From Mayor Lenny Curry’s declaration that Downtown is “thriving” to details of business development to statistics on urban core businesses, workers and residents, Downtown Vision Inc.’s 2015 report recaps last year as one of growth and improvement.
The report was shown to the urban core advocacy’s board of directors Wednesday and will be released to the public Monday.
The report covers myriad topics, including commercial real estate development, retail recruitment and the most extensive demographic data presented in DVI’s annual report since the organization was established in 2000.
The report cites $221 million in development projects completed in 2015, including Unity Plaza, the Jessie Ball duPont Center and 604 new apartments in Brooklyn.
Also referenced are the renovations of four Downtown hotels and projects yet to be competed, such as the renovation at 100 N. Laura St. and Florida State College at Jacksonville’s student housing project on West Adams Street.
The improvement in property values Downtown is shown by an increase of 8.5 percent in ad valorem taxes collected within the Community Redevelopment Area, compared to 2014 assessments.
Surveys of 3,000 employees and residents conducted by DVI in 2015 show 35.4 percent of Downtown employees live in Southside or Mandarin, followed by St. Johns County at 14.8 percent.
Only 6.3 percent of Downtown workers live at the Beaches and Mayport, while 3.9 percent are Clay County residents.
The study determined Downtown is home to 59,400 workers and 8,000 residents.
Commercial office space is 81.4 percent leased, up from 76.1 percent in 2010.
New leases in 2015 were led by Citizens Property Insurance Corp. renting more than 236,000 square feet in EverBank Center, which brought 1,000 workers from the suburbs.
The urban retail mix also was surveyed, indicating 38 percent of businesses are restaurants, followed by banks, bars and nightclubs, each at 10 percent.
The organization’s digital marketing presence grew in 2015 to 2.1 million page views at dtjax.com, a weekly email newsletter sent to 23,000 people and nearly 62,000 followers on social media.
The report also highlights Downtown’s industry recognition last year, such as receiving an award for excellence in economic development and tourism from the Northeast Florida Regional Council and a Great Places in America “Great Street Award” for Laura Street from the American Planning Association.
Jake Gordon, DVI’s CEO, reported revenue is outpacing expenses for First Wednesday Art Walk, which had its first title sponsors in 2015.
Also in the black were the “Jazz After Dark” promotion during the Jacksonville Jazz Festival and DVI’s inaugural gala, which raised money for the parklet program that will debut in September.
“2015 was a really good year for Downtown,” he said.
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