by jon bosworth jaxvillain@yahoo.com
Everyone is calling downtown sexy these days. I have to admit that the skyline is gorgeous and there is something sultry about the way that the St. John’s River slithers through Downtown’s center, but you would be a fool to run and sign a lease because a realtor told you about the walking distance to Alltell Stadium or compensated your lack of a nearby movie theatre by providing a Vespa as a sign-on bonus. So EU went and walked and talked with the people that live, work, and play downtown, as well as some of the shakers and movers that helped make Downtown so sexy, so that you could make an informed decision.
The Downtown of today is a far cry from the ghost town that celebrated the opening of The Jacksonville Landing in the early 90s. In fact, The Landing is probably the least interesting thing happening at our urban core these days, although it always makes for a nice photograph. Now there are galleries, artists co-ops, some of the best dining in the greater metropolitan area, great night clubs, and even a friendly community.
With the introduction of a beautiful new Main Library shoulder-to-shoulder with the Museum of Contemporary Art right on Hemming Plaza, the old Haydon Burns Library building has become available. The word on the streets was that they were going to tear it down, but the outcry to save the architectural anomaly was deafening. The new plan includes making it into a mixed retail space. There are many plans being presented, but the one with the most buzz among people living Downtown is the idea of a natural foods grocery store and restaurant on the bottom floor, various retail and office spaces in the middle floors, and more living space to be built on top of the structure.
Other changes that we hope to see in the near future include an improved monorail system that goes all the way into Riverside, more cocktail lounges, music venues, and restaurants, and plenty of activity. There are three new coffee shops preparing to open as you read this. One inside the library, another Starbucks, and even a coffee shop in the new Chamblin’s BookMine Downtown location.
But you don’t have to wait for Downtown to happen. It’s happening now. Just go to any ArtWalk, grab lunch at the Burrito Gallery, or catch a punk rock show at Thee Imperial on Forsythe. From casual strolls along the Riverwalk and jogging paths that go all the way to the YMCA in Riverside to the simple enjoyment of watching the sun set over the River City from the rooftop terrace on your building, life downtown is a unique creature that is waiting for those of you with an adventurous spirit and an open mind.
Don’t go into it blindly, take our hand. EU will guide you through your experience and help you discover what everyone is talking about when they secretly watch the Downtown program on WJCT late at night with the lights out. Downtown is sexier than ever before, and now is the time to get on board.
Terry Lorince is the director of Downtown Vision Inc. She took some time with me in their downtown offices to discuss the pros and cons facing Downtown, both as a viable place to reside and as a place to do business.
Lorince cites many organizations, other than just DVI, that have also been a big help in creating a conducive environment, such as JEDC. She also lauds the actions of active business owners such as Stephen Dare at Boomtown and other area merchants.
“When I first came here there was a very strong perception that there was nothing to do, it was dirty, and it wasn’t safe. When we came Downtown, we talked to many different people. We needed to start the ambassador program to stop the nuisance crimes (such as panhandling). The ambassadors have done a great job of being helpful to people and providing an added presence on the street.”
Lorince called me out on my indictment that ambassadors and the monorail were not useful, and to her credit, she is right about the value of ambassadors Downtown, but as a longtime local that already is acclimated and enjoys downtown regularly, they are less useful to me, but that is not to say they aren’t useful to a wide range of newcomers to our city. Although I may have been wrong about the orange-jacketed ambassadors, I did get Lorince to concur that the public transportation system could be more effective.
“I think one of the most important needs is to connect Springfield, Five Points, San Marco and even East Jacksonville to Downtown. They are just far enough that they are not easy to walk to, and we need to connect to those growing nodes with some sort of system. And we need to meet the growing demands downtown.”
Some headway being made in those directions includes proposals from developments along Riverside Avenue, especially in the Brooklyn area, desiring an additional leg of the Skyway system in Riverside.
“The pieces are coming together. These smaller and incremental businesses are really getting started. It’s pretty amazing.”
As many of the people I talked to this weekend said, Downtown is no longer just luxury living in Riverfront condos, there are historic renovations and plenty of funky loft spaces that are available for rent. From Metropolitan Lofts to custom condominium spaces, there is something for everyone in the new Downtown.
