Successes
 

Canopy Removal

Urban Renewal from the 1970's not only changed downtown's traffic flow, but attached city-owned steel-and-brick canopies to the faces of priivately owned buildings around Central Park Plaza. These eyesores limited visibility to the stores, hindered security, and provided a haven for pigeons.

Since Jacksonville Main Street's inception, removal of these canopies has been a priority, and is now a success story. The City removed the last of 8 canopy sections in April 2007, affording property owners the opportunity to undertake major facade rehabilitation projects and make building repairs that had been nearly impossible with the obstacles created by the canopies. These projects, spurred by a City funded Facade Improvement Grant reimbursement program administered by Jacksonville Main Street, have contributed to over $10 million in reinvestment in the historic central business district within the last 7 years.

Today, merchants and patrons enjoy a brighter downtown with fewer pigeons and increased visibility to storefronts, greater visual security, increased exposure for beautiful historic architectural details, and a more pleasant environment!

 

 

In 2002, Jacksonville Main Street purchased its first quadrant building, another remnant of Urban Renewal that provided an obstacle to achieving the goal of reopening the east-west traffic flow around and providing north-south access to the Central Park Plaza. Even though plans and funding for such an idea were uncertain at the time, the organization forged ahead with demolition when it became unfeasible to make necessary repairs to the structure.

In a move that underscored Jacksonville Main Street's commitment to downtown revitalization, the first of these four buildings, constructed in the former roadways, was razed. Community reaction was overwhelmingly positive, and support for the restoration of downtown vehicular access grew, eventually leading to a Federal appropriation and matching City funds that have put the "Downtown Turnaround" project on a fast track.

Jacksonville Main Street purchased their second quadrant building in early 2006. While plans for the downtown traffic pattern are being developed by the City's consultants, the organization hopes to provide short-term leases for the property to recoup some of the investment in the square's restoration project. Preliminary plans include storefront parking and restored north-south access, with enhanced east-west traffic. Presently, the lot from the first quad is used as green-space and is the frequent host of downtown festivals.