| |  | | Jacksonville Mayor John Peyton and City Council member Don Redman joined the project’s contractor Southern Development Corporation and members of the JEDC, Public Works Department and downtown partners to officially break ground on the Laura Street enhancement project. | Work Begins on Laura Street Enhancement Project - Construction of the $2.7 million Laura Street project is underway. The project is essential to the continual downtown revitalization efforts and will improve the character of this heavily pedestrian-used corridor to make Laura Street an enhanced entryway into downtown. The implementation of this project is consistent with the Downtown Action Plan Action Steps No. 2: Develop and Implement a Comprehensive Streetscape Plan and No. 3: Convert One-Way to Two-Way Streets. Plans include converting the street into a two-way street, adding a roundabout at the intersection of Laura Street and Independent Drive, building a pedestrian path from Bay Street to the Landing and adding new landscaping, paving, signage and lighting. Independent Drive will also be converted into a two-way street from Laura Street to Newnan Street. Current construction has begun at the front of the Landing with the roundabout. The first phase is to install the southern most traffic lane (closest to the Landing) and re-open west to east (Water Street to Independent Drive) traffic flow. The construction will then progress northward up Laura Street. The plans call for temporary closure of Laura Street in sections but to maintain all east/west traffic flow. Southern Development Corporation DBA Sayar was awarded the contract.
Mayor Peyton’s Top Priorities Include Improving Downtown - Mayor Peyton recently outlined his top priorities for the remainder of his term which include improving river access and public spaces along the riverfront and building a more vibrant Downtown. Click here to read his full address. Jacksonville City Council approved $23 million in funding for several of the top priority projects including:
- $3.1 million to repair Friendship Fountain and soften Friendship Park by adding grassy areas and landscaping;
- $8.2 million for the first phase of renovations to Metropolitan Park, including an enhanced children's play area, removal of fencing barriers and creation of a 4-acre lawn;
- $11.9 million to replace the deteriorating Southbank Riverwalk with a more permanent and durable walking path and new railing, landscaping and lighting.
Baseball season is here! - It’s that exciting time of year again for hot dogs, drinks, warm weather and great entertainment at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville! The Jacksonville Suns will be back for another exciting season on April 8 for their “Home Opener.” Click here to view the 2010 schedule.
Downtown Public Transit Updates - The Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) is planning to install bus-only lanes throughout Downtown within the next two years on portions of Jefferson, Broad, Forsyth and Bay streets and also on parts of Prudential Drive, Riverplace Boulevard and Kings Avenue. The $12 million project is the first phase of a long-term plan to create bus-only lanes throughout Jacksonville.
Springfield featured in Southern Living magazine - Springfield was named one of the South’s top comeback neighborhoods by Southern Living magazine. The historic neighborhood community located north of Downtown was featured in the magazine’s January 2010 issue as a comeback story along with nine other southern cities. With the completion of the Main Street redevelopment project, the Historic Springfield business community has experienced tremendous growth. Springfield is located in Jacksonville’s Enterprise and Empowerment Zones, also aiding redevelopment initiatives. Click here to read the article.
Perdue Office Interiors Officially Opens - Perdue Office Interiors recently celebrated the grand opening of their new Downtown location. The company relocated their Southside Jacksonville office to a two-story building at the corner of Main and Forsyth streets. The entire first floor was remodeled and is now occupied by a showroom and office space. The building was built in 1916 which is the same year Perdue began in Downtown.
New Art Galleries Open in Downtown - Seven new art galleries have opened in Downtown with more scheduled to open soon as part of a new program, “Off the Grid”. The new galleries are: 229 N. Hogan, Art Center Cooperative, Nullspace Gallery, Southlight Gallery, Suite 106 Gallery, the Adrian Pickett Gallery and the Next Gallery. Led by DVI and the Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville, Off the Grid facilitates introductions between Jacksonville artists and Downtown property owners in an effort to activate vacant spaces in the urban core. Click here for more information.
New Downtown Happy Hours! - Looking to try new Happy Hour spots in Downtown? Beginning at 4 p.m. every Thursday and Friday, Chew now features drink specials, appetizers and cheese plates. Click here for more information.
- The Skyline also has new hours and a new cocktail lounge. Every Wednesday and Friday from 4:30 p.m. to 7:30 p.m., the Skyline offers wine, beer, cocktails and light appetizers in their new lounge on the 42nd floor of the Bank of America building. Click here for more information.