EU: What is the most attractive aspect to living downtown?
TL: Walkability and the river. Also, closeness to great restaurants.
EU: What were some of the more present challenges to DVI that the organization has made successful headway regarding facilitating life and business downtown?
TL: We have been focusing on the basics, which is making it cleaner and safer down here. Our ambassador program has been really good at changing the perceptions of downtown, and that has worked. People perceive it as having changed.
EU: What are some of the pressing challenges you are currently facing?
TL: Jacksonville is at a point where we need to bring more coffee shops, businesses and amenities downtown. The people moving here is part of that, but we are trying to connect some of the better venues down here. I think in the next couple of months you’ll see a lot of changes. Three new venues downtown, Shelby’s Coffee at the library, Chamblin’s BookMine, and another Starbucks are some of them. It’s starting to happen. You’re going to see Café Nola and Chew opening a couple of nights a week. We also hope to be able to organize more activities Downtown to attract people. Many of the newer places will be ready for residences in a couple of months. It’s an exciting time and the pieces are staring to come together. The JEDC just completed 4 downtown committees looking at parking and transportation, as well as retail opportunities, to improve the situation downtown for businesses and residences alike.
With 1500 units downtown, and about 2200 people, there is a growing and thriving community in Downtown Jacksonville. There are 100 sites under construction now and there is a lot of pre-selling and new plans being made everyday.
“We are looking at 5000 residents downtown in a couple of years.”
The idea of living Downtown is very cool. Who doesn’t want to live in a cool apartment or condo with Stainless steel amentities, exposed brick walls, hardwood floors, and a view that kills? Well for those of you brave enough to give it a shot, there is no time like the present. Developers are sparing no expense to help you convert from the suburban life to urban living. Many places now offer a free membership to Gold’s Gym (which is a quick walk from almost anywhere in the Downtown area), secure parking, and even various discounts or “privileges” at local businesses, so make sure you ask for the details while you hunt for your dream home.
If you were one of those forward-thinking kids that was in love with our Downtown back in the mid-nineties, then you are sure to remember our first truly stylish club: The Moto Lounge. Well, as style gives birth to style, these new loft condominiums are in that building, and they are some of the classiest places among the new developments.
If you are looking for a loft that you can call your own, these developers allow you to customize the layout you want for your loft. Artists may want a large open space with no drywall or divisions, while a young couple may prefer to select an arrangement that provides individual spaces. That is no problem. Another aspect that makes it unique is the plan for a rooftop terrace with a lounge, exercise area, and scenic city views. They boast a true urban lifestyle in a modern loft space, inside of a historic building in the middle of downtown.
If purchasing isn’t in your cards right now, that doesn’t mean you are out of luck. The new Metropolitan Lofts on Church Street have just recently opened their funky Downtown loft apartments. They have secure underground parking and they allow pets. The best part is that many of the apartments available are going for less than $1000 per month. And since this building is a true high-rise, you will be “moving on up” to your apartment in the sky to enjoy spectacular views. Go to jaxlofts.com to learn more, but make sure you actually go and take the tour of these fabulous apartments. If the view doesn’t wow you, the amenities will.
Whether you are interested in a penthouse condominium on the river or a simple and minimalist life void of cars and lawns, Downtown has the perfect place for you. Just like the cuisine, the nightlife, and the neighbors, Downtown has an eclectic collection of hip places to live, the only trick is finding the right one for your lifestyle.
Tony Allegretti is one of those people that never looks obnoxiously enthusiastic, in fact he is very down-to-earth, but his vision of what Downtown could be is largely why Downtown has been so successful. I first learned of him when he was a consultant to Mayor Peyton and his face showed up in some publications. I later learned more about him when my wife was a cook at Henrietta’s in Springfield. He’s been a big part in the revitalization of Downtown and Springfield, not only as a consultant and advocate of urban living, but he’s put his money and influence where his mouth is. As a partner in one of Downtown’s best success stories, Burrito Gallery, he has had the very direct opportunity to be a part of one of the businesses that have truly taken part in cultivating the lifestyle of our urban core.
