Chinese investor eyeing opportunities in Downtown Jacksonville

[ben says]

http://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/blog/2012/10/chinese-investor-eyeing-opportunities.html

The CEO of a Chinese hedge fund looking for investment opportunities in Northeast Florida has an idea that could help revitalize Downtown Jacksonville: Creating a Chinatown in the urban core.

Paul Porter, a sales associate with Watson Commercial Realty Inc., shared the story of a Chinese businessman’s interest in the region at a luncheon Thursday hosted by GrayRobinson PA that focused on Downtown Jacksonville.

Porter declined to identify the CEO or his hedge fund, but said the man had been granted U.S. citizenship and is moving to the Orange Park area to be closer to his grandchildren. Porter said he learned of the man’s story through a residential real estate agent at Watson, who’d been assisting the man in finding a house.

Porter said Michelle Barth, deputy chief of staff for Mayor Alvin Brown, gave him her business card and asked him to connect the investor with the city.

The timing could be right for it, with Chinese investment in the U.S. rising, from a total of $3 billion in all of 2011 to $8 billion already in 2012, according to BusinessWeek, which cites the Heritage Foundation’s China Global Investment Tracker.
Under the federal government’s EB-5 investment program, foreign investors who invest enough money to create at least 10 full-time jobs are granted U.S. residency.

Chinese investors have already pumped $30 million into Florida’s charter schools, according to Miami Today, and could triple that amount next year.

[fieldafm]

This was the same lunch that it was argued that the Mobility Plan is what is hurting growth in Jacksonville.

There was a lot of hot air in there... I wouldn't put too much stock in the topics discussed. 

[thelakelander]

I'd be interested to hear how you can create an authentic Chinatown in the 21st century without violating federal housing laws.

[ben says]

This was the same lunch that it was argued that the Mobility Plan is what is hurting growth in Jacksonville.

There was a lot of hot air in there... I wouldn't put too much stock in the topics discussed.

Agree. Honestly, a waste of an article...Chinatown? In downtown Jax? Ha

[John P]

it is hard to beleive the business journal would publish such garbage. this will happen right after we have regular trips to the moon from our space port.

[tufsu1]

^ The Business Journal has been publishing a lot of garbage of late.  Take their in-house editorials for  example.

This week, they wrote that deciding the JaxPort CEO should not receicve a raise because police office and firefighters were taking a pay cut was the wrong decision.  Their reasoning - he deserves a raise because he's doing a good job.  So, what were they implying about our public safety folks?

[wsansewjs]

Jacksonville's Chinatown would be BIGGER than the Downtown Jacksonville.

JUST saying...

-Josh

[Tacachale]

Lame.

[Rynjny]

I think its a good idea for a chinatown in jacksonville..every major city have one.

[Timkin]

Perhaps they should buy the vacated  Splendid China and make it a  Chinatown .

[Adam W]

A 21st century Chinatown would simply be like a theme park or a mall. Not really an "authentic" Chinatown. Sounds like an idea that won't really go anywhere.

However, if this investor has a lot of money and he wants to invest it in Downtown Jax, then I say, "Welcome to Jacksonville!"

[JaxJag]

Just saw this on the action news 47.

[KenFSU]

An unnamed CEO from an unidentified hedge fund planning to invest in a forced, non-organic Chinatown in the 14,135th ranked zip code in the nation by Chinese population (4 Chinese residents total, according to census estimates).

Sounds legit to me...

[Pinky]

So the story is that some realtor heard from another realtor that some chinese guy is looking at houses in Orange Park?  That's the story?  That's the entire story??

Ugh.