by J. Brooks Terry
Staff Writer
Owners of the Dyal-Upchurch building on Bay Street are asking for nearly $150,000 in City-issued loans and grants. The money, they said, will go towards renovating approximately 7,000 square feet on the building’s second floor.
East Bay Street, LLC, who owns the building, said Bay Street Fine Arts Marketing has signed a letter of intent to lease that space where they they plan an art gallery and an undisclosed retail operation.
According to recently filed legislation, Jacksonville Economic Development Commission representatives reviewed and negotiated the agreement, later deeming it worthy of City assistance last week.
The City Council will hear the bill for the first time next Tuesday.
Added the JEDC, “ ... the project will promote and enhance redevelopment of the City’s Bay Street Town Center Area. The City’s assistance for the project will enable and facilitate the construction of the project.”
Michael Munz, who has actively been involved in much of downtown’s revitalization, said the project “is a perfect fit for the Bay Street Town Center.”
“This is exactly what we have dreamed about ever since we had the concept of reinvigorating downtown and Bay Street in particular,” he said. “This is a fantastic project and we’re all very excited about its potential impact.
“There is a lot of grass roots support for the project.”
Munz declined to speculate on the Council’s reaction the plans, though added it will likely be favorable.
“I don’t like to predict how the Council will vote,” he said. “But again, this is something the area can definitely benefit from and I’m hopeful they recognize that.
“I’m looking forward to a good, fair hearing.”
Barring complications, work should begin in the space by the end of October and wrap within nine months.
Now well into a complete renovation, interior and facade work at the Dyal-Upchurch Building began early last year.
Law firm Edwards, Cohen, Sanders & Dawson was among the first tenants to move in. Talks with another potential leasee, caterer Liz Grenmeyer, fell through in March.