A group focused on revitalizing Jacksonville’s urban core is addressing development, transportation, and, most recently, homelessness.
Their efforts come as about 200 unsheltered people have taken up residence in a one-block, pop-up tent city in the LaVilla area near Downtown.
One of the members of the Downtown revitalization task force is Aundra Wallace, President of JAX-USA Partnership.
Wallace told First Coast Connect host Melissa Ross in an interview that aired Monday that city leaders should look at decentralizing the six or so homeless-assistance nonprofits Downtown.
“I sit on the board of Sulzbacher…. we are talking about decentralization of our particular campus where we are…so I think that’s the great conversation that can be had amongst others. This is not talking about not delivering service but are you going to deliver service all at one particular location?”
Wallace also recommends a number of safety measures for Downtown, including more public safety officers and improved lighting.
The entire interview with Wallace is available on Monday’s First Coast Connect with Melissa Ross, which encores at 8 p.m. on WJCT News 89.9
Michelle Corum can be reached at mcorum@wjct.org, 904-358-6308 or on Twitter at @MCorumonME.
