JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Jacksonville City Council met on Monday to discuss the future of the historic Laura Street Trio. The meeting highlighted the growing tension between city officials and developers over how to resolve the long-standing issues surrounding the vacant buildings.
The meeting comes two weeks after the mayor’s office announced that talks with the developer were permanently ending.
The meeting highlighted the growing tension between city officials and developers over how to resolve the long-standing issues surrounding the vacant buildings.
Councilmember Kevin Carrico, a proponent of moving forward on the issue, continues to face resistance.
Paul Bertozzi, President and CEO of Live Oak Contracting, announced his company’s intent to purchase the property. However, $800,000 in city code violation fines and liens pose significant challenges to finalizing the deal.
“We’re hopeful to get the contract active and running in 2025,” Bertozzi said.
Bertozzi confirmed that Steve Atkins, whose SouthEast Development Group previously owned the property, would not be involved moving forward. Atkins’ negotiations with the city ended unsuccessfully earlier this month.
Councilmember Jimmy Peluso expressed cautious optimism about the sale.
“I’m very happy that we’re selling this,” Peluso said. “I campaigned on this.”
Still, he called for a deliberate process, stating, “This feels like a very rushed process. This is not the only meeting we’re going to have about the Trio.”
The administration remains firm on recovering the $800,000 in liens and maintaining a pending lawsuit, a stance reinforced by Mayor Donna Deegan’s Chief of Staff Michael Weinstein.
“We stand by the lawsuit,” Weinstein said. “If they want the lawsuit off their back, we want our $800,000 back.”
He proposed passing a resolution instead of an ordinance to avoid a potential veto.
Councilmember Matt Carlucci suggested exploring the resolution but acknowledged growing public frustration.
“So many of our citizens have Laura Street Trio fatigue,” he noted.
Carrico urged council members to take a strong position in Tuesday’s vote on his proposed bill.
“If we get 13 votes, we can get past the veto,” he said.
Councilmember Ronald Salem echoed the call for clarity, emphasizing the need to clarify the council’s stance.
While tensions persist, Bertozzi aims for an agreement by Christmas. The council’s vote could mark a turning point in the decade-long effort to restore the Laura Street Trio, but the outcome remains uncertain.
Mayor Deegan released a statement about the Trio on Monday:
“Our commitment to preserving and protecting the Laura Street Trio has never wavered. However, we can’t let this desire result in a deal that is fiscally irresponsible for taxpayers.
The definition of insanity is doing the same thing over and over again and expecting a different result. In September, we agreed to terms with the current development team to withdraw the lawsuit. Those terms were immediately violated. The proposals that followed ballooned the city’s financial commitment and risk exposure.
The city has suffered through nearly a decade of failed proposals. This lawsuit has been the only thing that’s moved the dial. Rushing to remove it on a 24-hour deadline would be counter-productive. We remain open to working with the City Council on viable options that will preserve these three historic buildings.”