Quote:Funny.  I've visited a number of great bars downtown in the past few years that seem to be doing fine. In fact I have a friend that owns one that's been open there for over 4 years and is doing better than ever.  

 

Downtown has a ways to go - but it's steadily gotten better, IMO. 

 

The amount of homelessness/ vacant buildings vastly outweighs current small business in the area.

 

 

 

 

Quote:Maybe you can accuse of me of comparing apples to oranges but if NY Times square can be transformed from homeless, junkies and prostitution into the commercial world powerhouse it is today then we have a chance to revitalize downtown Jax.

 

It is not only vital for us to become a great city but if we have any chance to attract NCAA championships, world class exhibitions or even super bowls we will need a signature district and downtown provides us our best opportunity to accomplish this.

 

San Diego has Gaslamp Quarter, New Orleans has the French Quarter and Bourbon Street, Miami has South Beach. we need to develop something iconic for our city.

 

NYC has its homelessness/trash ghettos to thriving economic booming retail/shopping centers in every borough. The difference is the government in each borough dosen't have to deal with roadblocks Jax has to deal with (politically) that keep downtown from thriving economically.

 

Everything else I agree with

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