Gateway Jax project Pearl Square takes shape in downtown Jacksonville
The revitalization of downtown Jacksonville is becoming a reality at Pearl Square, which will bring new apartments and shopping to the area.
- Jacksonville scored a mere 14.3 out of 100 points in FinanceBuzz’s study, which evaluated over a dozen data points across five categories. The ranking pulled data from sources like Yelp.
- The ranking identified Jacksonville’s lack of a singular hub as a weakness, but locals said they enjoy exploring the various neighborhoods.
- According to Michael Corrigan, CEO of Visit Jacksonville, a lot of tourists come to the city several times without running out of things to do.
Jacksonville is the most boring city in America.
That is, according to a recent ranking from the site FinanceBuzz, which evaluated over a dozen data points from 75 of the country’s biggest cities. Across five categories — population makeup, culinary scene, outdoor activities, nightlife and celebrations, and things to do — Jacksonville scored a mere 14.3 points out of 100.
“Our intent with our rankings wasn’t to poke fun, but to find a way to evaluate the excitement level of cities in a standardized way,” Chris Lewis, the head of research at FinanceBuzz, wrote in an email to The Florida Times-Union.
FinanceBuzz pulled data from the U.S. Census, Yelp, Yellow Pages, TripAdvisor and other sources. The ranking was not based on someone from the site visiting Jacksonville, or any of the other cities scored. While FinanceBuzz used objective means to determine its ranking, Lewis wrote that the site realizes that “boring” is a subjective and nuanced term.
“There are plenty of reasons to celebrate a city’s culture that wouldn’t be captured by a study like this,” Lewis wrote. “It’s clear Jacksonvillians care deeply about their city, and want the best for its future. We hope that a piece like this can be a springboard for more conversations between locals and community leaders about ways to make the city the best that it can be.”
The article did inspire conversation, as it drew references from the JaxParks Instagram account, City Council President Kevin Carrico at his June 25 swearing-in ceremony and beyond. When Linzee Ott read about the city’s newest title, she was amused. Jacksonville? Boring?
“I like to say that unless you’re looking for ski sports or mountains, Jacksonville really has something for everyone,” Ott — the CEO of Build Up Downtown, an advocate for private development in Jacksonville — said.
Ott said she understands the pessimism she hears about the downtown scene, the city having had “a lot of fits and starts over the decades.” But she said things have changed.
“We have more investment and activity and momentum than we have had in probably 50 years in downtown Jacksonville right now,” Ott said. “There is about $2.2 billion — with a ‘B’ — in investment and development.”
Born and raised in Jacksonville, Ott used to think it was boring. However, after moving to Tallahassee and Washington D.C., she returned to Jacksonville. She noted widespread awareness of the various events and attractions the city has to offer, thanks to social media and community groups. Ott said that amenities are spread out across the city, and people just need to know where to go.
“The great things that Jacksonville has to offer are not going to come knock on your front door and drop themselves in your lap,” she said. “You do have to engage with what’s out there and look for it.”
While the FinanceBuzz ranking identified the lack of a singular hub as a weakness — Jacksonville’s large size but relatively low population density dispersing attractions — Michael Corrigan said that can actually be a positive. Corrigan, the CEO of marketing organization Visit Jacksonville, said there’s more to explore in the city.
“A lot of visitors come [several] times to visit Jacksonville because there is so much to do and see, spread out more than other communities,” Corrigan said. “So, you can come and have a totally different vacation in the exact same city.”
Just in downtown, Corrigan said, there’s a performing arts center, symphony hall, the historic Florida Theatre, a baseball stadium, a football stadium and an outdoor concert venue. Ott also noted the Museum of Contemporary Art and the nearby Museum of Science and History.
“And they’re saying we don’t have any entertainment?” Corrigan said.
He said that his favorite part of Jacksonville, however, are the things that aren’t manmade: over 300 parks, a large river shoreline and 22 miles of beaches. The other morning, Corrigan went kayaking down the Ortega River at sunrise. He started at Tillie K. Fowler Regional Park, having never taken that specific route before.
“I’ve been here six decades, and I haven’t gotten bored yet,” Corrigan said. “I hope I live another 30, 40 years so I can see the rest of Jacksonville, because I’ve discovered something new every day.”