1. Do you live in Jacksonville Beach?

101 Pages·2014·0.35 MB·English

by  Patricia Roberts

1. Do you live in Jacksonville Beach?
Increased police presence is working really well. We need more family friendly restaurants. No more
bars!
The city wants family friendly but a. Only has 3 outdoor movies per year. b. Wants to downsize traffic
and parking, but provides limited bike racks. c. When was the last time 1st street was completely non
construction during the summertime.
I like all the activities and things going on every weekend. I think Jax beach has been doing a better job
policing the beach and making it safe for all the people in the community. Making sure the residents are
safe during big events when people from around Jacksonville come into town is the biggest concern I
have with Jax.
Working: Festivals Moonlit movies Public beach access Needs improvement: Making area more
pedestrian and bike friendly Stop letting people build ugly condos
I love Jax Beach, what is working is that is is low key, not too crowded. What's not working is that is
seems the city is afraid to grow and afraid to encourage business to come here. It seems we have far
too many rules regarding outside dining, music after 10pm etc. This is a beach community and people
enjoy being outside, and enjoying outside activities. We should encourage walking and biking. We
should close off first street between Joe's Crab Shack and the Pier beginning Friday's at 5pm through
Sunday evening to allow outside dining at restaurants and allow people to mingle and actually stop and
go in to businesses and restaurants. currently we have nothing but "drive by" people who aren't putting
any money into the community just driving by and causing traffic headaches. Regarding the Pier it is
honestly an embarrasment - when you approach the Pier it looks like you are walking into a Prison. We
recently went to Naples Florida which is a lovely community that is also small and not wanting to grow
too much. The Pier is lovely with Palm trees, bathrooms, no fee, snack bar, picnic tables and covered
benches. The end of the Pier is for fishing with fish cleaning stations along the way, and it is very
popular. I dont even mind charging a fee to enter but the chain link fence is appalling. The bathrooms
are filthy. This should be the PRIDE of JAX Beach!! Our pier is longer than Naples or Charleston yet we
have done nothing to encourage the residents to enjoy it. Fisherman will still enjoy the end of the Pier,
but local residents and tourist can stop for a soda, and ice cream and have a seat and enjoy the view. I
have heard so many excuses regarding the problems with the Pier that the City of Jax owns it, but the
city of Jax Beach runs it - that is an excuse. We can and do get items taken care of across boundaries -
this is no different. This is worthy of our attention and would be minimal cost to just do a clean up. Our
Pier is far superior in constructions to Naples and charleston - so the infrastructure is fine - it is just the
details that need to be addressed.
Glad to see additional police near Sneakers, Music Pavillion. Thump thump music not helped by
McDonalds blasting music most of the weekend for opening celebration.
I moved to Neptune Beach at 8 years old & have lived here most of my life. (Minus time away for college
+ a year of Americorps service and a couple of years living in Atlantic Beach.) When I was looking to
purchase a new home 4 years ago, I focused my search on both Atlantic and Neptune Beaches as I
preferred their residential feel and proximity to the Beaches Town Center.
Jax Beach is a "walking town," but drivers to not pay enough attention to pedestrians in the crosswalk
with the walking signal. My family and I have had several close calls while crossing 3rd Street at Seagate
with a "walking signal." The drivers making right turns do not stop and look for pedestrians in the
crosswalk, nor do they seem to care we are walking. Also, cars making a left on green, do not see people
walking/biking in the crosswalk with a walking signal until it is too late. I am now nervous to walk to
downtown Jax Beach out of fear my kids and I will get hit. Plus, with all the visitors they are definitely
not use to having people walking everywhere. Is there any way of making it more safe to cross the street
without fear of getting hurt? Especially with summer coming more tourists need to slow down. Speeding
around the beach is a concern of mine also. Everyone needs to follow the speed limit and realize people
are walking.
East of Third (except for the few blocks around the pier) needs to go to resident permit parking. There is
too much residential development to allow general street parking for non-residents. The problem will
just continue to get worse and worse. The homeless and transient "walkers" along 2nd and 1st St.
from the pier down through 16th ave south are so intimidating fro residents.
I have been a resident of Jax Beach since 1988. The downtown core has improved dramatically since I
moved here. Working: Downtown Plaza with stage, green space, cleanliness of streets, Life saving corp
and building, the Pier! Not working: Need more PAID parking. In some cities you pay to get on the
beach in addition to parking. Use city owned lot on 2nd st and build a parking garage.
I like the Art Walks. And think the downtown area looks inviting. Like the spring movies on Friday nights
and would like to see more of these. The movies seem to be family friendly. We have a nice choice of
restaurants. Unfortunately, Jacksonville Beach seems to attract a lot of visitors from Jacksonville who
behave in an unruly fashion.
I am impressed by the police presence during the weekends. I am starting to feel like I can enjoy my
neighborhood beach opposed to having to go to Atlantic beach. I feel like parking prices should still be
increased. The riffraff won't pay for parking. Jax beach is starting to feel less trashy.
I have 2nd home in jax beach. City making great progress. Would like to see extension of core jax
streetscaping to move south of beach blvd, install palms up down 3rd street, enforcement of distressed
business/homesites, and development of 3rd street/beach intersection with a nice hotel business retail
mix. Be nice to get premier hotel chain develop a resort proprerty for tourism. Parking bike lanes police
safety are continued priorities. Jax beach should do something unique like jax is doing with saturday
farmers mkt/entertainment under bridge downtown. St Augustine is really cool with unique stores
restaurants and history. Amphitheatre is awesome.
Generally, facilities are well maintained. I find the city administration well executed.
We live on 1st Street. We voted for all officials, including the Mayor, based upon commitments to
correct the horrific parking situation. Nothing has been done.
I absolutely love living here at Jax Beach. However, the work that has been completed on first street the
round about by Sneakers should always only be foot and bike traffic. It works that way for all festivals.
Keep it that way all the time! From Sneakers to the Pier. People just don't know how to merge with
cars never mind a bicyclist! I know!
Control of parking outside of core city. Beach goer's routinely (every weekend) park in no parking areas
or along bike lanes. Bike riders three or four abreast blocking traffic and ignoring all stop signs.
I think Jacksonville Beach is associated with bars and drinking. I will not go downtown after dark, I go to
Town Center.
Ocean grille is blasting explicit music outside as families are walking by. Curse words were in the music
and dj was cursing in microphone this past sat. All taking place even before dark. The music was so loud
you could hear it over The Piers music.
UNRULELY weekend vistors.....every spring and summer from 3:00pm - 3:00am.......location 6av south -
8 av north........now i voted for mayor latham,....?????....this is not a family beach.....use the police in the
hot places ( ie pier, mcdonals, publix and 6south park).....and wait for a hurricane to wipe out the rest of
the weekend trash........thanks aaron
As indicated by the Ritz lot in the daytime, there is some business related activity. Overburdened with
restaurants in name only. Residential is developing on North 1st Street and 2nd Avenue South. Medical
office(s) being constructed on 3rd Avenue North. Need more of this non-retail, dining. Miss the
benches but not the homeless that occupied them at time. Traffic and more traffic. Traffic circle at 2nd
Street confusing lots of drivers. Why, I don't know.
Need to be more visitor friendly.
I live at 1707 2nd street South, across from Heugonot Park. Great location. Like that park is often used
by a diverse group of people. Police responsive when I call about loud neighbors in middle of night.
live in S. Jax Beach, and rarely go to downtown area. like where i am. dislike crowds.
I love this city and the beach. My only concern is the change in demographic thats happening to our
beach on Sundays.
Too many bars, too many drunks. NO ONE in my neighborhood goes to the Jax Beach CBD at night for
pleasure.
2. Do you work in Jacksonville Beach?

