Downtown Sustainability

 

Downtown Jacksonville boasts one of the most beautiful Downtowns in the country, situated in a coastal climate on one of the largest rivers in the United States, the St. Johns River. Downtown Vision, Inc. and its stakeholders work to help transform Downtown into one of the most sustainable, green neighborhoods of the city.

Downtown Green Collaborative

Summer 2010, Downtown Vision, Inc. formed a Downtown Green Collaborative (DGC) to make Downtown Jacksonville the most sustainable neighborhood in Northeast Florida.  Downtown Vision has partnered with the City of Jacksonville, JEA, U.S. Green Building Council North Florida, ULI North Florida and Downtown property owners and businesses to capitalize on Downtown’s unique positioning.  
 
DGC focuses on education and awareness of the importance of sustainability practices that promote environmental responsibility and economic viability.
 

Concerns regarding energy consumption, water conservation, air and water pollution, as well as transportation, can all be efficiently mitigated in a healthy Downtown. The case for urban redevelopment as a sustainable solution to these challenges is inherent to Downtown, which can make efficient use of existing public facilities, infrastructure investment and services.

Living and working Downtown offers a more sustainable and efficient lifestyle because the transportation, business and housing choices available in urban areas have considerably less environmental impact as both residents and employees can efficiently share services, and walk, bike or take public transportation as part of their daily routine. Downtown Jacksonville is well-suited for this role, as it is both the geographic center of the region and embraces the area’s most cherished natural resource, the St. Johns River.

Property owners in the Downtown Improvement District interested in participating may contact Terry Lorince at Downtown Vision, Inc. at 904-634-0303, ext. 223, or email terry@downtownjacksonville.org.

 Downtown Green Collaborative Plan | Download PDF

Why

Downtowns and Sustainability
By Terry Lorince, Executive Director, Downtown Vision, Inc.

The Economics of Green
By James A. Richardson, Environmental Protection Board Administrator, City of Jacksonville

Why the Sustainability Center Had to be Located Downtown
By Corie Baker, AIA, LEED AP BD+C, Pond and Company

Downtown Improvement District Commercial Building Energy Challenge
By Jeremiah Cobb, ARRA Grants Coordinator, City of Jacksonville

Green Grants for Non-Profits (GG4N)
By Nicholas Zelaya, MPA, LEED-GA, Grant Coordinator-EECBG

Important Links and Resources

U.S. Green Building Council, North Florida Chapter: www.usgbcnf.org

Sustainable North Florida: www.sustainablenorthflorida.org

Sustainable Jacksonville: www.meetup.com/sustainablejacksonville

City of Jacksonville, Office of Sustainability Initiatives: www.coj.net/departments/environmental-and-compliance/office-of-sustainability-initiatives

Jacksonville Green Source: www.jacksonvillegreensource.com

Southern Energy Efficiency Center: www.southernbuildings.org/partners/index.htm

Open Green Map, Jacksonville: www.opengreenmap.org/greenmap/jacksonville