by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
The Downtown Development Authority and Signet Development Ltd. are slowly moving toward finalizing Signet’s proposal to renovate and restore the three historic buildings at the corner of Laura and Forsyth streets.
“We are still negotiating. We had a meeting this [Thursday] morning and we are progressing in a positive direction,” said Al Battle, managing director of the DDA.
Last October, the Signet proposal was selected by the City’s request for proposal evaluation committee over redevelopment proposals from Klutho Partners, LLC and Steinemann & Co. The project’s scope includes restoration of the Marble Bank, Bisbee and Florida Life buildings into a mixed-use complex complete with commercial reuse and ground-level retail.
When the evaluation committee selected Signet, Battle said it could be up to a year before work begins. Today, he’s sticking to that time line.
“This is a long process and I’m not going to say we are at any point in the process,” he said. “The meetings have been positive, we have been asking questions, they have been asking questions. It’s typical negotiations, but it’s something we can move forward with.
“I think we are on track in terms of what I expected and I hope we can come to an understanding on a deal. You may see it on an agenda in the near future.”
The project must meet the approval of the DDA, Jacksonville Economic Development Community, the Design Review Committee and full City Council.
One developer wasn’t happy with the October decision and he isn’t happy today. Mike Langton, president of Klutho, has formally protested the decision to award Signet sole negotiating rights. Langton contends the Signet proposal handed in as a sealed RFP on Sept. 11 and the Signet proposal presented in late October are very different. He also contends the other two proposals didn’t meet a requirement of the RFP that asked for detailed and complete performas.
“They [the City] accepted sealed bids and then allowed one entity a 180-degree change in their proposal and that’s unfair,” said Langton, who simply wants the entire selection process stricken from the record and the RFP reissued. “Our performa was 27 pages and infinitely detailed. Theirs is a half-page each.”
Langton said he wasn’t sure if he would be granted a formal hearing in front of the DDA board, but promised to keep his plea short, to the point and professional.
“I don’t want to hold up the process,” said Langton. “I will not bring some big, ugly throng with me and I will not have legal representation. I will give a calm, rational presentation and let the chips fall where they may. I will not attack the staff, I just think there was an error in the process. I want the whole thing tossed out and done over.”
Battle said he wasn’t sure if a formal hearing date and time would be set, but did say every DDA meeting offers the public an opportunity to address any issue.
“Our meetings are open to the public and the public can speak to us through that forum,” said Battle. “We expect he [Langton] will use that right. We have responded to his protest and we have met on it a couple of times.”