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New DIA CEO Talks Redevelopment, Laura Street Trio

WJCT
Kevin Meerschaert

Monday was the first day on the job for the Jacksonville Downtown Investment Authority's new CEO Aundra Wallace.

He sat down for nearly an hour with local reporters to discuss his vision for redevelopment.

Wallace says his first priority is to sit down and talk to current stakeholders. He also expects to take about three months to come up with an executive plan for the agency.

Wallace was previously executive director of the Detroit Land Bank Trust, which oversaw numerous redevelopment projects in that city. He says he's looking forward to focusing on the downtown area.

Wallace is hopeful the recently announced plans to redevelop the so-called Laura Street Trio for hotel and retail space will come to fruition. He says the redevelopment could be the springboard for other projects.

Laura Street Trio Redevelopment:

Click here for an interactive map of the three downtown buildings known as the Laura Street Trio, now slated for redevelopment.

Laura Street Trio redevelopment rendering by SouthEast Holdings, LP.

Kevin Meerschaert has left WJCT for new pursuits. He was the producer of First Coast Connect until October of 2018.