by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
The City Council Finance Committee made good Monday on what many believe is a 23-year-old promise to the owners of the Landing when it approved by an 8-1 vote to fund a 300-space surface parking lot across the street from the Northbank Riverwalk mall.
However, there was plenty of debate and there may be more before the full Council approves the agreement, which could come as soon as May 25.
Finance member Denise Lee was on Council when the original funding for the Landing was approved. She and Finance member Bill Bishop both vividly recalled the official opening, which was carried live on local TV. Both Lee, a co-sponsor of the bill, and Bishop were adamant about funding the parking spaces.
“I was on the Council when the Landing was built,” she said. “Through the years, a commitment was made to the citizens regarding parking. When we voted to build the Landing, there was nothing happening in Jacksonville and I mean nothing. Here we are decades later, dealing with the same thing (parking).”
Finance member John Crescimbeni said he received documents just before the Finance meeting from Landing officials and requested the legislation be deferred one cycle. Bishop, however, pushed for at least a discussion.
“There’s no need to defer,” he said. “I think we all know the issues. There’s no sense in dragging it out.”
After about an hour and a half, and two new amendments to a contract that already contains seven amendments, the Finance Committee approved the bill. The biggest difference is the funding source.
Originally, Lee’s and Council President Richard Clark’s bill called for $3.5 million to be pulled from the City’s Downtown Historic Preservation Trust Fund to help Landing owner Toney Sleiman pay for the $5 million lot at Bay and Hogan streets.
However, an amendment proposed by Finance Chair Stephen Joost suggested using $3.5 million that was set aside a couple of months ago for work at Metropolitan Park.
According to Jacksonville Economic Development Commission Executive Director Ron Barton, the City has no legal obligation to provide the Landing with parking. He says if Jacksonville Landing Inc. wanted to build a parking garage, the City would be responsible for $3.5 million worth of the garage’s price tag. However, since the plan is for Sleiman to purchase a surface lot, the City isn’t obligated to help fund that purchase.
“To clarify, the City has no obligation to provide parking,” said Barton, citing a previous amendment to the lease with the Landing. “The sixth amendment absolved the City of its parking obligation. But, if the Landing opts to build a parking garage, the City would pay.”
Barton stressed he and the JEDC and the Mayor’s office are not opposed to the Landing and want to see it become one of the focal points Downtown.
“We have no adverse issues with the Landing,” said Barton, who offered a “no comment” after the vote. “We want the Landing to be successful. It’s a great venue in the urban core. It’s not that we don’t want parking for the Landing. We just differ on how to get there.”
Barton also explained the seventh amendment and the two subsequent amendments approved Monday were not examined by his staff or the Mayor’s office.
“You should not be surprised I object to Met Park money being used,” he said.
In the past, Sleiman has said repeatedly the lack of parking is hindering his ability to lure big-name stores and restaurants to the Landing. He has also said in the past he’d like to purchase the land the Landing sits on. Such a move would put the property on the tax rolls, but it would also give Sleiman total control over the property.
After Monday’s meeting, Sleiman said he has backed off the notion of buying the land and will give it more serious thought if and when the economy recovers.
Sleiman is also set to get another $2.5 million in order to allow his tenants to validate parking for customers over the next 20 years. Sleiman said which customers are eligible for validation will be determined by the company he hires to run the parking lot. Finance member Ray Holt wanted to make sure people stopping to buy something as small as gum aren’t parking for a discount or for free.
Lee said it’s time to work with the Landing and help Sleiman develop the property many City officials cite when talking about Downtown. She said talk of Sleiman selling the parking lot or the Landing itself doesn’t make sense.
“Does anyone know anyone willing to buy the Landing if the owner walked out? We need to either put up or shut up,” she said.
“I’m concerned about the Landing and I’m concerned about Downtown. If we are concerned about raiding funds, we need to start a new meeting in an hour. That (raiding funds to pay for other things) is what we do,” said Lee.
“At the end of the day, people want to go the Landing, not empty buildings. We act as if there are 10 people waiting to come in and run the Landing.”
Regardless how the full Council votes, Mayor John Peyton will have the final say either through a signature on the legislation or veto, which he has hinted may happen.
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