Local consultant: Add Southbank dining, music venues to maximize ordinance opportunities

Now that the city of Jacksonville has implemented the ordinance allowing alcohol consumption on both sides of the Riverwalk, what can the city do to embrace and enhance the opportunity?

The area around Friendship Fountain is about to lose its anchor — the Museum of Science and History. That follows the closure and demolition of River City Brewing Co. and the USS Orleck naval museum opting for a Northbank pier. The city needs to reverse the trend of Southbank flight and add more options to entice residents and visitors. Implementing the new ordinance is a good start.

However, more must be done to improve the status quo and help create a “rising tide.” Perhaps an easy way to enhance the number of venues where beverages can be consumed would be to permit vendors to access some of the areas now included in the ordinance, specifically Friendship Fountain.

Envision a semi-circular arrangement around the perimeter of the fountain on the former museum side, with several European-style bistros or cafes. Outdoor cabaret tables might be arranged to overlook the fountain and the downtown skyline. Umbrellas could make the scene rather inviting and comfortable, with the soothing sound of the fountain in the background.

At night the often unappreciated downtown skyline would be bright and colorful, framed by the Acosta and Main Street bridges.

To answer the question of how to do that, it starts with a proof of concept of established and enticing food trucks, which are utilized in many venues. The tables could be placed on existing walkways around the fountain. All the city might have to do to make the experience more enjoyable is facilitate access to power, so the vendors don’t have to run noisy generators.

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The addition of a few portable restrooms might help and if that goes well, make it a more permanent option.

The underutilized Skyway would bring people right to the venue from the Northbank. The city could even embrace water taxis to cross the river — not the expensive and cumbersome 40-person vessels, but a smaller, more intimate and personal style of water taxi seating four to six people, for example.

More options on the Southbank, allowing residents and visitors to appreciate and enjoy Jacksonville, will only add to the success of existing businesses and thereby the attractiveness of downtown. It can even be done without a three-year proposal, a bond issuance or an increase in taxes.

Bert Watson, Jacksonville 

This guest column is the opinion of the author and does not necessarily represent the views of the Times-Union. We welcome a diversity of opinions.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Jacksonville shouldn't squander opportunities available on Southbank