Doris Goldstein’s tenure on the Downtown Investment Authority board of directors ended Wednesday with more of a bang than a whimper.
Minutes after the board unanimously approved a resolution commending Goldstein for her service, she wanted to address what she called “a very large matter.”
She then responded to an editorial published Dec. 10 in The Florida Times-Union asserting the Jacksonville Landing needs a “bold renovation.”
The editorial also said Toney Sleiman’s connection to the Landing — one of his companies owns the building and leases the riverfront site from the city — should be severed.
It called the result of the process that was intended to devise a vision for the site “a new plan that looked for all the world like Sleiman’s old plan.” Goldstein served as the authority’s liaison to the project.
She pointed out the lease is in effect until 2056, so for the next 40 years, the city has two options when it comes to redeveloping the six-acre parcel along the St. Johns River.
The first option would be for the city or another entity to purchase the Landing, assuming Sleiman would sell. He’s not indicated any inclination toward that happening.
That leaves the second option of working with Sleiman’s team, she said, which likely would involve coming up with a compromise.
Sleiman’s plan is to demolish the existing structure and replace it with residences, retail and office space designed around a relatively small amount of park space.
The vision that came out of the public planning process was for a riverfront park with apartments set between the office towers on the north side of the site and the river on the south.
Goldstein said that option also faces a roadblock.
“You can’t work cooperatively with someone with someone when you’re in litigation with them,” she said.
On Oct. 6, the city filed a complaint for declaratory judgment against Jacksonville Landing Investments LLC, owned by Sleiman.
The suit contends that although the corporation in 2007 paid the city nearly $4.4 million for the surface parking lot east of the Landing, a deed never was recorded and in 2014, the corporation demanded a full refund of the purchase price.
“It’s been an interesting process,” said Goldstein.
Authority CEO Aundra Wallace agreed the situation is at a deadlock and further said he has no idea how long the lawsuit might go on.
“Until that obstacle is removed, nothing can be done,” he said.
Jack Meeks, vice chair of the authority, asked Wallace if the city might have any recourse if Jacksonville Landing Investments has violated any of the terms of the lease agreement.
“As far as we know, Sleiman is abiding by the lease,” Wallace said.
In other business, the authority unanimously approved spending $10,000 for a study of Southbank redevelopment options to be conducted by the Urban Land Institute.
Also approved were a memorandum of understanding for the city to partner with the Jacksonville Transportation Authority to develop a master plan for the LaVilla neighborhood north of Brooklyn and a $25,000 grant for One Spark 2016.
On a 3-2 vote, the board approved a $130,000 loan toward the $1.13 million renovation of the Jacksonville Bank building at 100 N. Laura St.
Attorney Eddie Farah, one of the owners of the building, said the renovation is not dependent on the city loan.
“We would like the help, but we’re prepared to move forward,” he said.
Board chair Jim Bailey, publisher of the Daily Record, and members Marc Padgett and Goldstein voted in favor of the loan; Kay Harper-Williams and Meeks voted against the loan.
Oliver Barakat, vice president of CBRE, recused himself due to a conflict of interest.
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