J Magazine Winter 2019

Q:
CHECKING
THE PULSE
By Mike Clark
What would you like to see
done with the First Baptist
property Downtown that
is up for sale?
More than 4,000 readers of
The Florida Times-Union have
volunteered to be part of the
Email Interactive Group. They
respond to occasional questions
about public issues in our
community.
Ray Hays,
Jacksonville
Here is a great opportunity for
new business and workforce
housing to be developed right
where it will do the most good
for our core business district.
The city should consider
special economic incentives
to attract commercial development.
Rutledge R. Liles,
Jacksonville
Use the buildings for relocation
of the JEA headquarters.
Or the buildings could also be
used to replace some of the
schools that are in deplorable
condition and unsafe, which
our City Council ignores.
Gil Mayers,
Jacksonville
Why not focus on entertainment
and housing to provide
a vibrant image and reality to
our Downtown? I would also
have a pedestrian area around
the entertainment zone to allow
people to mix comfortably
in a family-friendly environment.
Doug Coleman,
Riverside
Presuming these properties
are currently tax exempt, if
these parcels are acquired by
for-profit businesses it will be a
nice boost to our city property
tax revenue.
Amelia Gaillard,
West Beaches
It would be nice to see some
mixed uses: apartments,
restaurants, art galleries, shops,
a movie theater, a theatre-dinner
club. Jacksonville has the
potential to beat the socks off
of Charleston
Noble Lee Lester,
Jacksonville
Create a fine arts conglomerate
of jazz music concert halls,
black boxes for small theatrical
productions, jazz-joints that
stir the bones of the greats or
simply a place for TED talks
and the spoken word.
Camilla Crawshaw,
Jacksonville
We need to beg retail to return
Downtown. Walkability is good
for mental and physical health.
Keep working on major businesses
to relocate downtown
to put bodies in the city center.
Terri Brown,
Jacksonville
I’d like to see some great living
spaces. I’d like to see shopping
that normal people will go
to, big box stores. How about
some transitional living, work
and training space for the
disadvantaged?
Dean Lohse,
Southside
It’s a great location for a school,
maybe as a Christian charter
school. Or how about “The
Shakers and Movers Rocking
Rock of Faith” nightclub?
Jack Knee,
Nocatee
Perhaps some clean industry.
The last thing the church needs
is city input. Let the free market
find its best use.
Debra Clark,
Jacksonville
It would be a major boon to
the city center If a grocery store
were to open. It would be a
great addition to the area and
much needed.
Bonnie Sinatro,
St. Nicholas
I would love to see a public
space that included gardens
and greenery and walking
paths and a playground.
J. Joseph O’Donnell,
St. Johns
Businesses follow people.
No people, no business. I’d
encourage “nice” residential
development in keeping with
the character of the neighborhood
that will attract higher
per capita income residents.
The amenities will follow.
Colleen Krause Straw,
Jacksonville
Having a family fun park would
be a great addition to Downtown.
A smaller permanent
amusement park similar to
what was in Myrtle Beach, S.C.
Maybe the city can encourage a private college
to create a Jacksonville Downtown footprint.
Northwestern has created a satellite in Miami -
Jacksonville could try/hope to mirror it.
Steve Plauché, San Jose
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J MAGAZINE | WINTER 2019