by J. Brooks Terry
Staff Writer
Now that the Downtown Development Authority, Jacksonville Transportation Authority and the Florida Department of Transportation agree on a recently presented LaVilla redevelopment plan, the City Council says there’s only one place left to go.
“We’d like to meet with the mayor and his staff in about two weeks,” said Council vice president Elaine Brown. “We need to let him know that we have a plan we like, one that can be further massaged, so that he knows where we are on this.”
The plan, a follow-up to a study performed by consulting firm Cooper Carry last spring, was designed by JTA and the FDOT and focuses heavily on multi-modal transportation in and around an expanded Osborn Center. Residential and retail components are also incorporated.
“What we’ve done is take transportation approach to what we saw in the Cooper Carry plan,” said JTA executive director Michael Blaylock. “We endorsed the framework of what they had, but there were a few conflicts. Basically, we massaged their plan to address certain needs, but in a manner that will still allow for redevelopment in LaVilla.
Blaylock agreed with Brown that it would be difficult for everyone to agree on one redevelopment concept, but that the transportation plan was flexible enough for Mayor John Peyton and his staff to make suggestions.
“We went through eight years of not being able to reach a consensus with [former mayor] John Delaney, but I feel pretty good about where we are right now,” said Brown.
Brown and Council member Reggie Fullwood have lead LaVilla revitalization efforts on behalf of the Council for several years.
“In the past, I think we’ve relied on the administration to develop a plan and put it all together for us,” said Fullwood. “I’m hoping we can actually lead in this process and be partners in the planning of it.”
Possibly working against those efforts, however, is a recent marketing campaign by the Jacksonville & Beaches Convention and Visitors Bureau.
“The CVB has presented two theories for the convention center,” said Fullwood. “On one hand they’ve talked about expanding the Prime Osborn and putting in a hotel next to it. The other option they’ve talked about is building an entirely new convention center somewhere else, possibly on the water.”
Fullwood balked at the latter suggestion, saying that it not only “takes away from our efforts,” but that moving the convention center would have a deteriorating effect in LaVilla.
“I can say right now I wouldn’t support a new location if we don’t have a plan for the old building,” said Fullwood. “That wouldn’t make sense.”
Others, including DDA managing director Al Battle and Brown, agreed.
“I think the plan we have could stand alone without expanding the convention center, but what would we possibly do with that building if we were to build a new one somewhere else,” said Brown. “It would be wonderful if we had everyone’s support for this plan, but right now we’re concentrating on meeting with the mayor and presenting our plan as is. Soon after we’ll probably offer a resolution in support of it. It’s time to make a move.”
Barring complications, Brown said various studies of the area will take place over several months to determine a budget and funding options.