Unity Plaza director shares big ideas, bright future
It’s already been touted as an event space and gathering location, festival hot spot, music amphitheater and, if the newly slated Executive Director of Unity Plaza had her way, it would already be complete and full of activity. “It’s really so much fun when capital, ideas and architects come together. It’s just really cool,” said […]
Public comment – does it work?
Citizens want clarification on right By Kate A. Hallock Resident Community News Last month The City of Jacksonville Ethics Commission sent a formal request to Attorney General Pam Bondi for a legal opinion to clarify the new “right to public comment” law (Section 286.0114 Florida Statutes, effective date Oct. 1, 2013.) This new law requires […]
Food fight in Hemming Plaza looms
Proposed new code will restrict food truck owners adversely By Kate A. Hallock Resident Community News Food truck owners in Jacksonville swarmed City Council Chambers last month, fighting what appears to be ill-conceived legislation that would put more restrictions on the popular mobile eateries. Approximately 200 people – mostly opposed to the pending, far-from-final bill […]
Improving the commercial development process
Retailers, developers and city officials work through frustrations to find better solutions By Steve DiMattia Resident Community News Sometimes out of the most seemingly disharmonious moments emerge unity, or, at least, a path to better communication and a deeper understanding between all parties. There is hope that this was the case during an often-contentious February […]
Fire stations receive new designations
Specializations concentrated at three locations – In an effort to extinguish inefficiencies, three Jacksonville fire stations have new designations as Squad Companies concentrating specialized skill sets – responsibilities and equipment – to better aid the community. Last month fire stations in St. Nicholas, Riverside and the Northside began transitioning from Engine Companies to three unique […]
Extraordinary tale of personal quest
Mandarin Museum to celebrate 150th anniversary of shipwreck – Next month residents of Jacksonville will have an opportunity to see an important part of its history up close. The Mandarin Museum will host a nine-month long exhibit of Civil War artifacts brought up from the depths of the St. Johns River – by a local […]
East San Marco arrival brings mixed emotions, thoughtful debate
Traffic was the main topic of the Town Hall meeting, sponsored by the San Marco Preservation Society last month, as the developers of East San Marco presented changes to the project that confirms a Publix-anchored supermarket as the primary retail tenant and the highest priced rents in the city for the apartments to be built […]
More than just a ‘statement’ – fashion changes lives
Designer Ashley DeRamus and her mother Connie were tired, tired of clothing not fitting her frame and their shared desire to find clothes turned the frustrated fashionistas into fashion moguls. When fashion didn’t quite fit and options didn’t flatter, the mother and daughter team went to work and broke the mold. “We would end up […]