EU talked to Tony at the bar in Burrito Gallery.
EU: What changes have you noticed in the past year that bolster your confidence in the dream of Downtown?
TA: When you’re downtown everyday, several times a day, and/or all day, you see a lot of small changes, rather than big breakthroughs. Some of these small changes are the fact that Chew has good coffee, so now one block away we have Italian coffee. The art co-op in the Carling is a great idea.
EU: What are the issues do you think most pertinently need to be addressed to benefit people living downtown?
TA: Well that makes it sound like it isn’t accessible and convenient. If you live Downtown, you get a parking space, so you overcome everyone’s perceived number-one problem, and you can walk to nearly everything. We could use more convenience, like a grocery store, but there will be more grocery stores. There is one on Market and State, so when you really need one there is one there, but as more people come, in more conveniences will come in. Whereas Downtown used to be exclusively luxury, and not affordable, it is becoming more accessible. Now with Metropolitan Lofts and City Place in the Ashley towers, there are places that people can afford to live.
EU: What did it take to become the pre-eminent downtown business?
TA: For the BG [this is Downtown local slang for the Burrito Gallery], the beautiful thing about the BG is the quality and value of the food. That will always be the cornerstone of this restaurant and any other Gallery Restaurant Group project.
EU: Is Downtown a single person’s environment, or is family living realistic downtown?
TA: I lived here for a year when my house was being built in Riverside and I think it is ready right now. We often talk about moving the family and the kids back Downtown. I think when you start seeing multi-family projects like the Shipyards and the Saint Johns coming on, you know there is a community. In the Berkman you have a pool and a place for your boat, which isn’t unlike other apartment communities.
EU: How do we encourage retail to come downtown?
TA: If retail follows rooftops (how people think that retail grows) then that will happen here, because we have a lot of rooftops on the way, but that will make it a lot less affordable to own retail space downtown. It will never be as affordable as it is right now, so cash in your 401k and lease it now.
It was a bizarre beginning to a long night. Only four hours earlier I was in Manhattan. It was a Saturday and the streets, parks, and sidewalks were full of people. A lot of that had to do with the fact that it was 75 degrees in January, so New Yorkers were taking full advantage of global warming and there are always lots of people engaged in all sorts of interesting activities.
No sooner had our ride dropped us at our home than my friend, and a contributing writer to EU, John Dooling was at my door. I had told him we were going to go Downtown and check out the night life for an article. As we waited for our cab to pick us up, so that we wouldn’t have to worry about driving. Another friend, John Hubbard, arrived at my house and offered us a ride. So the triumvirate of Johns was united and our destination was the big city: Downtown Jacksonville.
Driving into the city was surreal after New York. It was a Saturday night and the streets were barren, like a ghost town. When we arrived at our starting point, the Burrito Gallery, we got truly distressed that we were doomed to fail in our mission. At only 10:05 on a Saturday night the Burrito Gallery was closed.
We met up with another contributing writer for EU, Katie Veltri. I had hoped that my friend, one of the owners of the Burrito Gallery, Marco, would take us on his regular route of Downtown hot spots, but unfortunately he was at a sports bar across town watching his beloved Dallas Cowboys lose, so it would be up to us to find our own way around.
As we glanced across Adams Street, we noticed that the London Bridge was still awake and there were even some people in there. Well, there were three people in there. Nonetheless, this is a study of the Downtown night life and so far, this was the only life we had found.
After a couple of beers, Katie got to know the Johns better and we decided we were all ready for some liquor drinks. Making our way from London Bridge to Mark’s seemed daunting, and even a little dangerous, in my mind, but actually it was quite a nice walk. Usually when one is approaching Mark’s, it can be discerned by the comfy tables and chairs out front for those who prefer to enjoy their drinks outside of the smoky bar, but today that wasn’t the case. As it turns out there were some policies that police have been newly enforcing that require revelers to stay inside of the bar.
Presumably because of this policy, Mark’s was crammed with people, in spite of the $3 cover charge. So we skipped it for the time being and headed to The Dive Bar, one of Downtown’s newest bars.
