by J. Brooks Terry
Staff Writer
Developers of downtown high-rise The Plaza are required to build a Riverwalk segment along their Northbank property, but no one seems to know when work will begin on the lagging project.
In December, the City agreed to construct a temporary Riverwalk along the Plaza’s riverfront property, pouring asphalt and installing fences a few weeks later to meet an approaching Super Bowl deadline.
According to that agreement, after the February 6 game, those temporary improvements were to be removed and within 30 days of that site clearing, Plaza developers DB Holdings would be expected to resume work on their permanent portion of the Northbank Riverwalk.
Public Works spokesperson Marcy Cook confirmed the City has fulfilled that obligation, but was unaware when DBH would be holding up their end of the bargain.
“We removed the asphalt in mid-February and turned over the deed and ownership liability to DBH on March 15,” said Cook. “But as far as their responsibility to continue work on the Riverwalk, no one from our office has seen any plans or permits.”
Representatives from the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission, who helped negotiate the temporary Riverwalk deal with DBH, have also heard nothing from the developer.
DBH has already been paid about $2 million for the work they’ve put into the Riverwalk project, the majority of which has been focused on bulkhead repair and site preparation.
Once their approximately 430 foot portion of the Riverwalk is finished, DBH stands to collect about $400,000 more.
“We’re comfortable with this arrangement,” said Cindy Laquidara, chief deputy general counsel for the City, in December. “DBH will build phase II after the Super Bowl.”
But before then, concern regarding the Plaza Riverwalk has been brewing for some time.
In October 2004, City officials said they had yet to see construction plans from DBH, which made it impossible to grant the necessary building permits. At that time they said there was still plenty of time to complete the project in time for the thousands of game-related tourists.
DBH countered that their plans were identical to every other stretch of the Riverwalk just east and west of their property. Progress, however, languished and ultimately the City decided in December to delay completion of the project until after the Super Bowl.
Numerous attempts to contact DBH have been made without response.