J Magazine Spring 2018

DISPLAY THROUGH FEBRUARY 2018
THE MAGAZINE OF THE REBIRTH OF JACKSONVILLE’S DOWNTOWN
HISTORY
I S S U E
FEEDBACK
MUSEUMS
ADDING TO
THE CULTURAL
EXPERIENCES
IN THE CORE
P72
RICH HISTORY
THE ANCESTRY
YOU PROBABLY
DIDN’T KNOW
ABOUT
P80
RED TAPE
CLEARING
THE WAY FOR
DOWNTOWN
DEVELOPMENT
P18
DOWN & OUT
TEN DECAYING
BUILDINGS IN
NEED OF OUR
ATTENTION
P84
SALLY CORP
GO INSIDE THE
URBAN CORE’S
MOST UNUSUAL
COMPANY
P32
UNDAUNTED
MOST GAVE UP ON THE LAURA STREET TRIO
$4.95
& BARNETT BANK BUILDINGS YEARS AGO.
STEVE ATKINS DIDN’T.
P40
THE HISTORY ISSUE
FOR YEARS, STEVE ATKINS WAS TOLD
to stop wasting his time and money trying to
save the Laura Street Trio and Barnett Bank
buildings in Downtown Jacksonville. Days after
our winter issue hit the streets, crews began
installing construction barricades around the
Barnett Bank building as Atkins’ project to
transform the historic building into retail, office
space and apartments got under way.
RE: UNDAUNTED: Most gave up on
the Laura Street Trio and Barnett Bank
buildings years ago. Steve Atkins didn’t.
“This is what can happen
[when] we do not give up
and we press on!! LET’S GO
JAX!!! I cannot tell you how
freaking excited I am about
the growth and preservation
of this city!! ... I have never
doubted one second my
decision to move here from
Miami 2.5 years ago and now
to move to the Urban Core.
This is where it’s AT!!!”
Janie Coffey
WINTER 2017-18
RE: RISE OF THE GONDOLAS: Could a network of
gondolas gliding above the St. Johns River attract visitors?
“We already have a skyway!
Let’s just extend it so
it goes to more useful
places. Connect Riverside
to downtown, connect
Avondale to Riverside.”
Cate Dobbins
“Enough with the small ideas
... Go visit San Jose, CA,
Houston, TX & Minneapolis,
MN. See how well their light
rail works & takes riders
more than just a few miles.
If Jax is going to do anything,
do it right or don’t spend
the money on it at all.”
Craig Sauls
“I remember taking field
trips here back in the day,
but I had no idea how this
had gotten started.”
Katie Flowers
“The water taxi in
Baltimore has been around
for decades and works well.
It started small and has
expanded over the years.
Your waterfront is beautiful
from the ground too, and I
think gondolas would not
be attractive over
the waterfront.”
Kathy Booth Pace
“If downtown was in
Blount Island then the
(gondola) idea might not
be bad.”
James Stewart
RE: The fantasy fabricators: Inside Sally Corp.,
one of the most fascinating businesses in the world
“It takes a great team to do
what Sally Corp. does, and
we have the GREATEST
team!”
Drew Edward Hunter
RE: DOWN &
ALMOST OUT:
Something needs
to be done about
these 10 decaying
Downtown buildings
“Demolition is the
wrong way to go.”
Kay Ehas
RE: ONE WAY,
WRONG WAY: Is it
past time to convert
the core’s one-way
streets to two-way?
“They are a pain and
I’m used to them.
Can’t imagine how
frustrating it is for
visitors.”
Brian Woodall
“It is long past time
to return the streets
to two-way. Cities
all over the country
have realized their
mistake and have
reintroduced two-way
streets.”
Kerry Decker
SPRING 2018 | J MAGAZINE 9