by J. Brooks Terry
Staff Writer
Prior to the City Council Finance Committee’s unanimous decision Monday to recommend approximately $190,000 to fund Downtown Vision, Inc., several property owners and businesses voiced their support for the non-profit group.
As part of the original ordinance that established DVI’s funding source in 2000, the group must return to the Council every year for five years to show what they have accomplished and what they are working on.
After 2005, DVI and the Council will reconvene to further establish the group’s scope, purpose and funding options.
Lisa King of Langton and Associates, one of several groups present at the meeting, said the decision to appear on behalf of DVI required little thought.
“They have always been so supportive of everything we do and we wanted to do the same for them,” said King. “When we were new downtown, they made our experience very positive, from helping us deal with problems that arose to letting us know where to go when we had questions.
“Without them, we would have had to do it all on our own.”
Jerry Moran, owner of La Cena restaurant on Laura Street, agreed, adding the group’s Downtown Ambassador program had done a good job to help further promote downtown safety.
“Many people feel like they can’t come downtown because it isn’t safe. Whether or not it’s true, that’s the perception,” said Moran. “When we were one of the only restaurants to stay open for dinner downtown, outside of the Landing, the ambassadors did a good job of alleviating part of that problem. Because of that, I’m all for them.”
In a letter to Finance chair Warren Alvarez, Vestcor Companies president John Rood, who did not appear, wrote that DVI should be allowed another year of continued operation and that residents at 11 E. regularly made use of their services.
“As a downtown property owner, I am aware of the impact that DVI has made on the cleanliness safety and the over all perception of downtown Jacksonville,” he wrote.
“. . . I support the work that DVI has undertaken to address downtown’s parking problems and to market downtown as Jacksonville’s newest, best neighborhood.”
Following the meeting, Terry Lorince, director of DVI since 2001, said it was gratifying to receive mutual support from the downtown community.
“We were delighted,” said Lorince. “I think it reinforces that we’re on the right track with what we do. We’re here to communicate with the property owners and business downtown and support their needs.”
Lorince added the services offered by DVI would likely expand in reaction to downtown’s continued evolution.
“We evolved to best suit the needs of downtown,” she said. “When I first came to DVI, parking wasn’t an issue. Now, it definitely is. When we have a higher volume of residents, the needs will probably change again. I would expect to have the City’s support if we continue doing what have been doing all along.”