by Max Marbut
Staff Writer
“It’s another beautiful day in Downtown Jacksonville,” said Downtown Vision Inc. (DVI) Executive Director Terry Lorince to open Wednesday’s operations meeting. The gathering is held quarterly to bring stakeholders, business owners and property managers up to speed on developments in and concerning the 90 square-block Business Improvement District.
Lorince added she was particularly glad to pass two new businesses that have just opened on Laura Street on her way to the meeting. Chamblin’s Uptown book store and Steps Shoes and Accessories are the area’s newest retailers.
District Services Director Amy Harrell reported the partnership between DVI and the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission (JEDC) to promote the HITZ (High Intensity Trespass Zone) program is continuing to gain momentum. She said currently almost 35 percent of Downtown property owners have signed up for the program. HITZ grants the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office permission to enforce the trespassing and loitering laws on private property at any time providing the property owner is registered in the program.
Harrell also thanked Vikki and Terry Wilkins at the UPS Store on Hogan Street for serving as a source of information and materials for HITZ.
Carol Bianco, DVI’s Ambassador and operations manager was introduced. In addition to having a new Ambassador manager, Harrell said the corps also has a new mission. The Downtown Ambassadors are now focused more on safety and security than on hospitality.
A new schedule is also being developed that will put as many as 15 Ambassadors on the street at the same time, compared to the current four. The familiar pith helmets and bright orange clothing will also be seen Downtown later, until 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday and during special events.
Lorince said DVI is working with the JEDC and the management at the Hyatt and the Landing to correct lighting issues. She said based on a recent survey conducted by the three partners, up to 20 percent of Downtown’s streetlights do not function properly. DVI is reporting the defects and following up with JEA to ensure the problems are corrected.
DVI is also working with the JEDC and JEA to create pedestrian area lighting standards for Downtown and arranging for trees to be pruned if limbs are obstructing lighting fixtures.
Mike Miller, JTA director of external affairs, announced the details of the new lunchtime trolley service. It will begin May 5 and provide service from the Landing down Riverside Avenue to Memorial Park near Publix with 17 stops along the way to pick up and drop off passengers.
Three trolleys will be devoted to the new service, which Miller said should make the wait between trolleys at any given stop no more than nine minutes, which takes into account the one-hour window most people have for lunch.
The lunchtime trolley ride will cost 50 cents each way, Miller said. “We think that’s very reasonable for the service,” then added senior citizens will ride free of charge and those with JTA transit passes can use them on the trolley.
The first lunchtime trolley will depart from the Landing at 10 a.m. May 5 on its way to a Cinco de Mayo-themed reception at the other end of the route in Riverside.
“My staff said they aren’t going to let me decorate the trolley with a sombrero,” said Miller, “But I’m still working on it.”
Other trolley service changes are also in the works. Miller said JTA is considering a Springfield route from the Shands campus to Hemming Plaza during peak hours. “It’s on the drawing board, but only at the crayon stage. We haven’t made it up to pencil yet,” said Miller.
Photo by Max Marbut