This is a brilliant article and cuts to the core of the issue. These buildings cannot be left the way they are, and yet they are too architecturally and historically significant to allow them to be torn down. Everyone who reads this article should forward it to the Mayor and to City Council members.
I was part of one of the attempts to revive the trio, probably 20 or more years ago. The City of Jacksonville was derelict in transferring the property over to the Fire Pension Fund - where the buildings have suffered 'malign neglect' ever since. It's hard to overstate the importance of these buildings to the history of Jacksonville. Whatever the cost, they must be saved. If the City had faced this truth during John Delaney's administration, they'd have been on the tax rolls for the past 20 years!
Sherry Magill - once again, you have demonstrated how fortunate we (and the City) are to have you as a champion for progress. Well done!
In some ways the Laura Street Trio and its companion across the street are as important to downtown Jacksonville's distinction as are the trio of St. Augustine's Ponce de Leon Hotel (Flagler College), Alcazar Hotel (City Hall, Lightner Museum) and the Cordova Hotel.
In both cities, their centrally-located collection of world-class architecture serves to establish their unique sense-of-place. St. Augustine has magnificently capitalized on their opportunity. Jacksonville is on the verge of squandering theirs**.
I submit that the preservation and adaptation of the Trio should be the city's Number One priority.
**The windows of the buildings MUST be secured from the elements - otherwise the building's deterioration will just speed along to the point that re-use may become prohibitively expensive (justifying their demolition???).
I wrote previously about how the central core of downtown could experience a renaissance by simply magnifying the existing attributes and benefits of Laura Street as the urban "backbone" - a lively and destination-themed pedestrian promenade connecting the Northbank to the Southbank.
Think about the following composition: James Weldon Johnson Park linked to the Riverfront Plaza Park via Laura Street - then launching onto a pedestrian river-crossing via a sole-purpose, "Calatrava" sculptural bridge - linking to Friendship Fountain Park and then on to a newly-designed (and maintained) Treaty Oak Park.
It would be an exceptional pedestrian promenade for discovery and exploration - unlike anything in the South. All of Jacksonville's urban core amenities would be made accessible with immediate connections to culture, government, entertainment, art, dining, events and riverfront recreation.
The newly-opened sUP across the river is a wonderful asset - but - it can be almost impossible to have a conversation with friends due to noise and visual intrusions from speeding traffic. Further indignity results due to a disconnect with the Southbank Riverwalk - you can eventually find it if you endure multiple street and ramp crossings. Once you do, you can make a loop return via the Main Street Bridge and finally arrive on the Northbank Riverwalk, albeit no longer via the ramp that brought you directly into Riverfront Plaza Park (the ramp was removed to "enlarge" the space for a future building - why a staircase and/or elevator weren't built in its place is a mystery).
In short - a sculpturally-designed, pedestrian bridge centered between the Main Street Bridge and the Acosta Bridge - linking the Northbank Riverwalk/Riverfront Plaza Park/Emerald Trail to the Southbank Riverwalk/Friendship Fountain Park/Emerald Trail - totally free of any vehicular incursions - would become Jacksonville's signature and truly iconic image.
As an example - see Greenville, South Carolina, Bilbao, Spain and London, England. (and yes, I know that the spans are different as well as the river clearance requirements - but look what was done at the boundary of the Grand Canyon National Park with the incredible cantilevered, glass-bottomed observation walk - all it takes is vision and the will to make it happen).
It is so refreshing to read such good writing, and on such an important topic! Thank you Sherry. Some question the latest proposal for revitalizing the Trio for a variety of reasons, but your article shows the city should treat this as a standalone, unique investment (so not to make 30% city funding standard on all downtown developments.). I surely hope Steve Atkins will follow through and secure the required share of private financing to make this happen.
Good article and perspective. We need to build on what is UNIQUELY JACKSONVILLE (or what's left of it due to purposeful or unknowing destruction of it). To quote a prominent local businessman "Jacksonville tries to do everything on the cheap".
Much thanks Sherry for your excellent article. We have spent a lot of money on projects without having a game plan to follow. This should be a no brainer. I will be forwarding this to my City Councilman, Michael Boylan.
Sherry, this is the BEST yet!! And Wayne, if it weren't for your leadership, Angela Schneider would have had her way. This is a beautifully written piece, so thoroughly researched. EEGHAD, just LOOK at the footnotes. I read every paragraph twice. I post this child-like response to this magnificent piece with trepidation, mainly because of all of my erudite friends that I am keeping company with below. But here goes....
How beautifully stated this is, Sherry! And The Jessie Ball duPont Fund gave us a perfect example how beneficial and important it is to protect our classic, iconic buildings, when it restored the crumbling Hayden Burns Library. Today it lives on as the vibrant, thriving community center, The Jessie! Thank you!!
This is a brilliant article and cuts to the core of the issue. These buildings cannot be left the way they are, and yet they are too architecturally and historically significant to allow them to be torn down. Everyone who reads this article should forward it to the Mayor and to City Council members.
