JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Councilmember Matt Carlucci Sr. expressed his support for the “Community Benefits Agreement” that’s part of the proposed stadium deal.
The “Community Benefits Agreement” is a $300 million deal between the city and the Jaguars, making community improvements countywide, as well as revitalizing the Eastside neighborhood and other community programs. That includes spending millions of dollars on affordable housing developments and reducing homelessness.
Dana Miller owns a barbershop in the heart of the Eastside.
“I’m a business owner out here, and I’m an activist in the community. And I’m a part of the council that came up with the proposal for the CBA,” Miller said.
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The “Community Benefits Agreement” is part of the $1 billion stadium deal that includes investing in the revitalization of the neighborhoods that border the “Stadium of the Future.”
The city and the Jags will invest a shared $300 million into community redevelopment.
“I think it’ll benefit this area in a great way because we need change. This neighborhood has been neglected for the past 50, 60 years. And I know people are feeling some type of way about the money coming in this area, or what’s happening with the stadium. And they feel like the money could be used in other places. But I think it is the beginning of something great,” Miller said.
The money would also be dedicated to countywide programs for affordable housing, workforce development and reducing homelessness.
“I was born right here on this street. I was raised right here in 1949,” Eastside resident Nathaniel Vereen said. “If this for the benefit of the people, then I would imagine it should be welcomed. You know, as long as that’s what’s happening.”
The Community Benefits Agreement also dedicates some money to develop local parks. About $45 million will be dedicated to different parks countywide as part of this agreement. That includes the Riverfront Plaza, Metropolitan Park and the Shipyards.
Those are all parks along the Downtown Riverfront that would be connected through future extensions of the Riverwalk.
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It would be the biggest community benefits agreement in NFL history, topping the Kansas City Chief’s $266 million CBA.
“It’ll move the needle ahead for Jacksonville. But if we decide to dilly-dally around with it, put it in the budget. And who knows what will come out, I’m afraid it would get watered down,” Carlucci Sr. said.
Carlucci pledged his support for the CBA after some council members questioned the investment. He said this is about the future of Jacksonville.
“If we support just the stadium deal without the community benefits, oh, we got a stadium deal. But if we could, if we support the stadium deal, along with the community benefits package, now we’re talking about something that’s more visionary, that’s more complete, that’s more fair, it’s more compassion that’s farther reaching, it touches more people, it creates more opportunities and that’s what we want this whole Jaguar thing to be about,” Carlucci said.
Carlucci said he understands those who say this deal involves a lot of money.
“Well, it’s expensive, and I will take that I will certainly agree to that. It’s expensive. But look, Jacksonville, let’s just talk about the Jaguars right now. If we lost the Jaguars, that would be one of the biggest gut punches in our history,” Carlucci said.
A vote on the proposed stadium deal could come as soon as next month. A simple majority of the 19 council members is needed to pass it. The NFL owners will also need to approve the deal separately.