Liveblog: ICSC Next Generation Road to Redevelopment Panel Discussion

[DeadGirlsDontDance]

Good evening, folks.

I'm in Riverside at the ICSC (International Council of Shopping Centers) Next Generation Road to Redevelopment Panel Discussion this evening. Stephen Dare will not be liveblogging this event, because he is the moderator. This is my first time doing a liveblog, so please be patient with me.

People are making their way into the meeting, which is in a lovely room at Catering by Liz. The schedule says Cocktails and Networking are slated for 7 to 8 pm, but the meeting hasn't quite started yet and nobody is wasting any time.

[thelakelander]

Cool. I'm looking forward to following your live blog.

[DeadGirlsDontDance]

It's a well-dressed, attractive bunch of people for the most part. I just met the impishly smiling Bryan Mickler, and Megan Vershave of Hallmark Properties. Jack Shad, the COJ parking commissioner is here, and so is Carmen Godwin, Executive Director of RAP.  Good heavens, I can't keep track of all these people.

[DeadGirlsDontDance]

Thanks, Lake. Aundra Wallace, CEO of the Downtown Investment Authority is here.  He's from Detroit, and I'm not sure I want to ask him what he thinks of downtown.

[DeadGirlsDontDance]

The organizers are trying to get everybody seated and get the show on the road, apparently. 

[DeadGirlsDontDance]

I have a list of the questions the panel is covering, as follows.
What programs has the city begin to implement to help aid the commercial development process?


Mellow Mushroom: What has your experience been with development processes for your three locations in Jacksonville? How did the process in Jacksonville Beach differ from Southside and Avondale?   


How do you establish goodwill and the monetary value of goodwill? Ex – Merchants of San Marco working together to enhance their retail district, they seem to welcome development and retail and see the impact it has on their neighborhood.


Ben Davis: What have been some of your challenges with real estate selection and development?


McDonalds Rep: Gabe, site selection and development throughout the state must differ from region to region. Which regions work best for McDonalds development and why?


Office of OED: Why is city policy tilted towards a residential property owner holding a $200,000 asset vs a commercial property owner holding a $2,000,000 asset and creating jobs. How can the city help to encourage community input without costing the property owner time and money to defend their real estate decision?


Is there any attempt to find physical or infrastructural issues to the various issues which bring commercial and residential areas into conflict?  Examples are natural sound barriers like tree lines and bamboo plantings, or parking abatements in return for mobility contributions or projects?


Office of OED: Each area of town seems to have different processes for development with different neighborhood and historic guidelines. What resources and tools does the city of Jacksonville have for retailers coming into the Jacksonville market?


When it comes to parking requirements for commercial properties, why do we emphasize the importance of a parking lot rather than transportation resources? 

[thelakelander]

The organizers are trying to get everybody seated and get the show on the road, apparently. 

Sounds like a who's who type of crowd. I'm sure Stephen is loving this!

[thelakelander]

Good questions.

[DeadGirlsDontDance]

I will take advantage of the pause to watch a terrible video presentation from the city. Stephen Dare just introduced panel members Ben Davis of Intuition Aleworks, the self-titled "Head Cheese" of Mellow Mushroom, and another fellow whose name I forgot while fighting with my caps lock key.

[DeadGirlsDontDance]

What programs has the city begin to implement to help aid the commercial development process?

In a nutshell, Mike Balanky pretty much said the City Council needs to be trained about business and urban development, because they currently don't know diddly squat.

[DeadGirlsDontDance]

Ben Davis, the guy with the beard, said the big issue is that being a combination of light industrial/commercial business is that they stay in trouble with the city, and that they need somebody in the city to work with them instead of constantly siccing Code Enforcement on them.

[DeadGirlsDontDance]

To Mellow Mushroom: What has your experience been with development processes for your three locations in Jacksonville? How did the process in Jacksonville Beach differ from Southside and Avondale?   

Wow. I was too busy listening to type. It sounds like he thinks the city is more interested in fining new businesses than helping them create jobs and tax revenue. (short version).

Now Stephen is talking about good will.

[thelakelander]

What programs has the city begin to implement to help aid the commercial development process?

In a nutshell, Alex from Mellow Mushroom pretty much said the City Council needs to be trained about business and urban development, because they currently don't know diddly squat.

Mellow Mushroom's first urban core location will open in Shops of Avondale on Monday:

[thelakelander]

Ben Davis, the guy with the beard, said the big issue is that being a combination of light industrial/commercial business is that they stay in trouble with the city, and that they need somebody in the city to work with them instead of constantly siccing Code Enforcement on them.

Ben Davis established Intuition Ale Works in 2010. It's a local craft brewery that has been instrumental in the revitalization of King Street and the CoRK area. They are currently in search of a new location due to a variety of issues that has limited the impact they could have on the greater community.









https://www.facebook.com/cookingwithintuition

[DeadGirlsDontDance]

So. Goodwill. Are you more willing to invest in your community if there's goodwill, as a developer?

Ben: "You want to have goodwill, but goodwill doesn't pay the rent, doesn't pay my employees."

John Valentino (owner of Mellow Mushroom): "Goodwill is very expensive." (He then expanded on the "Mob Rule" points made earlier by Michael.)