Downtown Investment Authority

The Downtown Jacksonville eyesore on the Northbank known as the Berkman II is coming down, and details have been released about what’s going up in its place. 

People who live or work in Downtown Jacksonville are being asked to take a survey on what the experience is like.

The Jacksonville City Council is expected to be asked soon to approve a plan by the Downtown Investment Authority that’s meant to save historic buildings from the wrecking ball.

Public interviews for the next Downtown Investment Authority CEO are on Wednesday, May 15, at City Hall.

Our First Coast Connect Friday Media Roundtable with guest host A.G Gancarski Our panelists were Florida Times-Union reporter David Bauerlein, WJCT contributor Fred Matthews, Folio Weekly Editor Claire Goforth and Jacksonville Daily Record reporter David Cawton (00:58).  

Topics included:

Tuesday on First Coast Connect featured guest host David Cawton, reporter for The Jacksonville Daily Record. Ahead of Wednesday’s Downtown Investment Authority meeting he spoke with DIA Executive Director Aundra Wallace and Visit Jacksonville President Michael Corrigan. The DIA will be evaluating three submitted proposals for a new convention center (01:28).    

Our Friday Media Roundtable on First Coast Connect featured Mark Woods from the Florida Times-Union, WJCT contributor Fred Matthews, Folio Weekly reporter Madeleine Peck Wagner and Jacksonville Business Journal Editor Timothy Gibbons.

Issues discussed included

Our Friday Media Roundtable on First Coast Connect featured Florida Times-Union reporter Dan Scanlan, local talk show host Angela Spears, Jacksonville Daily Record reporter David Cawton and Florida Politics reporter A.G. Gancarski.

Topics included

Thursday on First Coast Connect we were joined by Downtown Vision CEO Jake Gordon who discussed their annual report The State of Downtown and the progress made the past few years in redevelopment projects (01:05).  

Friday on First Coast Connect our weekly Media Roundtable featured Florida Times-Union reporter David Bauerlein, WJCT contributor Fred Matthews, Daily Record reporter David Cawton and WJCT reporter Ryan Benk (01:03).  

We spoke with Jennifer Harrison with the Amelia Island Museum of History about the upcoming Cottages and Courtyards tour. (46:00).

Friday on First Coast Connect our weekly Media Roundtable featured Florida Times-Union Reporter David Bauerlein, WJCT Business Analyst John Burr, Jacksonville Business Journal Editor Timothy Gibbons and WJCT contributor and board member Charles Griggs.

The Downtown Investment Authority Wednesday approved two downtown development proposals — the renovation of the old Jones Brothers Furniture building and the Jacksonville University film school’s move to WJCT Studios.

The Jones building project stirred up the most debate.

Wednesday on First Coast Connect we spoke with Downtown Investment Authority CEO Andrea Wallace about current and upcoming development projects (01:11).   

As we approach International Holocaust Memorial Day we spoke with local third-generation Holocaust survivor Dana Rogozinski (28:03).  

We learned about the upcoming Generation Works project with Generation W founder Donna Orender and Kristi Branden, Chief Development Officer at Hubbard House (36:25).

We met Duval County teachers Stephanie Bellino and Will Smith. They are finalists for the annual EDDY awards along with Zak Champagne who is with the Jacksonville Public Education Fund.      

Friday on First Coast Connect our weekly Media Roundtable featured Florida Times-Union reporter Dan Scanlan, WJCT business analyst John Burr and Beaches Leader columnist Jon McGowan. 

Thursday on First Coast Connect we spoke with Florida Times-Union reporter David Bauerlein about a plan to build a new hotel and convention center in downtown Jacksonville (01:06).   

Kevin Venardos joined us to talk about The Venardos Circus, which is coming to the St. Augustine Amphitheater later this month (36:47).   

We were joined by film writer and director Royce Freeman, cinematographer Daniel Andujar and actress Jessica Lamb about their film In Utero (46:00).  

Monday on First Coast Connect, we spoke with Jacksonville’s Downtown Investment Authority CEO Aundra Wallace about some of the development projects downtown (01:13).    

This month’s edition of First Coast Success with Karen Brune Mathis featured local developer Ed Burr (23:14).

As part of the Real Men Wear Pink fundraising month for the National Cancer Society we spoke with participant Moxie Kitchen + Cocktails owner/executive chef Tom Gray (28:12).   

Timucuan Park Superintendent Chris Hughes and Florida Times-Union columnist Mark Woods joined us to talk about the national preserve (34:46) and national park fees.

Cole Pepper brought us the latest sports news, including the University of Florida firing head football coach Jim McElwain (46:00).  

  Today on “First Coast Connect,” we discussed a study looking into ways to make roads in Jacksonville safer with Pond Director of Development Allan Iosue (01:15). Our “Movable Feast” segment featured Nicole Franques (35:04) of Claude’s Chocolate, and we spoke with Katherine Ludwig (45:10), co-author of the book “Humility Is the New Smart: Rethinking Human Excellence in the Smart Machine Age.”  

Tuesday on First Coast Connect, we were joined by Downtown Investment Authority Executive Director Aundra Wallace and Board Chair Jim Bailey to bring us an update on several proposed downtown development projects.

We also spoke with Donna Orender and Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office Director of Patrol and Enforcement Michelle Cook about this weekend’s Generation Works project. Travel blogger Judy Wells discussed two large travel shows in New York City. 

Jacksonville’s Metropolitan Park could soon be developed into a shopping and residential area across from EverBank Field. The city is planning to solicit development proposals starting in January for the park and neighboring Shipyards property.

A bar, bistro and club looking to open in downtown Jacksonville has received preliminary approval  for a forgivable loan from the city.

The venue would be known as Element Bistro, and on Monday, it went before the Downtown Investment Authority’s retail enhancement committee. That committee approved a request for a $90,000 loan that will not have to be paid back if certain conditions are met.

Big changes could be coming to the main thoroughfare on Jacksonville’s Southbank. City planners discussed the future of Riverplace Boulevard with the public at a meeting this week.

Street parking on Riverplace Boulevard is sparse, and a lack of pedestrian walkways makes crossing the five lanes of traffic on foot a lot like a game of Frogger.

The Downtown Investment Authority, or DIA, will hold the second in a series of public workshops on the future of the Jacksonville Landing Wednesday night. We speak with Aundra Wallace, CEO of the Downtown Investment Authority, about how the public can voice their opinion on new design concepts for the iconic downtown site.