As Katie put it: “Dive Bar is too modern and sanitary to be considered anything remotely close to a dive bar; however, it does have many themes resonating throughout. Cluttered with road signs, mannequins held buoyant from the ceiling, and funky mirrors, this bar is somewhat of a whirling mass of colorful distractions that are enough to cloud you from the sub par music.”
Although there is a kitsch sort of cool to a theme bar, Dive Bar is more like a Paradise Island in bar in Orlando. Its theme isn’t very clear, and that makes the bar feel insecure. And, as she said, the music was atrocious. I would have sworn I was at a prom in 1994.
Fortunately, as we were running out of jokes to make about the music, Marco and some of our other Downtown friends arrived. We went to Mark’s with them, and the atmosphere was far cooler. The place is classy and well-designed, although it is small and packed with people. Not packed, like dangerous, but packed enough to make a trip to the bar difficult when you are ready for another round. Katie found her way straight to the dance floor, as the DJ at Mark’s seemed to have some idea about music.
I’m no kind of a dancer, but I’d rather have new hip-hop songs I don’t know piped through a place then find myself singing Love Shack in my head all night. Of course at this point each of us was challenging everyone else in our group to another round of shots. After four or five of these rounds, the end of the night got closer quicker. That is why John Dooling insisted that we head over to TSI before it was two o’clock.
Although TSI often stays open past two, they are strict about State laws (for some reason) and will not serve any beers if we arrive too late. Fortunately, we stumbled in at the nick of time. The indie rockers were really shakin’ at this hour. For a brief moment I thought I actually saw people having sex on the dance floor, but I had been doing shots of Jagermeister at the previous bar, so it is entirely possible that my eyes were playing tricks on me.
The younger crowd at TSI tends to be snooty in their own way, but so was the crowd at Mark’s and the three people at London Bridge. I guess the one good thing I could say about Dive Bar is that there was room for me to sit, and I felt comfortable doing so. But while Mark’s is all but empty at 2:15, TSI was still loaded with hot young girls and dudes that dress for irony. Or at least I hope they were dressing that way for irony. If they weren’t, wouldn’t that be ironic.
Finally we sauntered back to Burrito Gallery where Marco let us wait for our cab while we weathered our buzz.
“We should do this all the time,” John Dooling recommended, and with that the idea was born. The EU Pub Crawl. We can go to the various sides of town, drink at their bars, and provide thorough and knowledgeable reviews of the bars in that area.
“You mean pub crawl? Yeah we should,” I replied.
“No, I mean get John Hubbard to drive us here and then lose him.”
“For me, having visited bigger cities like New York and Chicago, I like living close to the city. I like stuff like, this is going to sound weird, but I kind of like urban decay. I like the way it looks. I like the people and activity of Downtown. I would never live in the suburbs because I don’t like them, it’s a personal choice.”
Joey Marchy isn’t sure if he considers himself an “activist,” but he is definitely one of the most active voices in Jacksonville when it comes to dealing with the real issues, and introducing people to really great aspects, of the downtown and Springfield area.
“I’m not a busybody. Activist has kind of a bad connotation. But yeah, I guess I am a concerned citizen, an active citizen. I talk about things that are going on in my neighborhood. I shine lights on things that I think need light. I like to promote Springfield and talk about Springfield and talk about Downtown because it’s fun because no one else is really doing it. Part of the reason I started Urban Jacksonville is because I wanted something like that and no one was doing it, so I started doing it.”
Marchy currently lives in Springfield and agreed to meet up with Rachel Best Henley, EU’s creative director, Brian Jerin, an EU sales rep, and myself at Shanty Town Pub, one of Springfield’s newest and most talked-about pubs. But he wasn’t always a Jacksonville urbanite.
“I grew up on the Southside. I went to Stanton, which is near where I live now, and then graduated from UNF. Then I lived in Minneapolis and I didn’t know how much I would like it. Riding my bike through the neighborhoods, picking up a scone in a neighborhood deli, walking through parks, I loved all of that stuff. Living in Springfield was trying to recreate that feeling.”
