Live blogging DIA

[thelakelander]

Lots of detailed general CRA information in Eric Lindstrom's presentation.  All DIA board members are still awake and engaged.

[thelakelander]

The crowd......not so much.

[thelakelander]

CRA presentation over.  Chairman Harris has nominated Melody Bishop to chair the DIA on CRAs.  Paul Perez will be the vice chair.  Don Shea seconded it.  Approved. Now Tony Allegretti is preparing to provide the DIA with a review of last week's Chamber Leadership Cincinnati trip.

[thelakelander]

Highlights from Tony's Cincinnati experience:

- Mayor of Cincinnati given key to Jacksonville.

- 3CDC is a Downtown Vision on steroids.  Allegretti credited them with leading downtown's revitalization.  They have an annual budget of $14 million.  3CDC has acquired several properties in Over-The-Rhine and converted them into mixed use projects. 

- Mentions Washington Square Park as something similar to Hemming Plaza.  Washington Square has recently been reconstructed and programming is a major component.  The 3CDC manages both Downtown Vision and Fountain Square.  Fountain Square has 350 events programmed in it annually.


Cincinnati's Fountain Square

- Jacksonville has more activity along its riverfront.

[thelakelander]

What are your impressions of Perez? Not acquainted with him.

No impression right now.  Now the update on Hemming Plaza is taking place.

[thelakelander]

Hemming Plaza highlights by Karen Nasrallah:

- Founded in 1857 by Isiah Hart and is the oldest park in the city.

- 1960s becomes a bus depot.

- 1986, it was opened as a pedestrian mall in its current spot.

- Gambling, public drinking, fighting happening in park everyday.

- Nobody wants to use the plaza because of "safety" issue.

[thelakelander]

- Hemming Plaza ad hoc committee's first action was a survey by DVI. 1650 people responded. 

- improvements suggested include remove dying trees and replace with low growing plants, move benches to perimeter of park, subcommittee split on removing chairs and tables but Karen mentions removable chairs and tables would be nice.

[John P]

That should be percieved safety issue. Wlak and drive thru almost daily. Some crazy people yell from time to time. That is about it. There are cops there everyday all day so there is not much to worry about.

[thelakelander]

- Additional recommendations include hiring private security for the park from 7am-7pm.  Also implement lunch time programming, allow MOCA and the library to use the park more, encourage businesses to have meetings in the park and consider food trucks.

- RFI (Request for Information) to solicit responses for potential operators and managers to best program and look for information in the park.

- Subcommittee met last week to discuss the RFI but the RFI wasn't discussed due to large crowd.

- Jim Piggot did a story on how dangerous Hemming Plaza is last night.  Karen mentioned Hemming Plaza's problems isn't a homeless issue.  The majority of people using the park have homes.

[thelakelander]

Karen Nasrallah believes $250k to $500k in first year to implement changes to park. 

Oliver Barakat believes Hemming's future is a top 3 issue with downtown's future.  Wants ad hoc committee to provide DIA with regular updates so the DIA can help shape Hemming's future.

Tony Allegretti mentions DVI has a picnic program for Hemming this Friday.  Invites everyone to try and attend.

Chairman Don Harris wants someone from the DIA to attend each ad hoc committee meeting.

[thelakelander]

Alan Verlander now providing update on FL/GA weekend.  We just lost Action News.  Looks like they were here to cover the Hemming update.

[thelakelander]

Clement mentions game traffic was horrible compared to downtown.  Verlander mentions this was because more fans linger in downtown instead of deserting the area, like during Jags games. Allegretti follows by mentioning that downtown businesses do better when fans linger and hang out in the area.

[thelakelander]

Jim Bailey mentions the FL/GA game's success is an example of why we shouldn't remove benches from Hemming.  Says downtown works great when we add to the area (programming) instead of retracting.

[thelakelander]

Bill 2012-657 is an appeal to demolish the Bostwick Building.  It's on hold until JHPC's meeting tomorrow.  At that meeting, JHPC will decide if the Bostwick will be landmarked or not. 

Don Shea recommends the DIA take a stand and not wait.  Shea's recommendation is a DIA resolution that the city not issue a permit to demolish the Bostwick and that COJ uses all available legal methods to acquire the property.  Oliver Barakat seconds it.  Board votes to approve it.

[thelakelander]

Acting executive director of the Office of Economic Development, Paul Crawford, mentions they are still talking with Latitude 30, brainstorming with Intuition Ale, and that 200 Riverside will break ground soon. They are still in conversations with bank that owns Laura Trio, but nothing concrete.  Laura Street clock has been gone for 16 months.  Will be reinstalled within the next month.  DDRB will review internal wayfaring signage for Baptist Medical Center, Parador garage follow up, and the Riverside YMCA design on Thursday.  Paul Crawford also mentioned they are working with the developer to bring a Fresh Market to Riverside Avenue.