by Max Marbut
Staff Writer
New night life on East Bay Street and new Art in Public Places were two of the agenda items approved Thursday by the Downtown Development Review Board of the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission.
Owners of the Ivy Ultra Bar in the 100 block of East Bay Street applied for a waiver of minimum distance requirements for a liquor license, which was approved based on the application meeting the requirements for the waiver consistent with other waivers granted for Mark’s and Dive Bar which are also located in the designated entertainment district. Both bars are also on Bay Street, but two blocks farther east.
The presence of First Presbyterian Church on East Monroe Street creates the need for a waiver of the City rule that requires bars to be a minimum of 1,500 feet from a church.
Prior to the vote, Ultra Ivy Bar co-owner Chris McHatton told the board he and his partners were excited to be able to “add to the emerging night life Downtown” and also said, “We are aware of the challenges involved in this business.”
It was pointed out that the building had been renovated to house an entertainment venue for the Super Bowl festivities and had been vacant until McHatton and his partners had proposed their project.
The DDRB also approved the installation of a piece of outdoor sculpture on the sidewalk in front of the Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville (MOCA).
The sculpture by James Rosburg was previously located at the 550 Building on Water Street and had been donated to the museum by the property owners. It has since been removed and restored under the supervision of the artist, said Preston Haskell, chairman of the museum’s board of trustees.
“The purpose of this installation is to draw attention to the museum,” he said. “I believe it will become an icon and a symbol of the museum and a wonderful complement to the beauty of Downtown.”
MOCA Director Debbie Broder agreed the sculpture will serve to draw attention.
“Pedestrian traffic at Hemming Plaza is growing constantly,” she said, adding it peaks during First Wednesday Art Walk which brings an average of 1,500 people into the museum.
The sculpture will be mounted on a stainless-steel plate secured to the sidewalk with stainless steel bolts. The museum will be responsible for all permits required as well as installation and maintenance.
Haskell also said he believes the existing streetlight near the installation site will provide sufficient lighting at night, but suggested it would be possible to install lights in the sidewalk to augment the existing fixture.
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