When I contacted Marchy about interviewing him for the EU Downtown Living issue, because of the voice that urbanjacksonville.com represents to this community, I found that he had just contacted us about interviewing EU to discuss the new look of our paper. So we all got together to interview each other. For the complete audio of that interview go to his website (urbanjacksonville.info). While you’re there, look back at all of the issues Marchy takes on. In many ways he is a more respectable local media than many of the media outlets in town. He is unafraid of telling the truth and he is eager to promote the things in town that he thinks are really great.
He is as likely to blog about how much he likes the clothes at Wolfgang in Five Points as he is to take a poll on how people feel about videos of homeless people defecating in the streets all over the Internet.
“I’ve been writing [Urban Jacksonville] for about a year and a half. I started a blog so that my wife and some of my friends could keep up with each other, and then I was at work and I heard about the Haydon Burns library thing and I decided to start a blog so that I could talk about it. I was on a website called problogger and you had to set blogging goals. One of the blogging goals I set was to be acknowledged by local media, and within six months I was written about by Folio and the Times-Union.”
Marchy stands by the notion that Jacksonville’s greatest opportunity for success depends on the people that see the new Jacksonville and patronize Downtown and Springfield businesses.
“Support the businesses that are [Downtown] now. Go to ArtWalk, go to Burrito Gallery, go to MOCA. You know, if Tony gets a grocery store in the Haydon Burns, go to it. Go to TSI, Mark’s. Do the stuff that is downtown. If those are successful then people will see that this is viable. If these places start failing then people will say it’s a broken dream.”
While admitting that there are benefits to the developers coming into town, because for them to find tenants and buyers, they have to cultivate the potential of downtown. They are selling the sexiness of downtown, but someone that can afford that sexiness might not be interested in dealing with dilemmas such as parking, a lack of public transportation, or panhandlers.
“There are kind of two people I see that are going to move Downtown. There’s the people that want to buy into that sexy living thing, they want to live in a condo, they want to have views of the river and walk to the stadium. But then there’s also people that have lived in an urban environment before who are moving from New York or San Francisco or Atlanta and who are looking for gridded streets, public transportation, bike friendliness and walkability…A lot of the developers think if they build it, people will come, but it’s going to take a critical mass to make it work.”
Marchy had a lot of great things to say about Downtown and Springfield businesses.
“Shanty Town and Burrito Gallery are my two favorite things about Downtown. Burrito Gallery’s food is so consistent. The thing I love about Shanty Town is that they are open at 5 and they will be there when I need them.”
to hear the audio portion of this interview visit http://www.urbanjacksonville.info/2007/01/23/urban-jacksonville-interviews-entertaining-u-and-vice-versa/
to read the transcripts of Joey interviewing EU visit http://rachelbestblogs.blogspot.com/2007/01/eu-talks-with-urban-jacksonville-blog.html
by erin thursby scopes1925@msn.com
215 North Laura has been a lot of things over the years, though most people will remember it as being empty. So many projects and businesses have half started there in recent years that people have started to wonder if Chamblin’s Bookmine would do the same, especially since they’ve had the property for several months. Ron Chamblin has taken his time with planning the renovations so that he can get things right. He enjoys the history of the building, which is solid brick and over 100 years old. The old brickwork, which was covered in a layer of plaster, was revealed by sandblasting and elbow grease. They’re also keeping the steel I-beams exposed over an awning. Chamblin wants to contribute an architecturally interesting building to the block. He proudly talks about the design details he and his architect have come up with. On the outside of the building he plans to place owls on every other I-beams, keeping with the library’s owl theme.
As the workers cleaned out the building and reconfigured the structure, they found interesting things left behind by previous owners and tenants. Upstairs, there was a fair amount of junk and strange objects, because the man who stayed there was a bit of a packrat. Old papers, antiques, a collection of window panes, woman’s vintage clothing and unidentifiable objects were unearthed as they cleaned it out. Previous businesses have also left things behind. The store included a big walk in vault, which Chamblin thinks is from its days as a jewelry store. It’s also been a shoe store, a frame shop and a photo processing store. Old photography equipment was among the things they excavated.
At this point in the project they’ve filled 11 industrial dumpsters, both with debris from the walls they knocked out and with all the assorted junk they found. They’ve had to deal with half-finished plumbing because the location was almost an Italian restaurant. I say almost, because the restaurant owners abandoned the projects before they were even done with renovations. Workers also had to rip out a raised stage that looked like it was intended for performance.
