Urban Jacksonville

Huge thanks to Derek Hudson, who helped make this recording.

Podcast Episode #16: Update on 3rd and Main (8:23)

Bill Cesery gives an update on the progress of the 3rd and Main project in Springfield. This development will be an extended stay apartment building for patients at Shands Proton Therapy Unit. Get all the details on the grocery store, new retail space and parking. Bam! Street View of 3rd and Main.

I think the City should start running the trolley up Main Street, down 8th past Shands and back down Broad into Downtown. It could serve the Springfield community and Shands, moving people between 3rd and Main, the new Walgreens, Shands and the City Market Uptown (I made that name up). Think about it.

That would be a nice loop! I even made a map so the city could see what I’m talking about. Proposed Springfield Trolley Route.

View Larger Map

Here’s my original interview with Bill Cesery on the 3rd and Main project: Podcast Episode #9: Talk with Bill Cesery about Third and Main.

Subscribe to the Urban Jacksonville podcast
More Urban Jacksonville Podcasts

UPDATE

1. He expects the project will be finished by March 2009.
2. This is a 6 million dollar project and is the first new build on Main St. in over 40 years. Both Mr. Cesery and SPAR hope it will spur on a flurry of commercial activity for Main St.
3. His first commercial tenant will be a market and deli. After that he will still have another 4000 sq ft. available for goods and services.

I talked with Matt Bort the 1st and Chris Williams from Burro Bags, a messenger bag store in Springfield. Burro Bags is having their grand opening this Friday, May 16th from 6:00 to 10:00 at 1520 Main Street in Springfield.

Podcast Episode #15: Burro Bags Grand Opening May 16th (42:56)
Subscribe to the Urban Jacksonville podcast

Chris

Matt

Tags: burro bags, messenger bags

Photos compliments of Jennifer McCharen. Entire photoset

Podcast Episode #13: Springfield Community Garden (30:53)
Subscribe to the Urban Jacksonville podcast

In this episode I talk with Phillip Ramsey and Jennifer McCharen about the Springfield community garden. The garden is located on Main Street in the raised lot north of The Pearl.

We talk about how the garden got started, plans for the garden and Jacksonville in general. Eventually Phillip and Jennifer hope to provide space for the community to grow their own food and possibly provide food for their neighbors and the surrounding downtown community.

Here are some links we discuss in the episode:
Riverside Avondale Development Organization (RADO)
Jacksonville Carbon Neutral Initiative (JCNI)

If you are interested in subscribing to the climate change mailing list mentioned in the interview, send an email to: atilley@unf.edu.

Update: The Times-Union has a First Business feature on this in the paper today. Here’s a link to the online article Left behind in Springfield.

Last week Mack Bissette of SRG Homes gave a talk at the Springfield Small Business Association titled: Springfield Business Conditions: Don’t Ride the Horse Backwards. Urban Jacksonville contributor Rick Kurtzo was able to swing by and grab a recording of the talk. Thanks Rick!

Springfield Business Conditions: Don’t Ride the Horse Backwards (1:06 - MP3)
Subscribe to the Urban Jacksonville podcast

Mack references a handout a few times in his talk and so far I have been unable to get a copy of the handout. As soon as I do I will post it here for you to read. Here’s a small summary of what’s on the podcast:

0:00 - Introduction - Mack Bissette’s background
7:30 - Linear thinking to curvilinear thinking
11:50 - Safety First, that’s Springfield
14:45 - Springfield survey results
21:00 - Why don’t we have retail on Main Street? Or, “Something’s wrong with the Claritas Data.”
26:50 - Where do we go from here? Schools, parks, SRG developments and local business
31:00 - JTA bringing trolley to Main Street/Riverside/Avondale
34:00 - Question and Answer

Podcast episode #11: Stephen Dare interview (23:25)
Subscribe to the Urban Jacksonville podcast

I talk with Stephen about the last, and maybe most controversial, art show at Boomtown. The Contemporary Artists show at Boomtown will be showing until June 9th. Stop by Boomtown at tomorrow’s Art Walk, June 6th, and check out art by Lee Harvey, Ryan Rummel and more.

As you listen to the interview you can follow along in the photoset as Stephen describes each piece.

I also talked with Stephen about the end of Boomtown, his retirement/vacation from the restaurant biz and his plans for the future. Something about dominating the Jacksonville blogging scene…?

tags: jacksonville, boomtown, artwalk, stephen dare

I spoke with Sean Tucker on the night of the Humane Society art show at Opaq. We talked about his idea for a new art magazine in Jacksonville. Sean calls it a portable art show and envisions the magazine as something you can stick in your pocket. If you’re interested in contributing, send art to seantuckerdesign@gmail.com. Sean only has two requests: send what you have in as high a resolution as possible and send him as much stuff as you want. On to the interview:

Sean Tucker interview (6:59 - MP3)
Subscribe to the Urban Jacksonville podcast

For more information read an interview with Sean in issue #3 of CREATEjacksonville.

tags: jacksonville, art, sean tucker

Thanks to Dan Herbin from Metro Jacksonville for the photo. Also check out this article from Metro Jacksonville for more on Main Street development in Springfield.

I spoke with Bill Cesery shortly after the ground breaking for a new Springfield development, Third and Main.

Third and Main interview (7:31 - MP3)
Subscribe to the Urban Jacksonville podcast

This event was scaled down quite a bit compared to the last Third and Main event, back when it was the Lofts at Third and Main. Coincidentally the old website for the development is still up, you guys might want to do something about that to avoid confusion between the old and new project.

Anyway, Bill and I talk about the new focus of the project, extended stay hotel and apartment units. Apparently Cesery and Shands have worked out a deal to house patients who are having cancer therapy at the new Proton Beam facility at Shands. Cool! So it’s likely the development will be filled to capacity much of the time.

Third and Main time machine below:
Apartments not condos for Third and Main
The Lofts at Third and Main old elevations