by J. Brooks Terry
Staff Writer
With apologies to Aerosmith, don’t walk this way on some of downtown’s sidewalks.
But in this case, pedestrian detours aren’t such a bad thing. Hundreds of yards of sidewalks along several streets — Main, Duval, West Adams and Monroe just to name a few — are blocked because of construction projects, including the Bay Street Town Center project, Lerner Building, The Carlington and the Main Library and parking garage.
Sure it’s inconvenient. But most downtown workers say they’re willing to put up with longer, rerouted walks if it means downtown will get the jump start it needs.
“I’m not going to complain,” said Michael Garrison, who works in the Wachovia Building. “I could use the extra exercise and it’s not like it’s permanent. If these projects deliver what their supposed to when they’re finished, I don’t care if I have to walk a few streets up for a couple of months.”
Tony Allegretti of Downtown Vision, Inc. agreed, saying the current construction boom — no sidewalks and all — is a “definite positive.”
“I do agree it’s worth the trouble,” he said. “All of the business and residential developments we’re seeing are going to present a very positive return over time. Jacksonville hasn’t seen progress like this in a very long time so it’s understandable that there will be some growing pains associated with it.
“I have to walk up Adams Street everyday through a little tunnel, but I don’t think it’s worth getting upset about.”
City Hall — one large complaint box to many — has not been bombarded with angry constituent calls regarding the closed sidewalks..
“In fact, I don’t think we’ve gotten any calls about it,” said Lin White, assistant to Council member Suzanne Jenkins, who represents downtown. “We get complaints about pretty much everything else, but people seem to understand that the City is in a construction mode right now.
“What else can you do?”