Despite renovations costing three times as much as what was originally expected, Chamblin will be sticking to the project and is looking to be Downtown for the long haul.
Chamblin doesn’t have to worry about too-high rent because he has purchased the location. Says Chamblin, “I’m not at the mercy of the landlords.”
Asked about the survivability of a Downtown business, Chamblin responds passionately: “I don’t say ‘I wonder if I’m going to survive?’ Bullsh*t! I say I’m going to make it so damn good, like I did with Roosevelt that we’re going to draw in the people.” Since Chamblin is experienced and renowned as a bookseller, he knows his philosophy works. Indeed, in Jacksonville and all over the state, people know about Chamblin’s Bookmine.
“If you make a store good enough, the environment good enough, people come to you…I get people coming to Roosevelt from Gainesville, Tallahassee…the Beaches [and] Fernandina…because we’ve got such a variety [and] because of our trade-in policies…I lost three competitors this year. They’re dropping off; we’re getting bigger.”
He has plans to be part of the Downtown Art Walk, staying open on the nights that they’re held. Chamblin also sees a need for night time business in the Downtown area and says that he plans to “experiment [with staying open] two nights a week, initially…I think it’ll be a nice addition to the environment …I’m going to try to have an art wall…to have some rotating art.” Chamblin is also eager to display his own collection of engravings and old maps that he’s collected over a thirty year period.
Books and art won’t be the only things for sale at the Downtown Chamblin’s. There will also be a small café with about 15 tables that will be offering coffee and cold sandwiches. While the location won’t have a kitchen, each sandwich will be made fresh to order. Chamblin originally intended to go with a smaller coffee shop, but says that “it’s going to be a more important aspect than what I first planned.”
The Downtown version of the bookstore will, in some ways, be a scaled-down duplicate of the original Chamblin’s on Roosevelt. If you can’t find a book, they can of course order it from the other store and have it at the Downtown Chamblin’s within just a few hours or days.
This location will be twelve thousand square feet, including the upstairs and downstairs areas. Opening is tentatively scheduled for March or April, depending on how quickly the construction goes. Of course, you can be sure that this will be a major event in Jacksonville, so keep reading EU to find out when the shop will be opening its doors to the public and when it will be having its grand opening.
Few people have more to say about the culture of Jacksonville than Stephen Dare, and he has earned the right to be vocal. Ever since I was a teenager that bought blue hair dye in Five Points, Stephen has been at the front of the alternative, or progressive, or forward-thinking movements in this town. Dare calls Generation X, people that are currently between 30 and 40 years old, the “restoration generation.”
“We are doing our best to create a community that probably never existed. We’re recreating an ideal perception of a Downtown that we have heard about. A Downtown of intellectual life and cafes. Without the blight and racism. We’re recreating someone else’s perfect memories. Our generation is busy trying to recreate something from the past that we hope existed.”
As an unofficial spokesperson for Downtown merchants and the leading force behind the advocate website metrojacksonville.com, Dare sees the biggest problems facing Downtown as being simply a strict adherence to bad policies that address the concerns of prior eras.
When Dare was making Five Points happen, there was certainly a degree of homelessness to deal with, and there was prejudice. However they were able to overcome those because there weren’t laws and policies in place that made success more difficult. By being creative and cultivating an artistic ethic that eventually grew to be inherently associated with Riverside, property values went up. That taught a lesson to Jacksonville at large. An alternative community isn’t dangerous, and it doesn’t foster Satanism or even paganism, but rather helps rejuvenate an otherwise useless district. That is the ethic that investors are taking into Springfield and Downtown.
Among the policies that are trapping a current Downtown in a modality of the past are old “improvement plans” that once destroyed 4 million feet of retail space in the center of town. Also, parking policies were developed when they were a lot more people parking downtown. In 1984, according to Dare, 80,000 people parked Downtown, whereas today only 18,000 people park Downtown, and yet the rules developed to accommodate those 80,000 from yesteryear are still being applied today, and parking is one of the foremost problems brought to the forefront of Downtown.
