by Karen Brune Mathis
Managing Editor
Among its eight recommendations, the Downtown Revitalization Transition Committee calls for the creation and funding of the Downtown Community Empowerment Corp. and setting a Downtown summit within six months.
The committee stated it “strongly agrees” with Mayor Alvin Brown’s belief that “we should have a vibrant Downtown.”
The committee’s report also referred to the Feb. 1 Northbank Revitalization Task Force Final Report, specifically its statement that “Downtown has two dimensions.”
“A vibrant city center delivers tangible economic benefits to the entire city — not just those living Downtown,” said the report by the private Jacksonville Civic Council.
“But beyond that, it is a symbol of community cohesion, partnership between the private and the public sectors, quality of life, local pride, external reputation and community history.”
First recommendation.
The report’s first recommendation covers the organization of the DCEC as an independent entity dedicated to and responsible for revitalizing Downtown.
It should have an advisory board whose membership includes representatives of adjacent neighborhoods, including Riverside Avondale Preservation, San Marco Preservation, Preservation SOS in Historic Springfield and others.
The DCEC should have the authority to negotiate and approve redevelopment agreements and to use approved funding sources, and its powers should include management of parking.
Its responsibilities should include, but not be limited to:
• Review and approve Downtown economic development incentives programs in concert with an updated Downtown Master Plan and the adopted Comprehensive Plan.
• Focus planning and resources on the core defined by Downtown Vision Inc. and focus on developing areas that include Hemming Plaza, the old and new courthouses, the Laura Street corridor and the Laura Street trio of buildings and the Bay Street Entertainment District, as well as small projects.
• Develop a marketing campaign for Downtown to make the case for revitalization and build awareness.
• Manage special events.
Second recommendation.
The second recommendation outlines funding, calling for a dedicated source for the DCEC.
It recommends that funds collected in Downtown be allocated to the Downtown district. Such funds include tax increment financing, parking and event revenues.
It also calls for designating all ad valorem taxes that are collected in the Downtown district be used exclusively for Downtown revitalization for five years.
It also recommends that the Business Improvement District boundaries be extended and that the funding source be applied to residential properties within it.
It also calls for the City to pay its fair share of BID funding. The BID is funded by property owners who agreed to assess themselves to raise money for additional services Downtown. Legislation in 1999 initiated an additional 1.1 mill ad valorem tax assessment on property owners within the 90-square-block BID.
The committee also said the Historic Trust Fund should be supported at an adequate level and be used to buy critical and unrestored historic structures in the core and for grants or loans for such a purpose.
Third recommendation.
The third recommendation calls for a public-private partnership to create a convention center Downtown and to update a study to determine its location, size and cost.
The City should encourage establishment of retail, restaurants and entertainment venues to entertain convention center attendees, residents and Downtown employees, and should encourage creation of locally owned businesses.
It also called for support of the Tourism Investment District legislation referred to by the Northbank Revitalization Task Force and said a J-Bill should be submitted for approval by the state Legislature in the next session. The task force report described a Tourism Investment District:
“There is considerable interest within the hotel-motel industry in seeking state statutory authority to impose a tax upon certain revenues within its industry and within a specified jurisdiction, presumably Duval County. The proceeds would be used for purposes of promoting tourism activity within that district. While not yet a reality, this initiative has substantial industry support and should be actively pursued.”
Fourth recommendation.
The mayor and the Jacksonville Transportation Authority should explore building a narrow gauge rail system at ground level to connect the Osborn Center, which is designated as the future multimodal center, with the Landing and EverBank Field.
Fifth recommendation.
The fifth suggestion is for a clean and safe Downtown.
The four-part recommendation calls for creation of walking police patrols and other community policing Downtown; establishment of a daytime resource center for the homeless; keeping streets and buildings clean and eye-appealing; and maintaining empty and abandoned buildings in an acceptable condition with enforcement of building codes.
Sixth recommendation.
Regarding housing, the committee encourages workforce and medium-density housing through residential reuse, tax abatements and codified public policy.
It also calls for workforce housing in neighborhoods surrounding Downtown and coordination with the JTA for transportation serving Downtown support staff that lives in surrounding neighborhoods.
Seventh recommendation.
The committee recommends that the Brown administration and the DCEC focus on projects “in the pipeline,” such as the proposed renovation of the Haydon Burns Library and the Laura Street Trio.
Eighth recommendation.
The final recommendation covers community support.
It calls for the administration to make Downtown revitalization a priority and that it and the DCEC should report regularly on Downtown’s progress.
The mayor should convene a Mayor’s Downtown Summit within six months to promote the Downtown initiative and continue sharing information, it says.
356-2466