Just like we do when we have fesivals - we need to close down traffic from 5PM on Friday to
5PM Sunday on 1st Street and make it a walking dining and entertianment zone and even bring
in food trucks - all we have now are people cruisng the street with the radios on and not
stopping at any of the merchants - there is limited parking there so by closing the street we
aren't givinv up much - all we need are two signs - on by sneakers and one by Casa Marina
look at what Atlantic Beach did on 1st Street we need to showcase our pier - it is so
underutilized as a family attraction - even tiny Vilano Beach has a much more inviting pier that
we do. we need to put covered areas with benches and add a shop or food truck where u can b
uy a drink and food the gate ot the pier looks like a prison gate and should be much more
inviting - i woudl raise the admission fee to get in if need be - finally close off at least the first
third of the pierto fishing - half the time it is over sand due to the tides and even at high tide
90% of the fisherman are at the end of the pier we need to promote the beaches trolley so
peoplewil lknow about it - signs on the lamp post (like we do for the festivals) might work
Regarding businesses in Jax Beach we need to continue to encourage restaurants to perhaps
give tax incentives to move to the beach. Atlantic Beach is very popoular and has a good
variety of restaurants with very little parking - we could do the same. We need restaurants that
also serve alcohol - not just bars. That will encourage adults to come to dinner and enjoy the
beach, not just college kids coming out to drink. Also, if we have future building on the Beach
we should ensure condo's or such have retail on the bottom floor . We have very few
restaurants on the beach, with a view, and we should ensure that future building on the beach
includes some commercial space.

My goal is to find a job within walking distance of where I live.

Jacksonville Beach is shifting. As was established at the City Hall presentation, we need to
attract more varied retail establishments (not just those catering to tourists) and higher end
restaurants to continue the momentum.

Yes, I work on 4th Ave. I drive on 1st Street everyday to work from south Jax Beach.
Working: Bike lanes, ocean front park, LIMITATIONS on high rise condos. Its nice to be able to
see the ocean as you drive on 1st. Ample parking lots along 1st to Beach Blvd.

I live and work in Jax Beach

Retired

Retired, but do extensive volunteer work.