“This is the killing zone for small businesses.”
Some of the hope that Dare sees in Jacksonville is that there are younger people moving into critical positions in the city, from the heads of museums and libraries to the younger generation of police officers. This helps resolve the disconnect between the older generation and the upcoming generation.
“Right now the counterculture and the establishments have the same aims.”
Finally the punks are not blaming First Baptist Church for their problems. In Dare’s perspective, if it weren’t for First Baptist, Downtown wouldn’t be as salvageable as it is right now.
“If it weren’t for them half of the symphony people wouldn’t have been able to survive in the 70s and 80s. You don’t have to go to First Baptist, but in terms of Downtown, without them it would have devolved into a hell hole. The real villains were the city planners, and they are still around and making decisions. The guy that shut down retail downtown is still one of the city’s consultants.”
“The growing numbers of people Downtown are helping us whittle down these policies. There is a large group of people here, but we are a group of fellow travelers. This is the pleasant part of the renovation; we all know each other and like each other. Eventually they’ll carve out their little fiefdoms and we’ll grow to hate each other.”
To own the Downtown is to own the city, and Dare and his assortment of “fellow travelers” have made their way through Riverside and Springfield, and those places are better for it. Now they are Downtown and great things are sure to follow.
“We haven’t all always liked each other, but we are the best and brightest of this local generation.”
Dare believes that Generation X is the bridge generation. He speaks of Generation X as though they are the chosen ones, come to heal, restore, and in some cases, create from nothing the ideals that generations before them claim once existed. These ghosts that drive them are unknown to anyone younger than them. So those 30 to 40 year olds are making ideals true that have never been true for them, regardless if they were the most aborted and neglected generation in history and not to mention the first generation to have education dollars taken away from them.
“It’s a wonderful vibe. Whatever the progressive or alternative thing is, it’s about change and being open to new things. We’ve created a place where we are comfortable. We are that bridge generation that connects our parents’ ideals to our friend’s children. I’m at the age now where I have friends with 20-year old kids that are the new ones doing things. The people that we’ve known are voices that are in our heads. People that are dead. Younger people don’t have those voices. It’s up to us.”
by kellie abrahamson kabrahamson1@aol.com
Downtown Jacksonville is an untapped goldmine for families looking for a way to spend a Saturday. Because of how diverse the area is, one can spend a day downtown for virtually nothing or break the bank on activities, events and entertainment. In order to give you an idea of some of the fun things to do downtown with kids, I’ve come up with two itineraries, one for folks on a budget, the other for those willing to spare no expense. Both of these routes allow you to park your car on the South Bank to avoid the hassle of finding parking and give you a chance to see the city in a whole new way.
Yes, you can show your kids a terrific time downtown for under $20. There are plenty of fun, free things to do and see right on the river. I highly recommend you pack a stroller if you have little ones since there is a bit of walking involved with this route.
Begin your day on the South Bank. Park your family car in the convenient parking lot near MOSH and make your way over to the Jacksonville Maritime Museum at the foot of the Main Street Bridge. The small river-front museum gives families a chance to see nautical artifacts and models of famous ships like the Titanic and The Three Friends. The Maritime Museum has an extensive collection of paintings and photos and is a must-see for those interested in North Florida’s maritime history. Because an average walk-through only takes about 15 minutes, little guests should hold up fairly well. The museum is open Monday-Friday from 10:30am-3pm and Saturday-Sunday from 1pm-5pm. Admission is free of charge and donations are accepted.
Once you’ve taken a look at all the model boats, head over to the Friendship Fountain and have a picnic lunch while watching real boats float by on the St. Johns River. Tables are nearby, as is a shaded grassy area that’s just begging for a picnic blanket. Spread out and enjoy your meal, then give the kids a chance to stretch their legs while you relax and take in the delicious view.
Next, hop on Water Taxi for a quick boat ride to the Jacksonville Municipal Marina. Just $3 for adults and $2 for children ages 4-12 (kids 3 and under are free), you and your kids can experience the beauty of the River City from the middle of the St. Johns. Exit your vessel and head over to Kids Kampus, a ten-acre park that has plenty for kids to see, do, learn about and explore. You can check out bicycles and helmets free of charge and let your kids ride on miniature Jacksonville roads or turn them loose on sandboxes and playgrounds.
