J Magazine Fall 2017

FROM THE EDITOR
Downtown cranes
signal momentum as
projects take shape
FRANK
DENTON
PHONE
(904) 359-4197
EMAIL
frank.denton@
jacksonville.com
f you haven’t been Downtown in
I a few months, you’ve missed a
long-lost and beautiful sight.
Cranes. Construction cranes.
They’ve been at work all around Downtown: erecting
the Lofts at LaVilla, the new Regional Transportation
Center and the Houston Street Manor apartments on the
west side of Downtown and, of course, Daily’s Place on
the east end.
On the Southbank, there have been cranes lofting
the Broadstone River House apartments and the Baptist-M.D.Anderson
Cancer Center.
On the Northbank Riverwalk, three cranes are poised
to rip out a collapsed street and an old parking lot to
recreate a St. Johns River inlet that soon could be the site
of ... well, read my story on page 26.
It was only last October that Mayor Lenny Curry
expressed urgency to the Times-Union Editorial Board
about Downtown revitalization: “When can I see cranes?
I want to see cranes. I want to see them tomorrow.”
He’s seeing some now, and there are more to come:
Our Progress Report is on page 14.
As encouraging as the crane sightings are, note they
are on the periphery of Downtown, as if they’re surrounding
and anticipating the main events to catalyze
true revitalization: the Shipyards, the Laura Street Trio/
Barnett Bank, The District, a convention center and the
successors to the Landing and Berkman II.
If you love Jacksonville (and aren’t a complete cynic),
you have to be getting excited about the promise of all
those projects ... but it’s still just that, promise, until those
cranes actually are at work lifting steel into the air.
We have to keep our focus sharp, our minds open
and our pressure resolute.
Since the premiere issue of J three months ago,
Downtown revitalization has made real progress, with
those cranes and other small but important steps:
n Curry and Mark Lamping, Jaguars president
representing Shad Khan’s Iguana Investments, visited
Kansas City, St. Louis and Baltimore looking for ideas for
public-private partnerships.
n The District announced that its massive development
will include a 200-room hotel.
n In a symbolic rebirth, Morton’s steakhouse
opened in the Hyatt Regency, five years after giving up
the ghost on the Southbank. It’ll have competition from
the coming Cowford Chophouse.
n Curry’s budget includes money to raze the old
courthouse and city hall to allow development, possibly
as a convention center, and maybe to fund improvements
to the venerable Emerald Necklace plan. See Ron
Littlepage’s story on page 59.
n The Downtown Investment Authority is working
on “road diets” and two-way streets to humanize
Downtown.
n A consultant’s study of a new convention center
concluded: “Not now.” But it meant not yet, until some
other Downtown projects come to life – and they’re on
the verge. So soon, it can be, “Yes, now!”
You’ll read all about that in this second issue of J and
more:
On page 18, Marilyn Young shows why much of
Downtown doesn’t pay property taxes, Mike Clark
explores the need for better walkability (page 40), and
Paula Horvath asks why our river taxis can’t be expanded
and cheaper, or even free (page 74).
Downtown has lots of things to do but needs more.
Jasmine Marshall wants to lure you into the Elbow entertainment
district (page 86).
If you’re bothered by the homeless or transient people
Downtown, Paula Horvath tells how Orlando dealt
with the issue (page 78) — and introduces you to one of
them who wants a word with you (page 82).
The quietest part of Downtown is becoming one of
the most interesting. Read Lilla Ross’ take on a spiritual
approach to revitalizing the Cathedral District (page 66).
Downtown already has some committed residents
who are passionate about their neighborhood. As Roger
Brown writes (page 52), they’re even organized!
Remember in the first J, we declared Berkman II an
eyesore? Well, we think that’s about to be resolved, so we
found another — a high-profile company visually polluting
the Riverwalk whom we call out on page 49.
If things seem to be moving fast, remember that each
Wednesday we devote most of the T-U op-ed page to all
things Downtown.
Meanwhile, all of us need to keep the faith up —
and the pressure on.
Frank Denton was editor of The Florida Times-Union in
2008-16 and now is editor at large and editor of J. He lives in
Avondale.
FALL 2017 | J MAGAZINE 11