J Magazine Winter 2019

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 2019 | J MAGAZINE 9