by Bailey White
Staff Writer
City Council president Jerry Holland met Tuesday with fellow Council member Elaine Brown and Jean Dickson of Organization Consulting to discuss the progress of recommendations set forth by the Historic Preservation Task Force.
Holland, Brown and Dickson focused on prioritizing their goals, including the completion of a survey of downtown, which will produce an updated list of historic properties in the area. That project is being handled by the City’s Historic Preservation Department.
The three will also focus on drafting legislation requiring tougher regulations regarding the maintenance of downtown properties.
“It’s very important that buildings not be boarded up,” said Brown, who co-chairs the Historic Preservation Implementation Task Force, adding that updated marketing strategies for downtown historic buildings are on the horizon, citing efforts by Council member Jim Overton and members of the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission to produce a packet that will list incentives the City will make available to developers of historic buildings.
Brown would like to see the information on local websites such as the Chamber of Commerce and Downtown Vision, Inc.
Tours that would include historic buildings were also discussed as a way to market downtown. Organized tours, such as the one run by private sector organizations in Savannah, have met with some success.
“That is something to consider for the future,” said Brown.
Dickson, a native of Portland, Ore., was hired as an independent consultant about a year ago and said she saw similar revitalization efforts thrive in her hometown.
“I’m really excited about Jacksonville’s potential,” she said. “It’s a city that is rich with heritage.”