Bill Delaney
Bill Delaney is a writer whose work focuses on the history and culture of the First Coast. He currently serves as City Council liaison for Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan. He is co-owner and editor of The Jaxson, Modern Cities, and Edible Northeast Florida magazine, and author of the book Secret Jacksonville: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English from the University of North Florida. Reach Bill at wdelaney@moderncities.com.
Featured image for “OPINION | Rethinking Jacksonville’s convention center dilemma”
The 2014 APA Florida Annual Conference at the Prime F. Osborn Convention Center. This 10,000-square-foot meeting room was once the grand lobby for the largest train station in the country south of Washington, D.C.
January 18, 2022

OPINION | Rethinking Jacksonville’s convention center dilemma

A new convention center has been in Jacksonville’s long-term plans for decades, but the Downtown Investment Authority now says it…

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January 11, 2022

THE JAXSON | Northbank Renaissance continues with 4 new projects

Driven by adaptive reuse and historic incentives, Jacksonville’s Downtown Northbank is experiencing a veritable renaissance of new development. Here’s a…

January 4, 2022

OPINION | Changing the urban landscape in 2022

Jacksonville’s Urban Core is growing again after decades of decline, the Emerald Trail has broken ground, and the Downtown Northbank…

Featured image for “OPINION | What Shad Khan gets right – and wrong – about Downtown”
December 21, 2021

OPINION | What Shad Khan gets right – and wrong – about Downtown

Jaguars owner Shad Khan recently criticized the progress of Downtown revitalization in Jacksonville, saying the area has “gone downhill” over…

Featured image for “OPINION | Duval Schools headquarters must stay Downtown”
The Duval County School Board administration building. Michael Rivera at Wikipedia
December 14, 2021

OPINION | Duval Schools headquarters must stay Downtown

Duval County Public Schools’ announcement that it plans to sell its Southbank headquarters and relocate is welcome news for those…

Featured image for “OPINION | The forgotten factor behind Downtown Jax’s struggles”
December 7, 2021

OPINION | The forgotten factor behind Downtown Jax’s struggles

Analyses of Downtown Jacksonville’s continued struggles typically focus on factors within Downtown’s boundaries. Though generally overlooked, one external factor may…

Featured image for “OPINION | 5 development myths that hold Downtown Jax back”
November 30, 2021

OPINION | 5 development myths that hold Downtown Jax back

Does demolishing old buildings prime the pump for flashy ones? Is 10,000 residents the magic number necessary to enliven Downtown…

Featured image for “OPINION | What hotels can do for Downtown vibrancy”
November 23, 2021

OPINION | What hotels can do for Downtown vibrancy

A new Home2 Suites in Brooklyn is the latest hotel project moving forward in Downtown Jacksonville. With more hotels in…

Featured image for “OPINION | 5 infrastructure bill projects Jacksonville should pursue”
A flooded street reveals some of Jacksonville's infrastructure needs.
November 16, 2021

OPINION | 5 infrastructure bill projects Jacksonville should pursue

President Joe Biden finally signed his hard-fought $1 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act into law on Monday, November 15.…

Featured image for “THE JAXSON | Can townhomes plug Jax housing’s ‘missing middle’?”
November 2, 2021

THE JAXSON | Can townhomes plug Jax housing’s ‘missing middle’?

Two new projects in LaVilla and San Marco are creating something in short supply in Jacksonville: urban townhomes. Can they…

Featured image for “OPINION | Why Amtrak should be on Jacksonville’s radar”
October 26, 2021

OPINION | Why Amtrak should be on Jacksonville’s radar

Jacksonville stands to be a major beneficiary over the next 15 years as Amtrak plans to add service across the…

Featured image for “OPINION | One Riverside and how to activate an urban sidewalk”
October 20, 2021

OPINION | One Riverside and how to activate an urban sidewalk

One Riverside Avenue, the development planned to replace the former Florida Times-Union headquarters, will likely be up for final site…

Featured image for “OPINION | The future of Bay Street depends on ‘clustering’”
Cowford Chophouse in Downtown Jacksonville | Photo Credit The Jaxson
October 12, 2021

OPINION | The future of Bay Street depends on ‘clustering’

In city planning, clustering is part of what we at The Jaxson like to call the “Three C’s”: the clustering…