Landscape

[urbanlibertarian]

I walked the Shipyards today, and unless you actually get out on the property you don't really get a sense of how great of a public area it could be. I know everyone has their own ideas of what would make it a part of making downtown a destination. I know our friend noone has been advocating for the promised pier, but that isn't enough for me. I think the entire property from BerkmanII to Metro Park should remain a public park and garden. It will take some public/private money to get it done right, but this is too great of an opportunity to just let go. Don't take my word for it ,walk the property yourself and you will be hooked too.

IMHO the riverwalk should be extended to Metro park and the pier should be a part of the riverwalk, BUT the rest of the shipyards property really really needs to end up on the tax rolls.  The downtown tax increment district needs more revenue coming in and private businesses operating on that property will help drive economic growth in the CBD.

[JeffreyS]

I think that is the best use UL.

[Noone]

I walked the Shipyards today, and unless you actually get out on the property you don't really get a sense of how great of a public area it could be. I know everyone has their own ideas of what would make it a part of making downtown a destination. I know our friend noone has been advocating for the promised pier, but that isn't enough for me. I think the entire property from BerkmanII to Metro Park should remain a public park and garden. It will take some public/private money to get it done right, but this is too great of an opportunity to just let go. Don't take my word for it ,walk the property yourself and you will be hooked too.

IMHO the riverwalk should be extended to Metro park and the pier should be a part of the riverwalk, BUT the rest of the shipyards property really really needs to end up on the tax rolls.  The downtown tax increment district needs more revenue coming in and private businesses operating on that property will help drive economic growth in the CBD.

Cuba Gooding Jr "You think were fighting, I Think were finally talking." Tonight at city council is another lob ball pitch for city councilman Dist.4 Don Redman to introduce legislation to keep the promised 680' Downtown Public Pier outside the control of a yet voted on and created Downtown Authority. He had an opportunity with 2010-604 and Cindy Laquidara And Steve Rohan were right there telling Don and Scott that they could do it. Didn't happen.

Tonight at city council is another opportunity for the current chair of Waterways and the sitting Dist.4 representative who's district includes the Promised 680' Downtown Public Pier to attach an amendment to 2011-554 to have the pier legislatively separated. The fact that it is not on the FIND list should be the biggest red flag for Duval county and the commissioners of FIND appointed by the Governor representing the decisions that are made for the citizens of the state of Florida. The Public Trust just absolutely crushed in Duval county.

Councilman Redman are you going to do something tonight and attach an amendment to 2011-554. Make the motion. Allow for your fellow council members to move the motion forward with a second. At least try.

Tomorrow at Waterways I'll be cheering for activist Tom Ingram that even one of his suggestions will make the FIND list. Palms Fish Camp??? Anyone.

Be concerned. I'm scared to death.

[fieldafm]

IMHO the riverwalk should be extended to Metro park and the pier should be a part of the riverwalk, BUT the rest of the shipyards property really really needs to end up on the tax rolls.  The downtown tax increment district needs more revenue coming in and private businesses operating on that property will help drive economic growth in the CBD.

I agree 100%.

[CG7]

I disagree 100%, I'm not saying leave it as just a open blank space I'm saying keep it 100% accessible to the public, with some public (park and pier space) and some private(shops, amusements etc) but the entire property should be open to the people of Jacksonville, and not cut off by private condo gates, or hotel guest only areas. That is a unique to Jacksonville property that should be for our use and enjoyment.

[fieldafm]

In your opinion, if you had a completed Riverwalk on the property and the a pier park, what else would you keep open?  You and I agree 100% on more public access to the river so I am interested in your views.  I just want to understand how 100% public access to a Riverwalk extension, a completed pier park, and a tie in to the Hogans Creek Greenway wouldn't be sufficient in your opinion?

Btw, I didn't want to deal with the conditions on the river downtown Sunday... so sorry for not catching up. 

[Noone]

Was at the beach yesterday. Took some pics. There is a 10 am ceremony at Tideview which is an awesome pier with a (Are you ready for this) a brand new floating kayak launch with 4 separate slips in Atlantic Beach. Imagine this on the front of the Promised 680' Downtown Public Pier next to the River Walk. HUGE NEWS.

Has anyone contacted any council person about attaching an amendment to 2011 -554 to keep the pier separate from the other 44 acres that was Shipyards Landmar? The Public Trust has been totally crushed in this community.

VISIT JACKSONVILLE- WE HAVE NO ETHICS
VISIT JACKSONVILLE- WE WILL SOON SHUT DOWN ECONOMIC OPPORTUNITY TO OUR ST. JOHNS RIVER OUR AMERICAN HERITAGE RIVER A FEDERAL INITIATIVE.

Be concerned.