[JMatl]

Originally Posted by Arcenal352

The OP was more about development. Compared to the other major cities, its CBD is most definitely stagnant.

There are primarily 3 reasons for this:

Lack of leadership, with no true vision.

The loss of thousands of white collar jobs to the Southside, especially on the Northbank.

The largest property owner, the First Baptist Church. They are sitting on block after block of tax free parking lots that have been empty for decades. They also have way too much power and influence over what doesn't get built.

[_Uncommon_]

Originally Posted by Fredesch

Why is a building boom a good thing? I don't believe building more = good.

Not necessarily a building boom, per se, but stagnation is a death knell for cities. DT Jacksonville and its surrounding urban area are on the verge of completely dying out. In that scenario, more building does = good because it means a city is evolving and at the very least, growing and still in use. Jacksonville is one of the very few Sunbelt cities that’s on he verge of dying. If it wasn’t so spread out to the beaches, it would be declining in population as its CBD goes largely ignored. You don’t think that’s a bad thing?

It’s just a shame because the city has SO much potential. It can easily be a world city like Houston or an up-and-coming city like Nashville. Instead it’s nearly going in the opposite direction, like Cleveland and Memphis.

[kyle19125]

Originally Posted by _Uncommon_

It’s just a shame because the city has SO much potential. It can easily be a world city like Houston or an up-and-coming city like Nashville. Instead it’s nearly going in the opposite direction, like Cleveland and Memphis.

Sorry, had to interject. Cleveland is NOT going the opposite direction.

[Arcenal813]

Originally Posted by _Uncommon_

Not necessarily a building boom, per se, but stagnation is a death knell for cities. DT Jacksonville and its surrounding urban area are on the verge of completely dying out. In that scenario, more building does = good because it means a city is evolving and at the very least, growing and still in use. Jacksonville is one of the very few Sunbelt cities that’s on he verge of dying. If it wasn’t so spread out to the beaches, it would be declining in population as its CBD goes largely ignored. You don’t think that’s a bad thing?

It’s just a shame because the city has SO much potential. It can easily be a world city like Houston or an up-and-coming city like Nashville. Instead it’s nearly going in the opposite direction, like Cleveland and Memphis.

I agree.

Jacksonville and Tampa both have the strongest urban bones in the state, and are both in prime locations. It’s a pity that Jacksonville isn’t what it could be. It looks great when driving in from I-95.

[Florida2014]

You also have to take into consideration St Johns County, which is a southern suburb of Jacksonville. This is where we call home and I can tell you without question this is one of the fastest growing counties in all of Florida and for a while, we were one of the fastest growing counties in the entire U.S.

https://www.jacksonville.com/news/20...n-us-last-year

Most of us include St Johns County as Jacksonville, just as you would include suburbs like Hinsdale or Willmette as "Chicago."

So while Jacksonville proper may not be seeing explosive growth, areas all around it including St Johns, Nassau, Clay, etc. are growing very rapidly.

[_Uncommon_]

Originally Posted by kyle19125

Sorry, had to interject. Cleveland is NOT going the opposite direction.

The city of Cleveland has been declining in population since the 50s.

[_Uncommon_]

Originally Posted by Florida2014

You also have to take into consideration St Johns County, which is a southern suburb of Jacksonville. This is where we call home and I can tell you without question this is one of the fastest growing counties in all of Florida and for a while, we were one of the fastest growing counties in the entire U.S.

https://www.jacksonville.com/news/20...n-us-last-year

Most of us include St Johns County as Jacksonville, just as you would include suburbs like Hinsdale or Willmette as "Chicago."

So while Jacksonville proper may not be seeing explosive growth, areas all around it including St Johns, Nassau, Clay, etc. are growing very rapidly.

If the I-Drive area was driving all of the growth in Orlando, I’d be concerned as a resident. If Wesley Chapel was the cause of Tampa’s growth, as a resident, I’d be concerned. This is an issue because if the beaches and St. John’s county pull population away from Jacksonville, along with it go jobs, money, infrastructure repairs, funding, and a lot more. A city core dying is never a good thing, especially if the growth is outside of city limits.

[KY_Transplant]

Originally Posted by _Uncommon_

Not necessarily a building boom, per se, but stagnation is a death knell for cities. DT Jacksonville and its surrounding urban area are on the verge of completely dying out. In that scenario, more building does = good because it means a city is evolving and at the very least, growing and still in use. Jacksonville is one of the very few Sunbelt cities that’s on he verge of dying. If it wasn’t so spread out to the beaches, it would be declining in population as its CBD goes largely ignored. You don’t think that’s a bad thing?

It’s just a shame because the city has SO much potential. It can easily be a world city like Houston or an up-and-coming city like Nashville. Instead it’s nearly going in the opposite direction, like Cleveland and Memphis.

I would say it’s even worse than Memphis and Cleveland. Memphis population is steady and has a lot of development occurring downtown. Memphis also has world class tourist center that is Beale Street.

Cleveland utilizes it’s downtown tremendously with East 4th Street, the current Flats, as well as the Theater district and having Pro Sports teams.

Jax has nothing to attract visitors or residents to downtown. It is literally a dead city, no one uses the River walk, there are hardly any decent restaurants to eat at and hotels are few and far between. A really underwhelming city in a beautiful location. Has so much potential.

[Florida2014]

Originally Posted by KY_Transplant

I would say it’s even worse than Memphis and Cleveland. Memphis population is steady and has a lot of development occurring downtown. Memphis also has world class tourist center that is Beale Street.

Cleveland utilizes it’s downtown tremendously with East 4th Street, the current Flats, as well as the Theater district and having Pro Sports teams.

Jax has nothing to attract visitors or residents to downtown. It is literally a dead city, no one uses the River walk, there are hardly any decent restaurants to eat at and hotels are few and far between. A really underwhelming city in a beautiful location. Has so much potential.

I would agree with this.

[logybogy]

Jacksonville is very segregated. I don't see a good solution for Downtown development without gentrification and displacing a lot of poor black people and that is controversial.

Originally Posted by _Uncommon_

If the I-Drive area was driving all of the growth in Orlando, I’d be concerned as a resident. If Wesley Chapel was the cause of Tampa’s growth, as a resident, I’d be concerned. This is an issue because if the beaches and St. John’s county pull population away from Jacksonville, along with it go jobs, money, infrastructure repairs, funding, and a lot more. A city core dying is never a good thing, especially if the growth is outside of city limits.