Jake M. Godbold City Hall Annex Building Gets the Gold! - The newly renovated City Hall Annex building was awarded the LEED (Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design) Gold Certification, making it the first Gold Certified building in Downtown and one of only four Gold Certified buildings in the city. The 100 year old building was completely renovated by Danis Construction for the Jacksonville Police and Fire Pension Fund which is now used by the city. KBJ Architects, McVeigh and Mangum Engineering and TLC Engineering were also on the construction team.
- The City Hall Annex building was also named the Historic Rehabilitation Project of the Year at the annual NAIOP awards dinner in March.
2010 Jacksonville Jazz Festival - The 2010 Jacksonville Jazz Festival will take place in the heart of downtown again this year May 27-30, 2010. The free festival will feature multiple stages of entertainment, Art in the Heart Downtown Art Show and Sale, Wine Down Tasting Experience, Generation Next Youth Talent Competition, Jazz Juniors educational activities, jazz exhibits and more. Other festival highlights include the Jacksonville Jazz Piano Competition, 'Round Midnight Jazz Jam, Jazz Talks, Sunday Jazz Brunches and other exciting activities. Visit http://www.jaxjazzfest.com/ for more information.
The Jaguars need your support! - The Jaguars have an exciting way for you to support the team. Season ticket holders have the opportunity to earn points and win rewards by joining “Team Teal.” To start earning points, participants must sign up as a “team captain” or “team member” on Team Teal’s Web site. Only season ticket holders are eligible. You can purchase season tickets for as low as $300. Visit http://www.myteamteal.com/ for more information.
Downtown Business Doubling in Size - SelectQuote Insurance Services is adding 40 to 60 agents to its Downtown location, doubling its size within the next 18 months. The office is also doubling in size from 5,000 sq. ft. to 11,000 sq. ft. at its current location in the Prudential Building on the Southbank. SelectQuote is a term life insurance agency based in San Francisco.
JEDC’s Office of Film & Television News - National car sharing agency Zipcar recently chose Downtown Jacksonville for a still photo shoot, shooting on West Adams Street in front of the Law Offices of Eddie Farah. Miami-based Element Productions did the shoot for Zipcar, which rents cars at an hourly rate in high-traffic urban areas. In addition to the downtown set, the shoot also included locations at Camp Milton and Jacksonville Beach. The shoot registered an economic impact of $15,500 in local purchases and services. Visit http://filmjax.blogspot.com/ for more news from the JEDC's Office of Film & Television.
North Florida Shipyards First to Use Recovery Zone Bonds - North Florida Shipyards, located on Talleyrand, received approval by the JEDC to utilize $4 million of the City’s Recovery Zone Facility Bond allocation. The bond will be used to help the company acquire a mobile vessel hoist, construct a new basin and improve the existing area. The project will cost $7.6 million and is expected to create 246 new jobs with an average wage of $39,900. The Recovery Zone (RZ) Program was created under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act, as part of the Federal Stimulus package, to promote job creation and investment within distressed and underutilized areas. Jacksonville was allocated $16.3 million in RZ Economic Development Bonds and $24.5 million in RZ Facility Bonds. North Florida Shipyards is the first company to receive part of this funding.
According to DVI’s Annual Report… - …DVI produced 70 events in 2009 that brought 60,000 visitors to Downtown.
- …8.9 tons of litter was removed from Downtown sidewalks in 2009.
- …more than 70 hanging flower baskets were installed as part of the “Great Streets” Initiative.
- …Ambassadors reported and/or resolved more than 1,400 instances of nuisance activity.
Click here to view the full report. New Law Firm Opens in Downtown - Dorrell, Gale, Middleton & Wright, a full service law firm, recently celebrated the opening of their new office and partnership. The new office is located at 245 Riverside Ave., Suite 130, in the St. Joe Building.
World of Nations Celebration 2010 - Mayor John Peyton, the City of Jacksonville and Jacksonville’s multicultural community organizations invite residents and visitors to join in the 18th Annual World of Nations Celebration. The adventure begins at Metropolitan Park where attendees can experience the diversity of the planet and the wonderful sights, sounds and tastes of different nations. From April 29 to May 2, visitors will embark on an exciting journey, traveling throughout the park where travelers may see more than 30 countries. Click here for a full schedule of events.
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Action Step #7: Improve Wayfarer Signage 
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