JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The special committee examining the future of downtown Jacksonville is scheduled to meet Monday morning, and Jax Chamber officials are expected to share some of the lessons learned from a recent trip to Downtown Phoenix.
This special committee was launched by City Council President Ron Salem to determine whether the Downtown Investment Authority (DIA) is actually working when it comes to revitalizing downtown Jacksonville.
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At the meeting, many different groups will have the opportunity to speak, including Downtown Vision and the DIA.
When Salem announced the launch of the special committee in a memo in May, he said one big task for it was “to examine and explore other jurisdictions that have had Downtown successes over the past 20 years...”
It appears residents may now be getting a closer look at that.
Monday’s agenda for the committee meeting suggests people will hear from the Jax Chamber, as it talks about a trip to Downtown Phoenix and the lessons learned from that trip.
Here’s how Salem described it when he spoke to News4JAX in late April.
“Are there other cities that have different methods of development in downtown that we can adapt, change, or make our situation better?” Salem said.
Revitalizing downtown has been a priority for the city for years. But there have been questions about just how effective the DIA is.
The DIA’s website says it’s working with developers on many projects throughout downtown. Its highlighted projects it says have either been completed or are under construction.
And there has been some success. The LaVilla Link of the Emerald Trail Project opened in May.
And for now, the Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing Park is slated to open in late June.
There have been some recent setbacks. Most notably, the Laura Street Trio project and the fire earlier this year that destroyed the RISE Doro apartments.
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While the details about the Phoenix trip are expected soon, the special committee still has a June 30 deadline to share any reports or recommendations.
The meeting starts at 10:30 a.m. and is expected to last two hours. The agenda shows there will be time for public comment.