by Max Marbut
Staff Writer
The Downtown Action Committee held its final weekly meeting Monday morning and heard committee member Ennis Davis present Metrojacksonville.com’s ideas for making Laura Street between Hemming Plaza and the Landing more retail and pedestrian friendly.
Those four blocks are the best place to start improvements, Davis said, because the street connects the riverfront and the core of Downtown. Streetscape elements like pavers in the crosswalks and historic lighting fixtures are already in place.
He also pointed out that he thinks the plan could be implemented for about $20,000 per block and that developers with projects underway on Laura Street might contribute to financing the new look.
Davis said there are some simple and affordable solutions to bring more pedestrian traffic to the area including enhancing lighting of trees and buildings, providing informational signage to help people who are unfamiliar with Downtown find their way and better identification of public short-term parking facilities.
“Some people have no idea where the library and City Hall are located,” said Davis. “If you don’t know what’s down there, you wouldn’t walk down the street.”
He suggested improvements to the Magnolia Trolley signs that are presently only readable when traveling south on Laura Street and provide incorrect information about the Trolley schedule.
Davis said that he thinks all the existing signage for pedestrians on Laura Street needs improvement. “If you’re new to the area, you’ll have a hard time getting around,” he said.
Davis also suggested that a retail element should be included as part of the proposed park on Main Street adjacent to the library.
City Council member Suzanne Jenkins said she wants Davis to bring the Laura Street presentation to the May 30 town meeting to share the ideas with the public and that Davis should, “Be ready to answer the questions I’m sure will come up.”
Paul Crawford, deputy director of the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission, said the JEDC is working with the Chamber of Commerce to get its members to come to the commission for information and assistance.
“It’s a new day at the JEDC in terms of Downtown. We need to let people know they can come to the JEDC for help. The JEDC is the catalyst for making things happen. We’re hitting our stride and Downtown is a focus,” said Crawford and compared Downtown to a pot of gumbo. “We need to combine all the elements to make the best-tasting gumbo.”
Planning and Development Department Director Mike Saylor proposed that information and assistance that could help new businesses Downtown succeed should be consolidated through the JEDC.
As the meeting adjourned, Jenkins said that while the committee has reached the end of its weekly meetings, the group may meet monthly or quarterly in the future and that she’s considering creating a Downtown Summit, “To inform the public about what’s being done.”
Saylor said he thinks the committee fulfilled its purpose, then added, “We have to keep the momentum going. Studies can’t just sit on the shelf.”