Downtown Investment Authority CEO Lori Boyer told the Strategic Implementation Committee on July 12 that the decision to put new projects on hold isn’t because of a conflict with the City Council’s Special Committee on the Future of Downtown.
“Any decisions we make to not process large requests for completion grants right now are out of respect for the committee and respect for the Council members who expressed concern over where we are on a budget standpoint,” she said. “We don’t think it’s beneficial to us to mislead a developer.”
The special committee was created by then-Council President Ron Salem in April to examine the DIA and elements involved in Downtown revitalization progress, which he described in a memo as “at best, debatable.”
At the July 12 meeting, Boyer took issue with news coverage of the July 8 public workshop.
The Jacksonville Daily Record reported that Boyer said the special committee was hindering the DIA’s ability to work on projects.
The story also was reported by other news outlets. Boyer did not single out any news organization for incorrect coverage.
At the July 12 meeting, Boyer called the July 8 workshop “robust” and that the discussion about the special committee was “constructive.”
“We neither said the special committee was doing more harm than good. That was never said by a staff member or board member, nor did we blame the Special Committee for delaying development in some way,” Boyer said.
The special committee could recommend changes to how DIA is funded and how it works with developers.
“The decision – and the current state of indecision – is having an effect on pipeline projects that could be excluded depending on where we target geographically,” Boyer said at the July 8 meeting.
Boyer said the discussion July 8 about the special committee centered on how DIA might prioritize projects if it were to “shift direction.”
She said July 12 the special committee’s evaluation of DIA is “not inappropriate or out of line in any way.”
Boyer said that DIA is focusing on current projects until it has its 2025 budget, which Mayor Donna Deegan will present July 15.
“Then we’ll have a much better idea of where things are going for next year,” she said.
Another DIA workshop is scheduled for July 24.