I"ve never seen a police officer around my office except for those working traffic on Beach. My
office is at 1909 Beach Blvd.

no problems
Love my job at the hospital.
3. Did you take a police guided tour of downtown prior to taking this survey?
Not enough mix of things to do for all age groups especially at night.
Friday evening 11:00 pm. Always heard how busy it was downtown on weekend nights. It was good
to experience it. Working: All those people are bringing in REVENUE. Need constant police to make
sure all is safe. CABS and moe of them are essential to downtown core on weekend nights. Free cab
parking in designated area to get people in and out at night.
No, but I go there all the time to bank, get a haircut, Walgreens, City Hall meetings, pier, beach, crusing
1st St through out the year, events, parades, shops (Beachside), eating out at many of the restaurants,
Art Walks, Art museum All during day or early evening.
No, but we're very familiar with daytime CBD
Nighttime, twice.
Very different tours. Night tour was very unappealing, but I would not be downtown at that time of
night whether it was appealing or not. I like new infrastructure, roads, landscaping,etc. On weekend
nights, I think that 1st Street ought to be closed from Beach to 8th Ave. N. and turn it into a walk way
only. Only traffic going to and from parking lots should be allowed. That will decrease likelihood of
accidents and the City having liability. While different age groups use hospitality area at different
times, the types of specific bars and restaurants available only have appeal for 21-35 y.o. age group.
Blind Rabbit is only new restaurant with an appealing menu, and the noise level is only tolerable for
lunch or dinner before 6:45. If Eileen and I want to eat out and be able to have good food and hear each
other, we go to NB/AB town center restaurants or JB restaurants outside the hospitality area
interesting. commander Jean Paul informative, enthusiastic. day time crowds seem controlled and ok
nite time crowds amazingly large. wasn't expecting to see lines to get into bars (Ritz). traffic became
problem before midnite. crowds polite and non-threatening.
Please note that I either ride my bicycle or drive thru downtown almost daily and at all hours.
Too many bars, too many drunks.
The tours were a very good idea to encourage citizens to see downtown Jacksonville Beach at different
times of the day.
4. If yes, when did you take the tour?
Not enough mix of things to do for all age groups especially at night.
Friday evening 11:00 pm. Always heard how busy it was downtown on weekend nights. It was good
to experience it. Working: All those people are bringing in REVENUE. Need constant police to make
sure all is safe. CABS and moe of them are essential to downtown core on weekend nights. Free cab
parking in designated area to get people in and out at night.
5. How frequently do you visit downtown?
I don't visit Downtown
I don't visit Downtown
I don't visit Downtown
6. What times during the day do you visit Downtown Jacksonville Beach?
Eat out
we come any time of day or not
Charge $25 or more for parkign and get rid of the rif raf.
Rarely after 9pm. Go west of 3rd (green room, etc) in NB/AB if after 9ish.
Don't care for the entertainment after 9:00 pm
In evening for FAMILY EVENTS only
it gets a little sketchy for us after 9p
when it gets dark, we go home.
Parking by business workers in city free lots, example is lot next to the Ritz being half to two
thirds full of local employees!
We were at Art Walk May 13 and ate till 9:00 P.M. (after 8PM)(Occasionally)
We sometime dine in the CBD but we don't go there after 9:00 because of the people that
frequent the RINO's and bars.
I was told you cant have dogs on patio seating for restaurants. There are no rules regarding pet
policy on website. Perhaps it is due to non pet friendly city.
Too many bars, too many drunks.
9. Are public spaces such as the SeaWalk, Latham Plaza and Oceanfront
Park well maintained?
More bike racks
i do wish we had better maintenance on the beach access - where we live on 7th ave s the shower area
sometimes is nasty if we could spruce up our beach acceses (like neptune and atlantic beaches) with a
bench (could be sponsored by some one and soem landscape
Yes but the bathrooms are terrible and not well maintained. They are also not open at appropriate
times. Specifically the bathrooms at the Pier parking lot are AWEFUL. Also at the Park between 5th and
6th Avenue there needs to be a real bathroom. I am shocked that when they built the park that two
bathrooms were not put in. There is not place for families to go which is really shameful. We want to
encourage families to come to the beach, but without basica facilities where people are clean and safe,
you encourage transients.
Public spaces looked nice since renovation. No changes needed.
But there are times I don't feel safe here due to unsavory characters
The level of maintenance was reasonable
Yes-- I was pleasantly surprised to see how clean they were. However, it was noted that perhaps these
spaces could be utilized in a more creative manner to increase traffic outside of special events.
Just not a fan of the cigarette butts everywhere.
Frequently see Public Works in the area.
By keeping the grounds clean and the homeless from loitering makes it much more appealing all day
long.
From my visits they appear to be. I would like to see permanent bathroom facilities at the Oceanfront
PArk.
When I have been downtown it has appeared well maintained.
Homeless people and trashy, sketchy characters still seem to be ever present. It gives, what has the
potential to be a lovely, safe, and inviting area, a very menacing appearance.
For the most part. Be really cool if city could extend boardwalk up down beach. Please keep the pier up
as it is getting in need of boards fresh stain...
The lawn at Seawalk Pavilion looks a bit threadbare. Is it the right type of grass for the use we make of
the space? The beach walkovers and the Cradle Creek boardwalk need some maintenance.