By J. Brooks Terry
Staff Writer
Al Battle, managing director for the Downtown Development Authority, said his decision to leave the City after nearly a decade didn’t come easy.
Headed to the Fort Lauderdale Community Redevelopment Agency in mid-February, Battle, 36, said he had a lot to consider.
“There were definitely a lot of factors going through my head,” said Battle. “I had to think about things like my family and the fact that I had been with this organization for over nine years. I can tell you that was a very heavy and emotional time for me and family.”
But the father of two — there’s also one on the way — said he just couldn’t pass up the opportunity to lead a thriving organization further south, even if it meant leaving Jacksonville behind.
“I had always had thoughts of wanting to do more, so the timing was right for this,” he said. “I get notices about job postings every so often, but this matched up really well with the career goals I have with respect to the economic development field.
“To be honest, I was surprised they were interested in me. But I guess I wasn’t as aggressive, in terms of my value, as I could have been.”
In his new post, Battle said that while much of his duties will remain the same, the scope of his playing field will be greatly expanded.
“Things will be different in terms of the essential business district I’ll be overseeing,” he said. “There will still be a lot of what I do now, but it would be like adding in areas of development like Brooklyn, LaVilla and Springfield.
“It’s definitely a great opportunity because I’ll be able to do more in a managerial role that I don’t necessarily do now.”
Battle started with the City in 1994 in an entry-level position. A project director at that time, Battle later survived the transition predicated by the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission’s formation in 1997.
There he was promoted several times before taking over the reins of the DDA in 2002. In that role, Battle played a large part in the creation the Downtown Zoning Overlay and Master Plan.
He also helped bring housing back to downtown.
“Under his charge, a lot has happened here,” said Terry Lorince, the executive director of Downtown Vision Inc. who worked closely with Battle. “We were sorry to hear the news.”
Battle said he looks back on his work with pride, though it is hard to let go.
“It is bittersweet to be leaving,” he said, “but you have to feel comfortable with the accomplishments you make and know that you may have set the stage for someone else to make their own successes after you leave.”
Others agreed, but added that whoever replaces the diminutive Battle — no decision has been made with respect to an interim substitute — will have some large shoes to fill.
City Council member Suzanne Jenkins, who represents much of downtown, said she knew Battle had offers on the table, but that she was still surprised to hear of his leaving.
“Al and I always enjoyed a very positive working relationship and I’ll definitely miss that,” she said. “He was very good at determining what our goals should be and going after them. I wasted no time telling people what a good job he does, even if they didn’t ask.”
Battle will finish out his JEDC stint just after the Super Bowl. After that, he said, he’ll make his move.
“It’s a lot to think about right now,” he said, “but I think I’ve done the best I could have to make Jacksonville a better place to live, work and play. I’m ready for a new challenge.”