Downtown Investment Authority

[spenser1058]

Ron Moody, Chairman of the DIA, outlines some of the plans for revitalization of downtown by the CRA and DIA:

https://www.jacksonville.com/story/opinion/2021/02/28/guest-column-there-plan-downtown/6817830002/

From The Florida Times- Union 

Edited February 28, 2021 by spenser1058

[WAJAS]

So is the DIA similar to the Orlando Downtown CRA or DDB?

I'm most excited for the Emerald Trail Model Mile project with the new park off Lee. Plus, the Skyway extension to Brooklyn will finally connect it to a mass or riders that are in a demographic more likely to actually use it.

[spenser1058]

10 minutes ago, WAJAS said:

So is the DIA similar to the Orlando Downtown CRA or DDB?

I'm most excited for the Emerald Trail Model Mile project with the new park off Lee. Plus, the Skyway extension to Brooklyn will finally connect it to a mass or riders that are in a demographic more likely to actually use it.

They seem to be a little more willing to act independently of the mayor than what we’ve seen in Orlando. Maybe it’s because five members are picked by the mayor and four by the council president (it’s an interesting arrangement that seems to offer more dynamism across government than Orlando, which is so controlled by the strong mayor the city council rarely offers differing opinions or solutions). I’m still getting to understand how it all works but here’s the official blurb:

https://www.coj.net/departments/downtown-investment-authority.aspx

 

 

 

[spenser1058]

An interesting tidbit about the Skyway: when Florida cities competed for the grant in the late ‘70’s (I think), Orlando (I’m pretty sure this was the Langford era still) decided to link Colonial Plaza, OFS and what is now the Target shopping center rather than coming up with something for the then moribund downtown. It was no wonder Jax won out on that...

[WAJAS]

34 minutes ago, spenser1058 said:

An interesting tidbit about the Skyway: when Florida cities competed for the grant in the late ‘70’s (I think), Orlando (I’m pretty sure this was the Langford era still) decided to link Colonial Plaza, OFS and what is now the Target shopping center rather than coming up with something for the then moribund downtown. It was no wonder Jax won out on that...

Honestly, for cities the size of Orlando and Jax, the Skyway seems to be worse than Lymmo. Light rail going farther distances and faster than Skyway would work, but the Skyway just doesn't extend far enough outside of the CBD to be too useful.

[spenser1058]

15 minutes ago, WAJAS said:

Honestly, for cities the size of Orlando and Jax, the Skyway seems to be worse than Lymmo. Light rail going farther distances and faster than Skyway would work, but the Skyway just doesn't extend far enough outside of the CBD to be too useful.

It supposedly had some utility when the old train station was converted into a convention center but you’re pretty much correct.

That was very much a case of there were grants out there and cities felt like they had to go for them even if there weren’t solid plans in place to make use of them.

Transit, other than buses, especially in second-tier cities, was just becoming a thing again.