City Council Finance Committee Chair Matt Carlucci’s office released a statement Nov. 30 that if the city does not handle the proposed Lot J mixed-use development, possible TIAA Bank Field upgrades and the lease for the Jacksonville Jaguars correctly, “voters will never forgive us.”
While the three issues may appear to be separate, “They are not,” Carlucci said in a tweet, according to his office.
“They are tied tightly together and should be negotiated as one deal.”
Carlucci supports review and analysis by the Downtown Investment Authority rather than the fast-track process through Council being urged by Mayor Lenny Curry.
In the statement, Carlucci makes five recommendations the city should follow for transparency, accountability and public confidence in the Lot J negotiations:
• Pay attention to the Council Auditor’s report and observations.
• Get negotiations out of the back room.
• Let the DIA do its job as mandated by city ordinance.
• Have the DIA review and conduct a market study on viability and sustainability.
• The Downtown Development Review Board should be involved with the architectural design in terms of what the development will look like and how it fits with the greater Downtown area.
DIA Executive Director Lori Boyer is scheduled to make a recommendation Dec. 2 to the DIA board for a vote. The council is scheduled to vote Dec. 3 at a special meeting on the DIA recommendation. The Council is planning a final vote at its Dec. 8 meeting.
Lot J is the proposed $450 million residential, entertainment and retail development west of TIAA Bank Field. The project, a partnership of the city, Khan development company Gecko Investments LLC and The Cordish Companies.
The Jaguars stadium lease runs through 2030.
