Print Article
First, the City Council passed 2012-703, a measure that authorizes the Riverside Park development through two economic redevelopment agreements between the City and Pope & Land Jax Riverside LP. This public-private partnership will redevelop a portion of the Brooklyn neighborhood in Downtown Jacksonville while generating 247 jobs, improving infrastructure and increasing ad valorem revenue by a net of $10 million over 20 years. The project will create approximately 300 housing units in a community fronting Park Street in Brooklyn, along with 65,000 square feet of retail space along Riverside Avenue.
Second, the Council passed 2012-213, which makes Jacksonville more competitive by streamlining the City’s economic development process. The law will reduce the amount of time required for companies to work with the City to create jobs in Jacksonville. Through the new law, job creation packages with a financial impact to the City of less than $300,000 may be approved by City Council after one reading. Those packages with a financial impact of more than $300,000 may be approved in two readings.
Third, the City Council passed 2012-674, which empowers the City to better manage its parking assets and policies. This legislation will give the City more flexibility to negotiate long-term agreements that encourage companies to locate Downtown.
Fourth, the City Council passed 2012-682, through which the City will partner with L&J Diesel – a locally-owned small business on Jacksonville’s Westside – to help the company create jobs through the manufacture of automotive diagnostic equipment.
“As Mayor, I am partnering with the business community and City Council to improve the City’s economic development process and take advantage of economic opportunities so we can create jobs and make Jacksonville more competitive,” said Mayor Brown. “I commend the Council for passing these bills, which will help to boost our economy and revitalize Downtown.”
Specific to Riverside Park, estimated private investment ranges up to $50.5 million. Per the legislation, the city would put up $1.8 million to improve infrastructure near the Park/Riverside project site and would authorize $5.15 million in Recapture Enhanced Value (Rev) Grants. The project would generate nearly $17.8 million in new tax revenue, which would more than cover the cost of debt service and Rev Grant reimbursements to gain $10 million in new revenue for the City.
Expected benefits of the project are numerous:
The City projects a net gain of ad valorem revenue of $10 million over 20 years while improving 11 acres in a blighted area, increasing property values and enhancing the urban core.
The private investment is expected to create 247 jobs at the housing and retail complexes, along with numerous other temporary contracting jobs through project construction.
The residential portion of the project will provide attractive housing options for employees working in the Riverside Avenue corridor.
Stormwater infrastructure improvements are expected to prevent flooding and pollution into McCoy’s Creek and the St. Johns River from the project area.
Riverside Park will become neighbor to the 220 Riverside project, a $30 million investment that broke ground in November at Riverside Avenue and Jackson Street. Developer Hallmark Partners is working with the help of $4.9 million in Rev Grants on plans to build 294 residential units ranging between 600 and 1,200 square feet along with 16,500 square feet of retail space. An adjacent public park about the size of a football field will be the adequate size to program festival-style entertainment or provide enough green space to accommodate roughly 1,000 people.
Source: City of Jacksonville
Share this article
RSS
Spence
December 12, 2012, 01:44:03 AMSo what happens when the Lee-Park Street flyover is removed/replaced?
Noone
December 12, 2012, 04:51:15 AM2012-674 Free parking for Jacksonville city council members and judges. Taxpayer subsidized.
2009-442 Artificial Reef Trust Fund. Jacksonville Waterways Commission meeting just 5 hours out. 6 artificial Reefs just south of the Fuller Warren. REGIONAL economic development.
thelakelander
December 12, 2012, 06:18:17 AMThere are no plans to remove/replace that bridge.
Jason
December 12, 2012, 09:27:26 AMNow get the shovels in the dirt!!!! Things are really looking up in Brooklyn
Tacachale
December 12, 2012, 10:02:22 AMSo this is for both the residential and the retail element? Is there still a way to improve the design of the retail element?
dougskiles
December 12, 2012, 10:24:24 AMThis is only for the residential portion. The commercial portion has yet to be submitted for DDRB approval.
It would be unwise to incentivize the retail portion. Regardless of how cheap we make the development, retail will only succeed when the customer base is established by office and residential. So you incentivize office/residential to create the customer base and there is no need to incentivize the retail.
duvaldude08
December 12, 2012, 10:29:22 AMI am speechless. Lets get'er done!!!!!!
Doctor_K
December 12, 2012, 10:58:51 AMDo we know on which block(s) along Park this will be located? Trying to picture it in relation to 220 Riverside...
Either way it's a win and I'm stoked! :-) Just curious as to exact location...
tufsu1
December 12, 2012, 11:14:49 AM^ perhaps this will help
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2012-feb-riverside-park-development-proposed-for-brooklyn
Doctor_K
December 12, 2012, 11:25:49 AMThanks, tufsu!
Literally caddy-corner across Jackson St from 220 Riverside.
And much more interesting than empty lots that are there now.
nice.
John P
December 12, 2012, 03:56:20 PMThis is looks nice. With this development, the Main street development, and the other Brooklyn project, that counts as boom in big development in the downtown area I think.