At-Large Group 4 City Councilman Matt Carlucci said his biggest concern with the Jaguars’ failed Lot J proposal was a lack of transparency. But times have changed.
In a tweet on Sunday, Carlucci said the Jaguars’ latest plan to redevelop the Shipyards and part of the sports complex area is “much different and very transparent and upfront. It’s a very good plan.”
Carlucci was among the seven council members who voted in January against a $245.3 million taxpayer incentive package that would have seen Lot J at the sports complex turned into an entertainment and mixed-used complex.
Jaguars owner Shad Khan’s new plan would see $441 million spent to build a Four Seasons hotel, office building, sports performance center and more at the former riverfront Shipyards and at the sports complex down the street. That's just Phase 1.
Unlike the process for the Lot J deal, this time the Jaguars have announced a series of 14 community meetings, called Community Huddles, to answer questions about the proposal, called 1st Downtown Jacksonville.
The huddles will begin at 5:30 p.m. and end at 7 p.m., with Jaguars staff on hand to do presentations.
Community Huddles: Dates, Locations
Arlington
- Tuesday, June 15 at Regency Square Branch Library, 9900 Regency Square Blvd., Jacksonville, FL 32225
Nassau County
- Wednesday, June 16 at Fernandina Beach Branch Library, 25 N. 4th St., Fernandina Beach, FL 32034
San Marco
- Wednesday, June 16 at Lakewood United Methodist Church, 6133 San Jose Blvd., Jacksonville, FL 32217
Town Center
- Thursday, June 17 at Southeast Regional Library, 10599 Deerwood Park Blvd., Jacksonville, FL 32256
Southside
- Thursday, June 17 at Pablo Creek Regional Library, 13295 Beach Blvd., Jacksonville, FL 32246
Clay County
- Thursday, June 17, The Lake Asbury Community Association Building / Community Center, 282 Branscomb Road, Lake Asbury, FL 32043
Beaches
- Monday, June 21 at Beaches Branch Library, 600 3rd St., Neptune Beach, FL 32266
Whitehouse
- Monday, June 21 at West Branch Library, 1425 Chaffee Road S., Jacksonville, FL 32221
Riverside
- Monday, June 21 at Willow Branch Public Library, 2875 Park St., Jacksonville, FL 32205
Mandarin
- Tuesday, June 22, at South Mandarin Library, 12125 San Jose Blvd., Jacksonville, FL 32223
St. Johns
- Tuesday, June 22 at Bartram Trail Branch Library, 60 David Pond Blvd., Fruit Cove, FL 32259
Northside
- Tuesday, June 22 at Bradham and Brooks Branch Library, 1755 Edgewood Ave. W., Jacksonville, FL 32208
Westside
- Wednesday, June 23 at Charles Webb Wesconnett Library, 6887 103rd St., Jacksonville, FL 32210
Downtown
- Thursday, June 24 at TIAA Bank Field - Upper East Club, 1 TIAA Bank Field Drive, Jacksonville, FL 32202
WJCT News partner the Jacksonville Daily Record has reported that the Downtown Investment Authority is still evaluating the proposal but that a DIA Phase 1 term sheet shows $93.58 million in direct public incentives with a $1.20 return for every $1 the city invests.
DIA CEO Lori Boyer told the Record she wants to take the deal to the full DIA board in early July. After that, the proposal would head to City Council.
Bill Bortzfield can be reached at bbortzfield@wjct.org or on Twitter at @BortzInJax. Bill
