DIA CEO: Council Special Committee on the Future of Downtown is halting work

[thelakelander]

The City Council's Special Committee on the Future of Downtown is hindering the Downtown Investment Authority's ability to work on projects, DIA CEO Lori Boyer said July 8.

The special committee was created by then-Council President Ron Salem in April to examine the DIA and elements involved in the progress of Downtown revitalization, which he described in a memo as "at best, debatable." It has met twice, May 12 and June 10.

The committee could recommend changes to how DIA is funded and how it works with developers.

"The decision – and the current state of indecision – is having an effect on pipeline projects that could be excluded depending on where we target geographically," Boyer said.


She cited the Gateway Jax development in Downtown two blocks south of Springfield and a potential project in the Brooklyn area which Boyer did not specifically identify.

Boyer was speaking at a DIA board of directors policy planning workshop. The purpose of the meeting was to discuss long-range budget, incentive and redevelopment priorities for Downtown.

"I have told my staff to tell developers that are coming to us now to hold," Boyer said

Full article: https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/news/2024/jul/08/dia-ceo-council-special-committee-on-the-future-of-downtown-is-halting-work-on-projects/

[Joey Mackey]

So it sounds like Boyer is threatening to hold the Gateway project hostage (she learned that from Atkins?), unless the City Council goes back to the status quo and gives her basically autonomous authority to oversee downtown's development. Look, she might be a nice, talented person, but the facts on the ground speak for themselves. Over the past few years restaurants have closed, bank retailers have fled, and we are about lose the signage on our most iconic building. Anyone who spends five days a week in the Urban Core can clearly see that Downtown is crumbling. We need to change the status quo, whatever is in place is not working. Plain and simple.

[Charles Hunter]

and we are about lose the signage on our most iconic building. 

Could you explain this, please?

[Jax_Developer]

I don't think she is holding anything hostage. She quite literally isn't confident that she will have the "authority" moving forward to grant these incentives. Currently, she is empowered through the council to negotiate incentive packages, but that could go away with a new committee or similar that has authority moving forward.

The uncomfortable truth with downtown is that it isn't a desirable location for residents & businesses alike. There's a ton of conversation as to why, but the fact of the situation is that no one administration or group of people is solely responsible for where we are today. The other uncomfortable truth about city centers, is that they are easier to destroy than build.

[Houseboat Mike]

and we are about lose the signage on our most iconic building. 

Could you explain this, please?

The Wells Fargo signage is coming down from the Independent Life building on Sunday.

[Charles Hunter]

and we are about lose the signage on our most iconic building. 

Could you explain this, please?

The Wells Fargo signage is coming down from the Independent Life building on Sunday.

Have they left the building?
or is it an aesthetic choice?
or will there be a new name?

[Joey Mackey]

^Wells Fargo is significantly downsizing (going from 7 floors of leased space to 2 floors; Truist and Bank of America have already left). I haven't heard of any confirmed replacements. https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/news/2024/jul/08/wells-fargo-signage-to-be-removed-by-helicopter-from-downtown-high-rise/

[Zac T]

^Wells Fargo is significantly downsizing (going from 7 floors of leased space to 2 floors; Truist and Bank of America have already left). I haven't heard of any confirmed replacements. https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/news/2024/jul/08/wells-fargo-signage-to-be-removed-by-helicopter-from-downtown-high-rise/

Bank of America closed their retail location Downtown but they haven't left the BofA Tower or downsized their office space

[thelakelander]

Wells Fargo downsizing isn't an indictment on downtown. Its the new world we live in today. Big companies don't need all that office space. A challenge we will face (like other downtowns across the country) will be finding creative ways to adaptively reuse our large amount of empty office space. In relation to this particular conversation, the solutions will likely require public incentives as well.

[jcjohnpaint]

Isn't Gateway incentive package in council hands now? Does Boyer have anything to negotiate at this time on that project?

[thelakelander]

Gateway has additional plans in the works, so perhaps there could be some negative impact there?

[Charles Hunter]

Maybe it's just me, but I first (and still sometimes do) read the thread title as:

"DIA CEO: Council Special Committee ... is halting (its) work" instead of "... is halting (the DIA's) work"

[Captain Zissou]

Maybe it's just me, but I first (and still sometimes do) read the thread title as:

"DIA CEO: Council Special Committee ... is halting (its) work" instead of "... is halting (the DIA's) work"

That's the way I was interpreting it as well.