For nearly 90 minutes last week, representatives from City Hall, the Jacksonville & the Beaches Convention and Visitors Bureau and the public weighed in on what’s becoming one of the hottest topics in town: does Jacksonville need a new convention center, and if so, when?
No conclusions were reached — event organizers said that was never the goal — but several points were discussed. Several people noted the multi-million dollar expense of a new center would be a hard sell to taxpayers. Others agreed that without the support of Mayor John Peyton or the City Council, a larger facility would likely never be built.