Mayor Brown signs Downtown legislation into law
February 24, 2015
Ordinance 2014-560 Empowers the DIA to Accomplish Key Downtown Projects
Mayor Alvin Brown signed Ordinance 2014-560 into law Tuesday during the Downtown Investment Authority (DIA) board meeting, authorizing the DIA to be the community redevelopment agency for Downtown. The legislation empowers the DIA to move important projects forward, such as redevelopment of the Shipyards, and The Jacksonville Landing.
“Downtown Jacksonville is on the move, and we’ve seen great progress over the past few years,” said Mayor Brown. “With today’s bill signing, the DIA is now the full-fledged engine for Downtown Jacksonville that will drive more jobs, residents and investment in our urban core and revitalize the heart of our city and Northeast Florida.”
View the legislative summary for Ordinance 2014-560.
The legislation, approved by City Council on Feb. 10, adopts the DIA’s Business Investment and Development (BID) Plan for Downtown. This authorizes the DIA to help create more investment in improvements and programs to continue revitalizing the heart of the city.
“Jacksonville has the location and physical assets to be a world-class city with a socially and economically vibrant downtown as identified in our downtown feasibility study,” said Aundra C. Wallace, CEO of DIA. “The approval of Ordinance 2014-560 culminates an 18-month process of developing a redevelopment strategy for Downtown Jacksonville. The DIA looks forward to its continued partnership with the City of Jacksonville as we move forward with the implementation of the BID.”
The DIA BID Plan consists of an updated Community Redevelopment Area (CRA) Plan and a Business Investment Strategy, which sets forth a roadmap for the future of Downtown.
Creating a return on investment for taxpayers is a key reason why Mayor Brown made reinvigorating Downtown a top priority for the city. In August 2012, he signed the bill that created the DIA with unanimous support City Council. Ordinance 2014-560 will continue that momentum, making Downtown a more vibrant and attractive city center.