The City would like to work with commercial real estate brokers to gain information about how outside markets view Jacksonville, with the goal to attract more business.
Ted Carter, City Office of Economic Development executive director, told more than 80 members and guests of the NAIOP Commercial Real Estate Development Association Northeast Florida Chapter Thursday that the mayor would like to host a roundtable with the organization's brokers.
"We need you to come see us," Carter said.
Carter was the group's keynote speaker for its monthly meeting and called the brokers the "front line" of market intelligence who could provide research on how companies perceive the Jacksonville market, its trends and "where we are going and why."
He said "everyone will win" when it comes to such a partnership, because the City also can market and attract tenants and clients to sites for brokers.
One discussion that could arise from such a conversation could be the Hillwood deal at Cecil Commerce Center. The Dallas-based private developer in 2010 secured the rights from the City to purchase lots at Cecil and provide the infrastructure.
That decision at the time drew criticism from some in the industry, with the issue still generating discussion Thursday.
Mike Heise, vice president and city manager for Liberty Property Trust, said the deal then was not handled in an appropriate fashion and still remains a "big issue" in the industry.
Carter told the group the City would be reviewing the contract in May and June, when the contract reaches its three-year mark.
During his presentation, he advised brokers to "don't always focus on the Fortune 500" companies and provided an example of seven local companies on the 2012 Inc. 500 list — private companies that have revenue growth over a three-year period and generated at least $2 million in 2011 — with which brokers should build relationships. Those companies were SNS Logistics, Petticoat-Schmitt Civil Contractors, B3 Solutions, Jacksonville Wealth Builders, ShayCore Enterprises, Universal Understanding and Dream Finders Homes.
Carter also discussed his first several months on the job, outlining City successes in economic development.
"I feel like we are off to a very fast start," he said.
He said there would be a series of additional announcements in the coming months regarding such economic developments.
When showing a map of where businesses have located, relocated or expanded, he said the clusters were Downtown and in South Jacksonville, but that there "is work to do to penertrate" North and Southwest Jacksonville.
He said Downtown was important and talked of the focus of its improvement and revitalization as part of the nationwide trend to attract people ages 24-35
and the cultural creative class, which companies are designing around.
All of it is part of economic development, which he called the City's "No. 1 priority."
Carter described office vacancies as still a challenge, but said overall economic factors appear to be positively trending.
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