When you’re able to drag them away, take a stroll past the Veterans Memorial Wall across the street and catch the Sunflower Line Trolley at the Veterans Memorial Arena. The trolley service is free of charge and is a charming way to traverse the big city. Get off at the Laura Street stop and it’s just a couple of blocks to the Main Library where you can wind down with a story or a puppet show. The library has a terrific children’s area with events happening all the time. For dates, times and events, visit www.jpl.coj.net.
When you’re through relaxing among the stacks, take the Skyway at Hemming Plaza back over to the South Bank. At just 35 cents per person, this is a great deal. Kids get all the fun of a train ride without the price tag. It’s important to note that the Skyway does not operate on Sundays unless there is a special event going on.
Total estimated cost for a family of four (with kids under 12): $12
It’s easy to splurge in a city like Jacksonville because there is so much to do and see. Here’s a great way to spend the day if money is no object.
Like before, park on the South Bank and visit the MOSH. This hands-on museum is a great way to spend an entire day with the family. See animals, take in a show at the planetarium and learn about Jacksonville history. There’s something here for the whole family. Admission is $8 for adults and $6 for children ages 3-12.
Take the Water Taxi over to the Landing and grab a quick bite to eat at one of their many restaurants and eateries. The Landing has a wide variety of restaurants, each with very different flavors, atmospheres and prices. Once you’ve eaten your fill, do a little shopping. Pick up unique gifts at Edgewater Treasures or an “I Love Jacksonville” T-shirt at Destination Jacksonville. Be sure to pop on over to The Toy Factory and let the kids check out some of the hottest toys in town.
Next, hop on the Magnolia Line Trolley and ride on over to Hemming Plaza and MOCA Jacksonville. Their one of a kind ArtExplorium Loft is a must-see for creative kids. Here, children of all ages can learn about modern and contemporary art and try their hands at different mediums to get a better understanding of how artists create their works. There are 16 learning stations in the Loft, giving kids plenty to do during their visit. Admission for adults is $6, students with current ID pay $4.00 and children under 2 are free. When you’re through at MOCA, take the Skyway back over to the South Bank.
Total estimated cost for a family of four (with kids under 12): $100
11E
11 E. Forsyth St.
Central Downtown
vestcor.com/lynch
904.358.6464
Cathedral Residences
601 N. Newnan St.
Central Downtown
904.798.5353
Stevens-Duval
601 N. Ocean St.
Central Downtown
904.358.8872
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The Carling
31 W. Adams St.
Central Downtown
904.356.6400
The Metropolitan
421 W. Church St.
Central Downtown
jaxlofts.com
904.358.2100
W.A. Knight Lofts
113 W. Adams St.
Central Downtown
904.598.1368
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16:flat
208 N. Laura St.
Central Downtown
16flat.com
904.252.5404
218 West Adams Lofts
218 W. Adams St.
Central Downtown
218lofts.com
904.358.3131
1951 Market
1951 Market St
Springfield
1951market.com
888.385.2099
Berkman Plaza
400-500 E. Bay St.
North Bank
berkmanplaza.com
904.633.7900
Churchwell Lofts at East Bay
301 E. Bay St.
Central Downtown
904.343.5721
Home Street Lofts
1050 Hendricks Ave.
South Bank
Parks at the Cathedral
256 E. Church St.
Central Downtown
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Residences at City Place
311 W. Ashley St.
Central Downtown
cityplacejacksonville.com
904.358.CITY
San Marco Place
1300 Riverplace Blvd.
South Bank
sanmarcoplace.com
904.346.3636
Shipyards
950 E. Bay St.
North Bank
shipyards.cc
904.562.7447
The Peninsula
1403 Riverplace Blvd.
South Bank
thepeninsulacondos.com
904.306.9606
The St. John
999 Prudential Dr.
South Bank
thestjohn.com
904.399.1555
The Strand
1403 Riverplace Blvd.
South Bank
thestrandsouthbank.com
904.306.9606
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