First Coast Connect

8/1/19: Lot J Development; Refugee Crisis; Rethreaded; Monster Jam; Taste of the Weekend

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This updated Lot J rendering was released by the city Wednesday
CITY OF JACKSONVILLE / VIA JACKSONVILLE DAILY RECORD

The City of Jacksonville says it has reached a deal  to develop Lot J, the parking lot next to TIAA Bank Field.

The deal between the City and  Jacksonville I-C Parcel One Holding Company, LLC, a joint venture between Gecko Investments, LLC (an affiliate of the Jacksonville Jaguars) and The Cordish Companies includes $233.3 million in city incentives.

Mike Mendenhall of the Jax Daily Record joined us for a closer look.

Rise for Refuge

On Saturday, local activists will take, part in Rise for Refuge, a national day of action, with the goal of encouraging citizens to contact their legislators and encourage them to do everything in their power to return refugee resettlement to historic norms.

Mary Strickland, President and CEO of Lutheran Social Services of Northeast Florida; Basma Alawee, Florida refugee organizer with the Florida Immigrant Coalition; and Lauren Weedon Hopkins, Regional Director of Catholic Charities, Jacksonville Regional Office, joined us with more information.

Products from Rethreaded's latest line
Credit Rethreaded

Rethreaded’s Birthday

Rethreaded, the local nonprofit that assists survivors of human trafficking, is having a birthday this weekend. Founder Kristin Keen shared the organization's mission.

Melissa Ross and Krysten Anderson outside Studio 5.
Credit Heather Schatz/ WJCT

Monster Jam

Monster Jam returns to town this weekend, for two shows at VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena. Krysten Anderson, who’ll be driving fan favorite Grave Digger, joined us with a preview.

Taste of the Weekend

Damien Lamar, a Member of the Friends of Hemming Park Team and the Host of Taste Test Radio on WJCT 89.9 FM, gave us a “Taste of the Weekend” here on the First Coast. In addition to Monster Jam, his picks included:

Heather Schatz can be reached at hschatz@wjct.org, 904-358-6334 or on Twitter at @heatherschatz.

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Heather is the senior producer of WJCT 89.9 FM talk shows including First Coast Connect with Melissa Ross, the Florida Roundup and What's Health Got to Do with It?