Downtown In-Depth, a Mayoral Forum

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Presented by DVI

http://downtownjacksonville.org/Media/InTheNews/11-01-30/Pre-registration_for_Downtown_In-Depth_a_Mayoral_Forum.aspx

"Downtown In-depth" is a moderated forum with mayoral candidates on the issues facing Downtown and an opportunity to hear directly from the candidates.


Presented by Downtown Council, Downtown Vision and ULI North Florida

WHAT:  "Downtown In-depth" is a moderated forum with mayoral candidates on the issues facing Downtown and an opportunity to hear directly from the candidates.

Audrey Moran â€" confirmed
Rick Mullaney â€" confirmed
Mike Hogan â€" unconfirmed
Alvin Brown â€" scheduling conflict

Moderator:  First Coast News anchor, Phil Amato.

WHERE:  AT&T 301 Tower, 301 W. Bay Street, Jacksonville, FL 32202

WHEN:  Friday, February 18, 2011

7:00 a.m. â€" 8:00 a.m. Networking and Continental Breakfast
8:00 a.m. â€" 9:30 a.m. Mayoral Forum on Downtown Issues

COST:  $10 Pre-registration | $15 Day of registration

REGISTRATION:
Pre-registration is encouraged and open through 2/17.

Downtown Council members can pre-register at downtowncouncil.org.

ULI North Florida members can pre-register by calling (904) 486-8256 or visiting northflorida.uli.org.

Everyone else may pre-register by clicking the PayPal button below for the price of $10.00.  
Please note, you will not receive a physical ticket. Your name will be on a will call list at the event.






PARKING: Parking available at the Omni Garage.  Entrance is on Bay Street.  Free parking validation provided courtesy of AT&T Tower 301. Continental breakfast provided.

SPONSORS:   Thanks to our sponsors, AT&T Tower 301, Breaking Ground Contracting and Grubb & Ellis | Phoenix Realty Group.

About Downtown Council, Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce
Our Council is made up of business professionals from Jacksonville and surrounding areas that recognize the importance of Downtown to the business health of Jacksonville as a whole.  Members represent all aspects of business around Jacksonville providing an exceptional networking experience at our meetings, programs and social events. We have a beautiful riverwalk, cultural events, sporting events, restaurants, and a wealth of retail and office space available for a small mom and pop shop to a corporate headquarters. We work together to cultivate ideas and in the process, develop business owners and managers into business leaders, while they grow their businesses.  For  more about the Downtown Council, please visit downtowncouncil.org.

About Downtown Vision, Inc.
Downtown Vision, Inc. (DVI) is a not-for-profit 501(c)6 organization whose mission is to build and maintain a healthy and vibrant Downtown community and to promote Downtown as an exciting place to live, work, play, and visit.

Founded in 2000, DVI is dedicated to promoting the Downtown area, building a neighborhood Downtown, serving as a one-stop shop for information on Downtown and advocating the interests of local businesses and property owners. Downtown Vision is the only organization solely devoted to revitalizing Downtown Jacksonville.  For more information, visit downtownjacksonville.org.

About ULI North Florida
The Urban Land Institute is a nonprofit education and research institute supported by its members. Its mission is to provide leadership in the responsible use of land and in creating and sustaining thriving communities worldwide. Established is 1936, the Institute has more than 30,000 members representing all aspects of land use and development disciplines. The ULI North Florida District Council was formed in 2005 and currently has members from Flagler to Escambia Counties, including Jacksonville, Gainesville, Tallahassee, Panama City and Pensacola.  More information about ULI North Florida is available online at http://northflorida.uli.org/.



DVI's position on this election

Jacksonville’s image is largely based on the condition of Downtown.  If Downtown is vibrant, Jacksonville as a region becomes more attractive to businesses, investors, visitors and an educated workforce accustomed to being in an active, urban environment.  Downtown’s success directly impacts business retention and relocation â€" creating jobs and stability for our local economy. The neglect of our Downtown is costly to taxpayers on many levels.  We believe the following tenets are both essential and attainable in the near-term and necessary to advance Downtown. 

1. Focus on the Core â€" Only by concentrating our limited public and private resources on our city’s historical and cultural core can we effectively revitalize Downtown.  History shows that dispersion of facilities, activities and funding has been detrimental to the creation of a vibrant Downtown.  Thriving downtowns have density.

2. Create a Compelling Downtown Experience â€" Improving the “fit and finish” of Downtown, and activating the streetscape with small-scale events and promotions are less expensive needs in Downtown.  Using what we have and activating existing vacant and underutilized buildings contribute to creating a compelling experience in a compact, walkable area of the core.  Most importantly, history confirms that there is no single project that will turn around Downtown.   

3. Insist on Public-Private Leverage â€" Successful downtowns typically reserve public money for projects and activities that require or encourage significant private investment.  The city needs to re-examine its policies to make sure that taxpayer funds spent on capital projects and on event programming are, where possible, used in ways that encourage private development and have a positive economic impact on existing businesses. 

4. Bold and Ambitious Leadership â€" Not only do we need individual leaders who are visionary and ambitious, we need to ensure that our efforts to create and maintain excellence continue regardless of elected leadership.  It will take strategic thinking and open and honest debate that should be welcomed to chart the best path and ensure the right series of decisions are made. 

In evaluating the success of other great cities, it is a fact that they all have vibrant downtowns.  To be a great city, Jacksonville must address the needs of Downtown.  We hope all candidates recognize the importance of Downtown to the city’s future and are up to the challenge to do what is required to achieve our potential as a great American city.

Terry Lorince, Executive Director
Downtown Vision, Inc.