New City Council President Matt Carlucci wants to focus
his economic-development efforts downtown.
In fact, don't be surprised if an "Old Jacksonville" preservation district is
created during Carlucci's year-long term, which started July 1.
"There's a heritage at stake," Carlucci said Monday. "We've lost a lot of
value downtown ... and that's a shame."
Carlucci, a Republican, represents District 5 and said he will pay economic
attention to all areas of town, including his vast Southside district. He also
cites three specific economic-development issues: The redevelopment of Cecil
Commerce Center on Westside, the potential of the newly separated Jacksonville
Port Authority into seaport and airport authorities, and the "ongoing growth
management issue" that permeates the city's development plans.
"We'll be addressing other economic issues, as well," he said.
Still, downtown is on his front burner. Carlucci intends to announce soon
what is tentatively called the "Task Force on Historic Downtown."
He won't identify members yet, but said the voting task force also would work
with a non-voting resource group. "The task force will have business muscle, it
will have historic preservation muscle, and it will have political muscle," he
said.
Carlucci has decided not to serve on the task force, but said that five
council members will. Don't be surprised to see the group comprise a who's who
of historic preservation, downtown development, design and other officials.
The first meeting could take place in a few weeks at City Hall at St. James
with a Trolley tour of historic buildings, and the second meeting could be a
public hearing. The work could culminate with recommendations to Mayor John
Delaney and City Council by year end. "I want this task force to come back with
solid policy," he said.
Carlucci talks about potential creation of a National Register of Historic
Places district downtown that would encourage redevelopment of old buildings
into loft apartments, offices, retail and commercial uses within its boundaries.
He said 27 properties already are on the National Register and that another 63
are eligible.
Citing a National Trust for Historic Preservation report, Carlucci notes that
a National Register district is less restrictive than a local historic district
and would allow property owners to access federal tax incentives, local economic
assistance and other help or relief.
The National Trust's suggestion for boundaries of "Old Jacksonville" are West
Ashley Street to the north and West Bay Street to the south, with Main Street to
the east and Hogan Street to the west.
Carlucci doesn't want to see historic structures come down, noting that the
Trust reported "a remaining nucleus of historic buildings downtown that would be
excellent candidates for adaptive re-use." To that end, it identified 10
properties, including the Roosevelt Hotel and Lynch Building; the Bisbee,
Florida National Bank and Florida Life buildings; the Rhodes Furniture building;
and others. Some are targeted for redevelopment, while the Rhodes building is on
the new city library site.
"If we don't do this, we are going to lose more buildings," Carlucci said.
Karen Brune Mathis can be reached at 359-4305, by fax at 359-4090 or by
e-mail at kmathis
