Welcome to 2022!  One of our key focus areas is to advocate for a beautiful and vibrant city. Civic engagement means participating where possible in the decision making so we are sharing with you here some key public meetings you may wish to attend.

First, Take the Downtown Survey. Downtown Vision keeps tabs on the public’s perceptions so please participate in this short survey intended for residents, businesses and visitors.

Thursday, January 6th at 9 a.m.  Special Committee on Downtown Development.  At City Hall, Don Davis Room (no zoom). This is a City Council committee led by Council Member Reggie Gaffney, with CM Aaron Bowman and Leanna Cumber as members.  It is expected there will be more than “discussion” which is all that is on the agenda at this time.

Friday, January 7th at 10 a.m. DIA Workshop on Parks (off river) and Branding.  At the Ed Ball Building, 214 N. Hogan Street, 8th Floor or by zoom.  This is part of the DIA’s update to their 5-year BID/CRA Plan.  The park assessment was done to support downtown residents and the discussion will not include destination riverfront parks. See the agenda here.

Tuesday, January 11th at 6 p.m.  Groundwork Jax Hogans Creek & parks restoration presentation.  Hosted by Springfield Preservation (SPAR) at Mattie V. Rutherford elementary school, 1514 Hubbard Street.

Thursday, January 13th at 2 p.m.  Downtown Development Review Board January Meeting (second Thursday of each month). This body is responsible for approving site plans and elevations for projects. No agenda is yet available.

Wednesday, January 19th at 2 p.m. The Downtown Investment Authority (DIA) January Board meeting (third Wednesday of each month).  This meeting is likely to discuss and decide the MOSH site at the Shipyards and review the development solicitations received for the Courthouse site.

Thursday, January 20th at 5:30 p.m. “An Evening with the Artist, Jefre Manuel” at the Jessie Ball DuPont Center, 40 East Adams Street. Hosted by Leadership Florida, Leadership Jacksonville and the Women’s Network. Jefre is the artist behind the sculpture proposed for Riverfront Plaza, in conjunction with the park design by design Perkins & Will.  Event is free of charge, but registration is required.

Wednesday, January 26th at 10 a.m. Special Committee on Parks and Quality of Life at City Hall, Council Chambers 1st Floor.  This is a committee led by CM Randy White tasked with allocating the $50 million dollars approved for city-wide parks in the 2021-22 city budget.

NOTE: The DIA is working to complete its update of the CRA/BID  5-Year Plan and may have additional workshops or meetings scheduled in January.  The project started in October, 2020 and includes four tasks:  1)  Update the Design Guidelines book, 2) Develop a neighborhood parks assessment and plan (off river), 3) Create new branding for downtown and its neighborhoods, and 4) revise/update the goals/objectives, programs and incentives. The last CRA Plan and BID Strategy was done in 2015 (slightly revised in 2019).