A plan crafted in the early 1990s to revitalize North Jacksonville has been a success — so much so that some believe it should be ended.
Creating jobs and economic development were a main way to combat blight in the 14,245-acre Jacksonville International Airport Community Redevelopment Area.
A consultant's report updated last month concluded the defined blight conditions that provided the CRA’s foundation were no longer present and suggested options for winding down operations.
City Council member Reggie Gaffney, who represents the area, acknowledges the “outstanding” economic development efforts that have brought thousands of jobs to the area.
But he isn’t ready to pull the plug just yet.
Gaffney said he’s heard outcries from residents in the area who say they haven’t benefited from the tax dollars generated within the area and diverted to bringing businesses and jobs to the area.
He and council President Lori Boyer heard that firsthand at a recent community meeting at Highlands Library in the district.
“It was crowded,” said Gaffney. “There were 140 people there. … It was the biggest community meeting I have ever had.”
The council serves as the oversight board for the CRA, with Boyer and Gaffney serving as chair and vice chair, respectively.
In a meeting Tuesday, the two discussed what the future, both short- and long-term, could be for the CRA. And there is at least a short-term.
Money within the CRA can be used for infrastructure projects that could combat blight and not just as a source of funding for economic development deals.
Gaffney, for now, would like to shift that focus to the community side of things and has a couple of projects in mind.
The first is Armsdale Road, a three-mile stretch he said has no sidewalks or drainage, resulting in flooding every time it rains. He said early estimates call for repairs to cost about $3 million.
The other is Duval Road, which has similar issues. Gaffney doesn’t yet have an estimate for those improvements.
Outside of the obvious deficiencies, Gaffney said the community also is nervous about the impending traffic levels on the roads — both serve as feeders to the Amazon.com center expected to bring 1,500 permanent jobs to the area.
“We need to do something,” said Gaffney.
The CRA has about $5 million to spend on projects over the next two years.
Gaffney said focusing on those two community projects would “buy ourselves some time” when it comes to making a decision about the CRA’s long-term future.
He plans to have another community meeting at Highlands in January to receive more feedback about what types of projects are needed.
Ideally, Gaffney said he would like to amend the plan to somehow allow for the funding to contribute toward a large-scale community center in the area. He believes that also could combat blight, but knows amending the plan could be an uphill fight.
Boyer suggested he focus on the projects available now rather than hiring a consultant that would spend time and money trying to amend that plan.
The boundaries of the CRA are just north of Pecan Park Road; east to Interstate 95, Florida 9A and Main Street; south along Dunn Avenue; and west past the airport.
Gaffney said he’d like to see it possibly expanded at least to the other side of Dunn Avenue, but Boyer cautioned him about making such changes.
Former council member Ray Holt attempted to alter the CRA boundaries, which was shot down pretty quickly, she said.
Gaffney heard her and, for now, is content to focus more on those community projects while trying to work out a longer-term solution to keep the mechanism open.
There is at least one exception he’d like to see.
Developer Steve Leggett is attempting to secure incentives for what’s being called River City Crossing, a proposed $34 million mixed-use project with corresponding infrastructure. He is seeking close to $2 million in incentives, with $200,000 coming from a JIA CRA grant.
The CRA’s advisory board stalled that recently through a 2-2 vote, with members in opposition voicing concern the area had received enough taxpayer incentives for such projects.
Boyer and Gaffney determined Tuesday the full council will hear about the incentives during a CRA board meeting prior to its regular meeting Dec. 13.
@writerchapman
(904) 356-2466