Live Blog: DIA interviews 2 finalists

[TheCat]

Aundra Wallace is talking. I walked in 15 minutes late and he was in the middle of his presentation.

He's seated at a table facing the board. No slideshows. So far, he listing a lot "we gottas".

[thelakelander]

Only two guys. Maher dropped out of the race earlier this week.

[TheCat]

Wallace says:

* perception problem: downtown is not crime ridden.
* work with non-profits
* aggressive marketing campaign. We have to tell our story. That's what we did in detroit. We told our story we didn't let the media tell it.
* Getting the businesses down here that people need.
* He's made detroit better he can make Jacksonville better.
* Programs/incentives for people who buy homes in and around downtown.
* In Detroit they bought a large amount of abandoned historic buildings. We can do that here and essentially ordain a type of district...tech, arts...etc.

[thelakelander]

Wallace pretty much states Detroit revitalization work driven by Dan Gilbert's pocketbook. We need a sugar daddy for DTJax.

[thelakelander]

Pretty much says it would help to incentivize homebuyers for downtown. I agree that you can grow DT's population by paying people to live in it. Wallace is right. This strategy has worked for Detroit.

[TheCat]

We're in Q&A:

1) how would you bring private investors to invest in the urban core?
    a) work with investors what kind of rate of return they need.
    b) once we know that we can figure out the rent side and we may need to incentivize them.
    c) marketing to home buyers also assures investors that they will have buyers/renters
    d) we let investors know that we understand that time is money for them and we'll work with them to ensure their success.

2) Regarding the Berkman Plaza II (?). The one that stopped mid-construction. How can we fix that? Also, the old city hall seems to be perfect for residential, how do we get those properties online? If we can then we should.
     a) First, we have to check with the property holders/financers. Can we afford to buy it and renovate it?
     b) City hall: maybe there is the opportunity hotel/residential or both...I missed his point.

[thelakelander]

The DIA has to create a new CRA plan. Wallace's experience with Florida CRAs includes making a master plan for a development in a CRA in Homestead, FL.

[TheCat]

Wallace Q&A continued:

1) How would you drive a CRA  plan?
a: it needs to be market driven.

2) We don't have "pre-packaged" deals to place us on the national market place. How long will it take you to make a pre-packaged deal?
a: our first step is developing a CRA plan. The first 90 days is driven on the CRA plan. I don't want to miss the bus on getting on the capital markets. The most important piece is what is the actual market data saying about our city. I can't go to the capital with a theory and a belief i need an actual number.

[TheCat]

Q&A with  Wallace:

q: how would you develop more positiveness for downtown for restaurants and entertainment?
a: we need to do an incredible push for people who work downtown to stay downtown. I got to have a reason for that person to not get into their cars at 5. We're going to have change some transportation routes. If I give "you" the product you'll come to it.

q: it sounds like in certain cases you would close the book on incentivizes for restaurants and businesses?
a: let's define incentive. I believe incentivizing developers so they can incentivize the right retailer.

[Tacachale]

Pretty much says it would help to incentivize homebuyers for downtown. I agree that you can grow DT's population by paying people to live in it. Wallace is right. This strategy has worked for Detroit.

I've never been convinced of this. Downtown Detroit presumably has a substantial quantity of empty residential buildings for newcomers to move to. Downtown Jax doesn't. The demand for downtown living in Jax is already there, but there are too few places for them to go.

[thelakelander]

Jim Bailey asks how to get suburbanites to buy into downtown being important. Wallace responds by pointing out that Jags games will showcase DT. Are we comfortable with that? Also talks about DT being a donor neighborhood, in terms of funding.

[thelakelander]

Pretty much says it would help to incentivize homebuyers for downtown. I agree that you can grow DT's population by paying people to live in it. Wallace is right. This strategy has worked for Detroit.

I've never been convinced of this. Downtown Detroit presumably has a substantial quantity of empty residential buildings for newcomers to move to. Downtown Jax doesn't. The demand for downtown living in Jax is already there, but there are too few places for them to go.

Not really. They've torn down most of their building stock. They just have a private sector putting a lot of cash into in incentivizing every aspect of the market, including people they want to live there.

[TheCat]

Q&A with  Wallace:

q: a few years ago a poll said that 80+% of people don't care about downtown. Why is downtown important to every single Jacksonville resident?
a: Downtown will be on the stage for every single football game. Are you comfortable with the media perception of your downtown? We need to become a revenue producing neighborhood to make sure that other neighborhoods don't feel like they are subsidizing downtown.

q: What's your biggest worry about this position?
a: he's worried that because he is incredibly methodical that the board/people will complain that he's not moving fast enough or producing enough flash. He starts from the finish line and moves backwards

q: what are your thoughts on fixed transit connecting downtown to surrounding successful neighborhoods?
a: most successful cores have a strong transit system. Tying those neighborhoods together is critical. Will work with JTA to develop a plan.

[thelakelander]

Tony Allegretti asked for Wallace's thoughts on transit. He mentions it's critical to tie DT with surrounding neighborhoods with fixed transit. Mentions Detroit's streetcar project that will tie DT with Midtown Detroit. Wants to work with JTA.

[thelakelander]

Wallace wants entertainment venues on the Shipyards site but wants to leave that to the market and community to decide.