Billionaire Khan Wants $3M in Tax $$$ for Jaguars

[Tacachale]

Thank you Tacachale for defending me against a troll post. I respect your opinion as well.

I do realize it is called an Arena, but it is factual to refer to it as a coliseum. I just used a less appropriate word for understanding purposes, since Coliseum is what the old one was called.   

'the bed tax is tied to venues specifically in the stadium district.'

I don't believe this has always been the case. When was this stipulated?  With the last stadium improvements? What are the physical boundaries of the Stadium district according to the bed tax legislation? 

What is the full breakdown of this 6% tax, and how much is devoted to the Stadium/Stadium district already?  Obviously the tourism funds are not. 
   

Here's the current ordinance (I'm pretty sure):

https://www.municode.com/library/fl/jacksonville/ordinances/code_of_ordinances?nodeId=395383

There's a 6% bed tax, of which 2% of the bed tax is debt service for previous projects and another 2% is for tourism promotion for the county. The final 2% was previously the Convention Development tax, but in 2009 it was tied specifically to capital improvements in the sports district. The ordinance specifically mentions the Stadium, Arena, and Baseball Grounds, and future projects "as may be determined from time to time by the Council consistent with state law".

It always sounded a bit off to me, but it's the law, and unless that changes the money is tied to this area.

[vicupstate]

There's a 6% bed tax, of which 2% of the bed tax is debt service for previous projects and another 2% is for tourism promotion for the county. The final 2% was previously the Convention Development tax, but in 2009 it was tied specifically to capital improvements in the sports district. The ordinance specifically mentions the Stadium, Arena, and Baseball Grounds, and future projects "as may be determined from time to time by the Council consistent with state law".

I know the original construction/renovation of the Stadium itself was paid in significant part by Bed Taxes.  My guess is that that funding (or other Stadium renovations since then) is all or part of that first 2%.  If not, I have less objections with 1/3 going to the Stadium as opposed to as much as 2/3%.

The last time a Convention Center was discussed, I remember the Bed Tax was listed a source for partial funding of it.  How could that be,  unless the  Center was built in the Stadium District itself, which I don't remember being part of the deal.   

[thelakelander]

Time flies. The last time the bed tax was seriously discussed as a potential funding source for the convention center was before 2009.

[Marle Brando]

^This dude . Seriously.

[whyisjohngalt]

Is Stache Investments over?

[brainstormer]

Didn't many forum members bring up the design when it was first proposed? There were multiple pictures shown, and I was one of the people that suggested no funding should be approved until a final design was in place. Does the design still have to be approved by the DDRB?

[RattlerGator]

Thank you Tacachale for defending me against a troll post. I respect your opinion as well.

So, vicupstate, now that you've had time to see what's going to be done . . . what say you ? ? ?

[thelakelander]

Didn't many forum members bring up the design when it was first proposed? There were multiple pictures shown, and I was one of the people that suggested no funding should be approved until a final design was in place. Does the design still have to be approved by the DDRB?

You mean the group that approved this?



Something tells me whatever is proposed at EverBank will pass if the typical Jax beige product does.

[brainstormer]

^ Funny, Lake.  That picture is awful.

The proposed plan released today is definitely different and I think more integrated with the rest of the stadium. I should have trusted that Khan has "style."

[tufsu1]

You mean the group that approved this?

Pretty sure there has been a lot of turnover on DDRB since that was approved more than 10 years ago

[thelakelander]

True. How about this urban beauty?



Seriously though, I doubt the DDRB is going to slow Khan's plans for EverBank Field down.

[Steve]

Seriously-lets not count on the DDRB to keep the urban fabric.

[tufsu1]

True. How about this urban beauty?

still a different board...and given the original plans, DDRB did get some very positive modifications to that site plan

[thelakelander]

^If I recall, the major site plan modification was CVS dropping out and the developer coming back with the retail building, housing Burrito Gallery, in its place.  If we're lucky, maybe the latest version of the DDRB will get a second opportunity to throw some weight around in the near vicinity.

[vicupstate]

Thank you Tacachale for defending me against a troll post. I respect your opinion as well.

So, vicupstate, now that you've had time to see what's going to be done . . . what say you ? ? ?

I think there are better and more impactful projects that cost less than $45 million than this project.  Property taxes will have to be raised to pay for the things now paid for by the room tax (maintenance of the Sports District).

Architecturally, I question how the wavy roof will look over time. I'm sure it will look 'cool' when it is brand new, but 20 years out it might look like the old Coliseum did before it was razed.