Ordinance 2022-0372

Your Address

City, State Zip

Date

Jacksonville City Council

117 West Duval Street

Jacksonville, Florida 32202

Dear Council Member Last Name,

I am in support of proposed legislation, Ordinance 2022-0372, allowing DIA to continue its work improving and reinforcing Downtown as the City’s unique epicenter for business, history, culture, education and entertainment, while streamlining the development process.

Simply put, Downtown Investment Authority (DIA) was created, under the guidance of a City Council confirmed Board of Directors, to revitalize Jacksonville's urban core by utilizing Community Redevelopment Area (CRA) resources to spur economic development.  

In 2012, led by then CEO Aundra Wallace, DIA had no operational budget or staff. By February 2015, Wallace and City Council codified the CRA with the requirement that it be updated every 5 years. In 2019, building off early successes, current DIA CEO Lori Boyer passed additional, more specific incentive programs to create new opportunities for (re)development in Downtown Jacksonville. New incentives focused on retail and restaurant attraction have brought new and beloved operators Downtown, and because of new DIA incentives for historic structures, important buildings are being saved and our history is being preserved. 

Due to the COVID-19 Pandemic, the 5-year update, which should have been in 2020, was delayed to 2022. Proposed ordinance 2022-0372 is the COVID delayed 5-year update, which seeks to further refine the programs passed in 2019, adjusting to new market conditions, incorporating intervening plans between developers and city projects, streamlining processing time and creating even more targeted incentive programs.  

Since 2015, the initiatives of the DIA have resulted in 32 completed major development projects with another 40 either in review, approved or under construction. Furthermore, projects currently under construction total approximately $1.9 billion in private capital investment with another $2 billion approved and/or in review. Residential units in Downtown have seen a 66% increase from 2015 to 2020, and an additional 12% increase from 2020 to 2021, with a current occupancy rate of 97.5%. Currently, there are 531 units under construction, 3,371 approved or in review, and an additional 970 proposed units. Since 2015, market residential rental rates have risen from a maximum of $1.57 per square foot to $2.40 per square foot, while also adding 672 affordable and senior housing units; 120 more under construction. 

In addition to spurning private development, DIA has been busy creating, designing, obtaining funding for and completing numerous public infrastructure improvements including public riverfront access, parks, the riverwalk, road diets for a better bike/ped experience and working with JTA on the Bay St. Innovation Corridor and Groundwork Jax on the Emerald Trail. 

In appreciation for your consideration of my support,

Your Name

The Downtown Investment Authority

On August 15, 2012, the Jacksonville City Council enacted the “Downtown Investment Authority Act” to provide a “single, comprehensive organizational structure for the Downtown Investment Authority (“DIA”) and a “single, comprehensive method of addressing redevelopment Downtown (see: Ch. 55, Ordinance Code). The DIA is the sole development and community redevelopment agency (“CRA”) for the two Downtown Community Redevelopment Areas: 1) the Southside Community Redevelopment Area and 2) the Downtown Northbank Community Redevelopment Area. In addition, the DIA is the sole Public Economic Development Agency assigned to promote the general business interests in Downtown.  The DIA’s projects are guided by a nine-member Board of Directors who conduct open-to-the-public business on an unpaid, volunteer basis. Of the nine, five are appointed by the Mayor and four by the Council President; all nine are confirmed by the Jacksonville City Council. For more information on the DIA, visit https://dia.coj.net/about/What-is-the-DIA.  

DIA’s short-term goals are to: 

• continue focus on residential density; 
• execute capital improvement projects to support private investment; 
• recruit new businesses to Downtown and backfill commercial vacancy; 
• and support residents with retail, restaurants, and events as well as branding, marketing and distinct neighborhood identities.   

DIA’s 5-year goals are to: 

• increase rental & owner-occupied housing/downtown residents; 
• increase and diversify the number and type of retail/food & beverage/entertainment establishments; 
• increase vibrancy through arts, cultures, events, programming, history, etc.; 
• improve Downtown safety & accessibility; 
• increase commercial office utilization, occupancy and job growth; 
• improve Downtown walkability/bikeability; 
• capitalize on the St. Johns River and create waterfront experiences unique to DTJax; 
• and simplify and increase the efficiency of approval process for Downtown development.