I was part of one of the attempts to revive the trio, probably 20 or more years ago. The City of Jacksonville was derelict in transferring the property over to the Fire Pension Fund - where the buildings have suffered 'malign neglect' ever since. It's hard to overstate the importance of these buildings to the history of Jacksonville. Whatever the cost, they must be saved. If the City had faced this truth during John Delaney's administration, they'd have been on the tax rolls for the past 20 years!
David Laffitte, architect
Sherry Magill - once again, you have demonstrated how fortunate we (and the City) are to have you as a champion for progress. Well done!
In some ways the Laura Street Trio and its companion across the street are as important to downtown Jacksonville's distinction as are the trio of St. Augustine's Ponce de Leon Hotel (Flagler College), Alcazar Hotel (City Hall, Lightner Museum) and the Cordova Hotel.
In both cities, their centrally-located collection of world-class architecture serves to establish their unique sense-of-place. St. Augustine has magnificently capitalized on their opportunity. Jacksonville is on the verge of squandering theirs**.
I submit that the preservation and adaptation of the Trio should be the city's Number One priority.
**The windows of the buildings MUST be secured from the elements - otherwise the building's deterioration will just speed along to the point that re-use may become prohibitively expensive (justifying their demolition???).
I wrote previously about how the central core of downtown could experience a renaissance by simply magnifying the existing attributes and benefits of Laura Street as the urban "backbone" - a lively and destination-themed pedestrian promenade connecting the Northbank to the Southbank.
Think about the following composition: James Weldon Johnson Park linked to the Riverfront Plaza Park via Laura Street - then launching onto a pedestrian river-crossing via a sole-purpose, "Calatrava" sculptural bridge - linking to Friendship Fountain Park and then on to a newly-designed (and maintained) Treaty Oak Park.
It would be an exceptional pedestrian promenade for discovery and exploration - unlike anything in the South. All of Jacksonville's urban core amenities would be made accessible with immediate connections to culture, government, entertainment, art, dining, events and riverfront recreation.
The newly-opened sUP across the river is a wonderful asset - but - it can be almost impossible to have a conversation with friends due to noise and visual intrusions from speeding traffic. Further indignity results due to a disconnect with the Southbank Riverwalk - you can eventually find it if you endure multiple street and ramp crossings. Once you do, you can make a loop return via the Main Street Bridge and finally arrive on the Northbank Riverwalk, albeit no longer via the ramp that brought you directly into Riverfront Plaza Park (the ramp was removed to "enlarge" the space for a future building - why a staircase and/or elevator weren't built in its place is a mystery).
In short - a sculpturally-designed, pedestrian bridge centered between the Main Street Bridge and the Acosta Bridge - linking the Northbank Riverwalk/Riverfront Plaza Park/Emerald Trail to the Southbank Riverwalk/Friendship Fountain Park/Emerald Trail - totally free of any vehicular incursions - would become Jacksonville's signature and truly iconic image.
As an example - see Greenville, South Carolina, Bilbao, Spain and London, England. (and yes, I know that the spans are different as well as the river clearance requirements - but look what was done at the boundary of the Grand Canyon National Park with the incredible cantilevered, glass-bottomed observation walk - all it takes is vision and the will to make it happen).
Thank you very much - Rick
I like the idea of the bridge - and it immediately called to mind the Millennium Bridge in London. I’d go downtown just to cross it!
It is so refreshing to read such good writing, and on such an important topic! Thank you Sherry. Some question the latest proposal for revitalizing the Trio for a variety of reasons, but your article shows the city should treat this as a standalone, unique investment (so not to make 30% city funding standard on all downtown developments.). I surely hope Steve Atkins will follow through and secure the required share of private financing to make this happen.
Well stated Sherry !
We need to Accentuate the Positive and Eliminate the Negative !
The Trio is a positive aspect of Jacksonville. In addition to our new developments east of Hogan's Creek, we cannot forget our original City Core.
Good article and perspective. We need to build on what is UNIQUELY JACKSONVILLE (or what's left of it due to purposeful or unknowing destruction of it). To quote a prominent local businessman "Jacksonville tries to do everything on the cheap".
I worked in the Marble (Bank) Building in the mid 1970’s and it was positively stunning. Preserve the Laura Street Trio!
Much thanks Sherry for your excellent article. We have spent a lot of money on projects without having a game plan to follow. This should be a no brainer. I will be forwarding this to my City Councilman, Michael Boylan.
Sherry, this is the BEST yet!! And Wayne, if it weren't for your leadership, Angela Schneider would have had her way. This is a beautifully written piece, so thoroughly researched. EEGHAD, just LOOK at the footnotes. I read every paragraph twice. I post this child-like response to this magnificent piece with trepidation, mainly because of all of my erudite friends that I am keeping company with below. But here goes....
$63M ????$1B ??? taxpayer funding. Give me a break…We can’t even get the COJ to fix flooding on Riverside Ave!
How beautifully stated this is, Sherry! And The Jessie Ball duPont Fund gave us a perfect example how beneficial and important it is to protect our classic, iconic buildings, when it restored the crumbling Hayden Burns Library. Today it lives on as the vibrant, thriving community center, The Jessie! Thank you!!