At the heart of the historic and highly cultured Five Points district in Jacksonville sits the Five Points traffic beacon.
The beacon has been the subject of debate as of late, as the city worked on finalizing plans for an impending renovation.
Some residents want to see the beacon either removed or slightly relocated to allow the creation of a roundabout. The intersection can sometimes cause confusion, especially to drivers unfamiliar with the area. Those residents believe it to be a traffic hazard, and unnecessarily confusing.
On the other side, many residents wish to preserve the beacon as a historic aspect of the district. The beacon has been there for over six decades. They argue that, even if some drivers get confused, the accident rate for the intersection essentially matches that of any other intersection in town.
Ultimately, the city decided on a plan earlier this month that involves moving the beacon over by six feet and making the nearby sidewalks wider to enhance walkability. However, the plans have yet to be finalized and the project’s funding has yet to be approved. Meanwhile, residents continue to debate whether the current plan is what’s needed.
We asked you, our readers, to chime in with your opinions about the beacon on social media.
“I think they should make it into a roundabout,” says @zoeleigh15, “but find a creative way to make it uniquely ‘5 Points’.”
“I agree with @zoeleigh15,” adds @tugboatcarto, “there are ways it could easily be the center of a roundabout to keep its distinct neighborhood identity.”
Our Twitter poll is thus far split three ways, with 33% saying to keep the beacon, replace it with a roundabout, or “other”.
“Upgrade it!” says @jagloyal. “Make it something worthwhile. Make it an art piece/focal point.”
What do you think about the beacon and the plan to renovate it? Join the conversation! Leave us a comment below, or tweet us (@thecoastaljax) using the hashtag #5Points.
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The beacon is an icon. @zoeleigh15's idea is a good one; but there's not enough room for a roundabout; however, the beacon should be raised on a larger pedestal and given prominence, somewhat like a sculpture.