J Magazine Winter 2019

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WE’RE PROUD TO BE NAMED ONE OF THE BEST PLACES SIZE? TO WORK. WE’RE EVEN MORE PROUD OF WHY. Better Wages. Better Benefits. Better Work-Life Balance. When we sought to make VyStar an even better place to work, we went to the people who could help us make it happen — more than 1,500 of the best employees around. VyStar employees throughout Northeast Florida provided feedback on how we could improve their work environment. We listened. If you have a passion for helping others and the desire to provide outstanding service to the community, we encourage you to browse through our current career offerings at vystarcu.org and consider joining our team. Programs, services, rates, terms and conditions are subject to change without notice. ©<strong>2019</strong> VyStar Credit Union. vystarcu.org
FROM THE EDITOR Indicators show progress surging across Downtown MIKE CLARK PHONE (904) 359-4307 EMAIL mclark@ jacksonville.com hen J magazine was established W 10 issues ago, we thought the time was right to give Downtown a push. It seemed Downtown was on the cusp of progress but the power of inertia seemed to be bigger than momentum. Well, the tide has changed. After pleading for apartments, the Downtown Investment Authority was faced with three strong bidders seeking to build market-rate housing in LaVilla. Long vacant structures — the Armory on Market Street and the original Independent Life Building at 233 W. Duval St. — have buyers with exciting development plans. Nowhere is the progress Downtown more visible than the sparkling blue windows of the Jacksonville Regional Transportation Center in LaVilla. Nat Ford, CEO of the Jacksonville Transportation Authority, jettisoned overly expensive plans for the building with a design competition. Within three years, driverless cars will be traveling the Skyway and easing down ramps on Bay Street as part of the Ultimate Urban Circulator. Suddenly, transportation Downtown is cool again. And that is the theme of this 11th edition of J magazine. Transportation and Downtown have been twins for a long time. The St. Johns River provided an easy means of transportation for the former Cowford. Downtown once was the site of a working shipyards while Talleyrand remains busy just around the corner. Downtown still is criss-crossed by railroad lines and major interstates. Big changes are coming, historic changes that will make Downtown more convenient, more modern and even more fun. Frank Denton goes behind the scenes to ask what makes Nat Ford run? The CEO of the Jacksonville Transportation Authority has gained national acclaim for making huge changes to the city’s bus routes with very few complaints. Ford also took plans for a Regional Transportation Center, slashed costs and pushed for an ultra-modern design that looks a little it was moved from Walt Disney World. We explain how JTA did it and what it means. Someday rail service needs to return to the former Union Terminal, now the Prime Osborn Convention Center. Ennis Davis looks at the expanding Virgin Rail service in South Florida and advocates for its expansion here. Parking is a continuing bugaboo for Downtown. Carole Hawkins looks at parking troubles in Brooklyn along with possible solutions. Another bugaboo involves riding bicycles on city streets that aren’t designed for them. A few brave souls do, as Lilla Ross reports. Road changes, though, are on the way. Traveling at night can be a challenge Downtown. Why is it so dark? We tour Downtown on foot, by bicycle and car and literally count the light bulbs that are out on the riverwalks. Downtown has a long way to go. The St. Johns River Taxi offers a wonderful way to enjoy the river. But issues with the Landing have cut into regular trips. Ron Littlepage describes what is in store and what ought to be. Another continuing issue involves Downtown’s one-way streets. Oklahoma City, also a large city in land area, has finished converting its downtown streets to two-ways. An Oklahoma City columnist explains how it was done. First Baptist is selling much of its property Downtown, and Lilla Ross looks at what other churches are doing. Many are downsizing, too, but not St. John’s Cathedral. Dean Kate Moorehead and colleague Ginny Myrick describe in our Q&A why the Episcopalian church remains committed to Downtown. Every issue of J magazine needs a surprise. For this issue, Shelton Hull takes a tour of the tunnel system Downtown. Find out why they were built. Yes, you can take tours. Those are the stories along with our regular features. But this magazine would be awfully dull with only the words. The great photography by Bob Self and Will Dickey along with masterful layout by Jeff Davis make everything sparkle. MIKE CLARK is Editorial Page Editor of The Florida Times- Union and Editor of J. He has been a reporter and editor for the Jacksonville newspapers since 1973. He lives in Nocatee. WINTER <strong>2019</strong> | J MAGAZINE 9
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Top-ranked and trusted. Your family
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J Magazine Winter 2019

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