by Karen Brune Mathis
Managing Editor
Days before the Jacksonville Civic Council presented its Northbank Redevelopment Task Force report, the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce pledged support in spreading the word that Downtown needed community involvement.
“We are at a crucial time,” said chamber Chair Hugh Greene at the group’s Leadership Trip follow-up meeting Feb. 3.
“We have a clear opportunity to influence leadership in this city in the months ahead,” said Greene.
Greene spoke to about 50 people gathered at WJCT studios to review the 2010 Leadership Trip to Indianapolis, where City, chamber and civic leaders heard how the Indiana capital rejuvenated its downtown.
On Tuesday, media were presented plans by the Jacksonville Civic Council about how to do the same here.
Greene, along with Ed Burr, a former chamber chair and chair of the chamber’s Downtown Revitalization work group and several other speakers talked Thursday about the need for Downtown redevelopment.
Burr, a Civic Council member, also referred to the pending report. Civic Council Chair Peter Rummell and Downtown advocate Preston Haskell also attended the chamber’s meeting.
Haskell chaired the task force, which was supported by Mayor John Peyton.
Burr spoke to the chamber meeting of the implementation authority and said he hoped it would be approved by the mayor and City Council.
“We are at a point to make a difference,” said Burr.
Burr also talked about the chamber’s Political Leadership Institute, which trains candidates, and its JaxBiz political affiliate, which endorses candidates.
He said several of the JaxBiz-endorsed candidates completed the institute training. Several attended the meeting Thursday.
Burr said Downtown needed constant, focused and continued leadership.
Moreover, he said, it is important “to get citizens to buy in to the vision.”
Burr said that marketing plans would be launched by yearend and then introduced Mya Surrency, vice president of marketing for Visit Jacksonville.
Surrency said the goal is “to make the case for Downtown.”
“We are at a pivotal point for our downtown,” she said. Surrency said Visit Jacksonville, the marketing, convention and visitors arm of the City, was meeting with other organizations “to get the message out.”
She said marketers are developing key talking points and “an elevator speech” about Downtown to share with the community.
“You’ll start seeing these very soon,” she said.
The chamber’s Access section within 904 Magazine will carry features about “why Downtown matters,” she said.
Downtown Vision Inc. Executive Director Terry Lorince also spoke to the group. “We are the feet on the street for Downtown Jacksonville,” she said. She said DVI’s position on Downtown is to focus on the 20-block core, to develop “an experience” Downtown, to “get the public-private partnership” correct to redevelop vacant buildings and “we need bold, ambitious leadership to bring a focus on Downtown.”
Burr said another chamber committee will focus on recruiting business Downtown.
“The key to this starts with leadership,” he said.
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