I am new to Jacksonville but instantly fell in love with the numerous distinct neighborhood centers starting with the largest, Downtown proper, and then some of the smaller ones like San Marco, Riverside, Avondale, and Murray Hill. These places need to be preserved and prepared for growth th the same time. The planning head for New York City has a concept to provide incentives for preserving certain areas of historically significant neighborhoods by offering other areas for development. So she upzones one area and simultaneously downzones another. Maybe this is something that would preserve and enhance these neigborhood centers in Jacksonville. These unique areas of Jacksonville that i have mentioned are already a draw. Maybe incentives can be looked at to so to help with the continuos renovation and maintenance of not only the single family residential units but also the commercial units in these areas. Incentives that will bring more mixed-use buildings to these neighborhood centers should also be considered as it is financially cumbersome on a property owner to convert old single-use buildings into mixed-use ones. The City of Jacksonville's Growth Management Code should be updated to reflect the changes of the times. Mixed-use is no longer the devil in disguise like it was when there were homes situated right next to noxious factories or warehouses. Today mixed-use is sought after by property owners and residents alike. Any sustainable and enjoyable neighborhood center is equipped with a significant mix of uses, like residences, schools, cleaners, grocers, shops, etc. The more diverse the block the more interesting the sidewalk.

I have lived in southside Jacksonville all 23 years of my life and can count on one hand the amount of times I went downtown. This is a major problem for me because I wish to one day be a developer/entrepreneur here but it seems like downtown Jacksonville and sorrounding areas are avoided when it comes to development. On the other hand construction in Zone 2 is endless. I can remember when there was one walmart in the area, now I have a plethora of options in a 5 mile radias. I understand there are problems in the Heath Zone 1 community which need to addressed and tackled before intrest in the area would rise. I personally would be glad to be apart of a solution. Maybe incentives for developers who will build in the area. I also notice the run down strip malls throughout the city, is there no way we can hold landlords accountable for their property appearance? If downtown is the "Heart of Jacksonville" then it is sick. Are we just going to build around the problem? Please advise me of any groups, meetings, or projects regarding the development or planning of the city. Please direct information to Duanewilliams904@me.com

Looking foward to developments in the area. I'm a fairly new resident here in Jax and enjoy the small-town feel even though we're not. I would like to see an indoor, multi-level shopping mall within walking distance to the convention center downtown.

I have lived in various locations throughout Jacksonville and spend times in all parts of town as well. I recently lived in Melbourne, Australia for a few months, and in doing so learned what one of the most "livable cities in the world" is like. Even though it is a major Metropolitan city, it has such a sense of community and place. Some of the major points I learned in making a city livable and enjoyable for all of its residents are various types good public transportation, planning the community around pedistrians rather than cars, lots of shops and restaurants all over, cleanliness and interesting well-designed architecture and art throughout the city. We have great weather here; Jacksonville needs more public parks and access to our waterfronts so ALL residents can enjoy being outside FOR FREE- this also adds to a sense of community and pride in one's city. I see how amazing Jacksonville can be if these ideas are included in the city planning, because I as well as many other residents here, have experienced how bland of a city Jacksonville is right now. I got to experience how the items mentioned above brought a sense of pride and enjoyment to the residents of Melbourne, Australia and I don't see any reason why we can't make Jacksonville one of the "most livable cities" as well.

I llive in the San Jose area of the Southeast District. Because I am retired and do not often travel on University Boulevard north or south across Beach Boulevard or across Atlantic Boulevard, so I do not frequently experience the enormous backups ar those intersections during rush hours. Overpasses at those intersections in north/south directions were planned in the "Jacksonville Plan" and money collected to build them ,but a relatively small number of persons in business in the immediate areas prevailed on two-thirds (maybe a bit more) of the members of The Jacksonville City Council to take advantage of an opt-out clause and they were not built. If one or more persons had stood at those intersections for several weeks to collect thousands of signatures and dumpted them on the desks of the city council members assembled, the intersections would have been built with alacrity. So much for the citizen "sheep" in our community and the stupid and disinteresed (in the community's welfare) Council members, who are only interested in fat contributions from business interests with which to be reelected. These intersecions must be built for all the reasons citizens and planners know. Let's put them back in the comprehensive plan. if not already there, provide the needed funds from local, state, and federal funds (if avaiable) and get the oonsruction done. RMN