Jacksonville Community Council Inc., through its JAX2025 visioning exercise, advocated for a stronger, more vibrant Downtown.
Starting in December, the nonprofit organization will do its part to reach that goal when it moves its headquarters to WJCT Studios at 100 Festival Park Ave.
Council CEO Ben Warner said the idea of moving had been discussed during his predecessor's tenure and the idea of having a center of civic engagement at the studios was enticing.
"We think it's important. We are talking of the importance of Downtown and we are putting our money where our mouth is," Warner said.
The JAX2025 community visioning exercise led by the organization identified a vibrant Downtown as one of its 10 areas of focus.
Warner said the move also provides the council other opportunities using WJCT facilities for its community programs and media-related opportunities for "community conversations."
The organization held its JAX2025 implementation program at WJCT Studios and had about 250 people attend — more than could be accommodated at the 2434 Atlantic Blvd. location where it has been for at least the past 15 years.
"We just kind of outgrew it," Warner said.
Michael Boylan, WJCT president and CEO, said the council will occupy about 10 individual offices and he is hopeful the move is "a gateway to a more sustaining relationship beyond tenant-landlord."
The council has eight full-time employees and two interns, but Warner said the staff could soon be larger.
Boylan said he always envisioned bringing civic- and community-minded organizations together under one roof.
"It speaks directly to our mission," he said, referring to civic participation.
WJCT is the community-supported public broadcasting station for the area.
Boylan said that though it's early in the process, he hopes to attract other organizations with a similar mission to the Downtown studios.
The World Affairs Council of Jacksonville moved June 3 from Ponte Vedra Beach into the studio's offices. The nonpartisan, nonprofit organization promotes "an understanding of the world and its people and to engage the citizens of Northeast Florida in becoming better informed," according to its worldaffairscounciljax.org website.
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