Seems intuitively obvious that it capitalizes on what we have and supports the vision we’ve articulated for a vibrant urban core. It should get a robust head-to-head hearing vs placing it where former Mayor Curry, motivated by Khan’s $5MM offer, would place it.
This is the most insightful, reasonable and certainly doable idea for repurposing a downtown iconic building. This idea should be at the top of our Mayor's initiative on education.
With no doubts of any kind, it has been proven in numerous American cities that having a connected and walkable campus for higher learning in an inner-city core creates immense synergy.
One only needs to study the story of SCAD and Savannah - which started with one repurposed (and saved) building to evolve into a multi-disciplinary university housed in over 75 buildings spread throughout the city's downtown historic district.
Additionally - it's time Jacksonville realized that the Sports and Entertainment District is its own destination. It is a district that captures its patrons. It cannot generate foot traffic between downtown and the district's venues. It has none of the interconnected and accessibility traits that exist in Seattle, for instance.
As such, Mr. Wood is absolutely right - the district and its adjacencies are not the area to incubate and welcome the university's branch. They need, and would want, to be in the core.
This particular downtown intersection has always had a good 'feel' to it. Church Street, headed east from I-95, is quite pleasant, with LOTS of urban renewal going on and great old buildings scattered about. PLEASE move forward with this proposal without YEARS of dithering and chin stroking. LISTEN TO WAYNE... and SHERRY, our dear leader
Sherry, this is totally the most exciting proposal!!! Love that part of Jacksonville. I shopped at all of those lovely stores and had Tuesday Navy bean soup at May-Cohens nearly every week with Bobby Woolverton . Purcells was directly across Church St from the Universal Marion Bldg. My beau before Bobby Woolverton was Bobby Jacobs. His construction company, The Jacobs Company, built the UM Building and he was REALLY so proud of it. (Preston Haskell worked for Bobby Jacobs when he first came to Jacksonville in the 60’s. )There is so much nostalgia for me around those blocks downtown. I am the Last of the Mohicans who remember it’s excitement and all of the activity. Jacksonville was good then.
Seems intuitively obvious that it capitalizes on what we have and supports the vision we’ve articulated for a vibrant urban core. It should get a robust head-to-head hearing vs placing it where former Mayor Curry, motivated by Khan’s $5MM offer, would place it.
This project should be reviewed and considered.
Whether this building becomes the UF Jax Campus, this iconic building should be saved.
Turn the top back into a a rat aura t or an adult cocktail lounge with music.
Would make a cool, iconic, hotel with restaurant/ bar on top.
The article describes good arguments for seriously investigating Wayne's suggestion! Georgia Pribanic
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This is the most insightful, reasonable and certainly doable idea for repurposing a downtown iconic building. This idea should be at the top of our Mayor's initiative on education.
With no doubts of any kind, it has been proven in numerous American cities that having a connected and walkable campus for higher learning in an inner-city core creates immense synergy.
One only needs to study the story of SCAD and Savannah - which started with one repurposed (and saved) building to evolve into a multi-disciplinary university housed in over 75 buildings spread throughout the city's downtown historic district.
Additionally - it's time Jacksonville realized that the Sports and Entertainment District is its own destination. It is a district that captures its patrons. It cannot generate foot traffic between downtown and the district's venues. It has none of the interconnected and accessibility traits that exist in Seattle, for instance.
As such, Mr. Wood is absolutely right - the district and its adjacencies are not the area to incubate and welcome the university's branch. They need, and would want, to be in the core.
This particular downtown intersection has always had a good 'feel' to it. Church Street, headed east from I-95, is quite pleasant, with LOTS of urban renewal going on and great old buildings scattered about. PLEASE move forward with this proposal without YEARS of dithering and chin stroking. LISTEN TO WAYNE... and SHERRY, our dear leader
Sherry, this is totally the most exciting proposal!!! Love that part of Jacksonville. I shopped at all of those lovely stores and had Tuesday Navy bean soup at May-Cohens nearly every week with Bobby Woolverton . Purcells was directly across Church St from the Universal Marion Bldg. My beau before Bobby Woolverton was Bobby Jacobs. His construction company, The Jacobs Company, built the UM Building and he was REALLY so proud of it. (Preston Haskell worked for Bobby Jacobs when he first came to Jacksonville in the 60’s. )There is so much nostalgia for me around those blocks downtown. I am the Last of the Mohicans who remember it’s excitement and all of the activity. Jacksonville was good then.
Blair Woolverton