by Caroline Gabsewics
Staff Writer
Adam Hollingsworth, in one of his first public appearances since being named chief of staff for Mayor John Peyton, asked about a hundred realtors, builders, and mortgage brokers to help sell Jacksonville at Friday’s Sales and Marketing Council meeting.
Peyton was scheduled to speak, but he had to travel to Tallahassee at the last minute to attend the Florida Taxation and Budget Reform Commission meeting.
The Northeast Florida Builders Association’s Sales and Marketing Council (SMC) meets once a month at the University of North Florida’s University Center. Hollingsworth spoke about how the real estate industry can sell Jacksonville.
“If the government fails, we aren’t going to go out of business,” he said. “But people are going to start to leave our city, and neighborhoods will begin to deteriorate.”
Hollingsworth explained that he was born and raised in Jacksonville, and before he left for college he swore he would never come back. After he had the chance to work with congressman Charlie Bennett after college, Hollingsworth said he saw Jacksonville through a different lens.
Hollingsworth gave the real estate industry three ways to help sell Jacksonville to homebuyers:
• Ensure (public) safety
• Our investment in the river
• A secure economy
“We know the murder rate is not acceptable,” he said. “We are working on our prevention measures, intervention measures and enforcement.”
Hollingsworth said the work and money being spent to clean up the St. Johns River will not only help the environment, but also riverfront home sales.
“Waterfront homes are some of the best real estate in Northeast Florida,” he said. “We want to make sure those homes on the water continue to go up in value.”
Hollingsworth spoke about the impact the port will have on Northeast Florida and the job growth and home sales that will come along with it. He also spoke briefly about the plans for Cecil Field as well as Downtown.
“We are going to make a difference in Jacksonville, but only with your help,” he said.
Photo by Caroline Gabsewics