by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
While the politicians and developers debate the future of the Osborn Center, the ace in the hole is the Jacksonville Transportation Authority and whether or not the transit authority plays its hand.
Wednesday morning, representatives from several City entities met to discuss the LaVilla sub-district master plan, much of which hinges on the future of the Osborn Center. More than anything, what came out of the meeting was the newfound understanding that JTA plays an integral role because it owns five city blocks strategically located adjacent or near the Osborn Center, meaning it essentially controls what goes around the convention center.
An option JTA is seriously considering is relocating its FCCJ downtown bus hub to LaVilla. Darrell Smith, manager of service planning for JTA, said JTA is strongly considering the move because it makes financial and logistical sense.
“We made a major mistake when we rerouted the buses and moved them from Hemming Plaza to FCCJ,” said Smith, referring to the decision that went into effect in December 1994. “We lost one million riders a year. When the hub was at Hemming Plaza, you were within a couple of blocks of where you wanted to go. I dare any of you to cross State or Union streets and that’s what we force our riders to do.”
Smith said the FCCJ hub presents JTA drivers and riders with plenty of problems. One, many riders have to traverse State and Union streets — two busy, dangerous streets — to get to the bus stop. Two, the current routes are designed so that buses are all over downtown, often simply for the sake of turning around. And, finally, there is a serious lack of retail and expansion opportunities at the current location.
Mark Rimmer, a developer who is also working with JTA, said JTA’s decision to move its hub several years ago was the death knell for Hemming Plaza-area retailers and restaurant owners.
“In hindsight, the retailers around Hemming Plaza will tell you that worst thing to happen was when the buses left Hemming Plaza for FCCJ,” said Rimmer.
Moving to LaVilla would go a long way to solving many of JTA’s downtown bus problems. The questions remain, though. Does JTA also hold the key to the Osborn Center and the hotly debated issue of whether to move it or not. And, does JTA hold the key to the much-talked about multi-modal transportation hub proposed for LaVilla by City Council member Elaine Brown? And, what role do all three of these issues play in the future commercial development of LaVilla?
Smith said much of what JTA ultimately decides hinges on the multi-modal hub. If that $200 million-plus project ever becomes reality, JTA would certainly be a part of it. However, if that plan is scrapped — and that decision may be based on whether the convention center stays and is expanded or moved — JTA will move forward and develop the land themselves.
“If the inter modal hub happens, we’ll be a part of it,” said Smith. “If not, we’ll look at the best use for the property in LaVilla. It’s up to our board.”
Another factor in the equation is the 900-plus surface parking spaces JTA currently owns under the Skyway near the Osborn Center. Smith said there was no way JTA would simply give up that land and revenue to anyone.
“We have a major investment in the Skyway and the 900 spaces at the Skyway convention center station. It’s our most popular lot because of the accessibility to [Interstate] 95. We own the land in LaVilla and we could accommodate the inter modal hub,” said Smith, adding JTA could actually use all of its land.”What we need is what we have to do what we want to do.”
The JTA-owned land in LaVilla is also plays a pivotal role in the JTA’s long-planned east-west transportation corridor, which will run from, roughly, Orange Park through downtown to the beach. That corridor, regardless of the transportation mode adopted, will have to have a downtown hub and transfer station. The current FCCJ hub won’t suffice and no one knows what role the Osborn Center will play in JTA’s decision.
“The convention center may help or hinder our study,” said the JTA’s Kevin Feldt, who’s heads the east-west corridor study. “The big question is: does the convention center stay or go?”
That is the $64,000 question and one seems — or is willing to say — to know the answer.
“We are not charged with making that decision,” said Al Battle, managing director of the Downtown Development Authority. “That move is a decision for the next [mayoral] administration.”
City Council member Reggie Fullwood, whose district includes the Osborn Center, believes moving the Osborn Center is a political hot potato that very few will touch publicly.
“I think the City Council would support the convention center staying where it is and making it work where it is,” said Fullwood. “It’s more of a political issue than people realize.”
Again, JTA is the key, not just because they own the land, but because of how it was acquired — mostly through federal funding that specifically requires the land be used for transportation purposes. Translated: JTA can’t simply sell the land to the City or a developer. A complicated Request for Proposal process would have to be followed and, even then, there’s no guarantee the Department of Transportation would approve any non-transportation projects.
Fullwood realizes that JTA has the final say and that LaVilla may have to grow commercially around JTA’s new downtown bus transfer hub.
“All this planning may be in vain if they [JTA] are planning to use the land,” he said.