Paul Krutko did
what was asked of him.
He brought downtown housing to Jacksonville.
Krutko, 46, the outgoing executive director of the Downtown
Development Authority, was hired in 1997 by Mayor John Delaney to do
just that.
And now, as he prepares to leave Jacksonville on Jan. 22 to take
an economic development job in San Jose, Calif., he will be
remembered in Jacksonville for at least the next 15 to 20 years.
That is how long the Downtown Master Plan, which he designed, spells
out where certain kinds of development should be. Krutko has
expanded on the work of his predecessor, Frank Nero, who was more
focused on attracting downtown commercial development and creating
some the concepts Krutko has implemented.
"My philosophy is that you leave a situation better than you
found it, and I feel real good about Jacksonville and I can see
something that I have done," said Krutko, who also bears the title
of senior director of Development Services of the Jacksonville
Economic Development Commission. The Downtown Development Authority
is an arm of the JEDC, the city's economic development agency.
Krutko has been a visionary for the city's most visible real
estate deals, including the 966-room Adam's Mark hotel; Berkman
Plaza, an apartment tower and town house community; and the 10-year,
$860 million Shipyards project, a mixed-use real estate development
that will transform the Northbank riverfront area, near Alltel
Stadium.
There are mixed opinions among city officials as for what
Krutko's legacy will be as it relates to downtown development. But
they all agree that for at least the next decade, city officials
will continue to implement his vision for downtown Jacksonville.
"If you were talking about a painting, he would be considered an
authentic," said Fred Newbill, chairman of the JEDC. "Jacksonville
will always have to associate him with downtown housing because
before he came, we had none."
Krutko's replacement will be entering a different situation than
five years ago. A housing market has been established downtown, and
financial incentives, designed to create such developments, will
soon dry up because they've accomplished their purpose.
Urban development theory holds that if you build residential
projects first, then other developments, such as stores and
restaurants, will follow to support new residents.
Krutko's successor, government officials and private developers
say, will likely focus more on putting together deals that spawn
retail and commercial development downtown.
Lingering legacy
While Krutko has had his hand in many downtown redevelopment
projects, he's most proud of the construction of the Parks at the
Cathedral, a 63-town house community at 256 E. Church St., across
the street from St. Johns Cathedral.
Krutko said the project is significant to him because it was the
first affordable downtown housing development available for
purchase.
"The project was on the helpless chart and not possible to
resuscitate," he said. "It was worked on for a decade or so before I
got here, and it had gone nowhere."
He said it was rewarding because the deal consisted of three
entities, the city, members of the church, who owned and eventually
donated the land for the project, and Bank of America Community
Redevelopment Corp., the project's developers.
The town houses are among approximately 1,700 apartments,
condominiums or town houses planned for the downtown area.
Delaney said Krutko's impact on downtown is large in scope.
"Just look at downtown," said Delaney, referring to the various
downtown projects Krutko helped to establish through his financial
incentives plan.
Krutko's efforts dovetailed with those of his predecessor Nero.
"Their efforts have transformed the downtown core in just 10
years," Delaney said. "Both he and Frank Nero have had a huge impact
on how our city is going to grow in the next generation. One of the
reasons we brought him here was to spark downtown housing.
"Obviously, he was not alone because he has had great DDA boards
to work with."
Krutko created DDA's Design Review Committee, which reviews the
architectural plans of the construction projects planned for
downtown, then recommends them for city council approval.
Krutko has stood countless times in front of city boards and
public audiences presenting redevelopment agreements on behalf of
developers, while at the same time representing the interest of the
city.
Krutko said he relishes dealing effectively with different kinds
of developers.
That characteristic made Krutko a good fit for his job, said Mike
Weinstein, former executive director of the Jacksonville Economic
Development Commission. Weinstein began the economic development job
in 1996. He stepped away from the JEDC's top spot in September.
"Outside personalities don't interfere with Paul," said
Weinstein, who is now president and CEO of the Jacksonville Super
Bowl Host Committee.
"He is totally engaged to make the deal work," he said.
Krutko was able to thrive because city officials were committed
to revitalizing downtown by offering incentives.
Krutko said there was some initial reluctance among city
officials to offer incentives for residential development, but
leadership trips to other cities convinced them that downtown
housing could be built in Jacksonville.
"There is always a sense sometimes that it can happen somewhere
else and not here. But I always received good support from the City
Council and the mayor," Krutko said.
However, city officials should consider easing up on providing
financial assistance for downtown residential projects, Krutko said.
"We are reaching a point where we can take a breath," he said.
"We will have a good critical mass of different kinds of housing."
Next up
Krutko came to the Jacksonville in 1997 as a specialist in
downtown housing and urban planning.
He was fresh off a three-year tenure serving as downtown housing
manager for the city of Cleveland, Ohio.
Krutko will leave Jacksonville for a job as San Jose's director
of the Office of Economic Development.
His job will be larger in scope than the role he played in
Jacksonville, he said.
The search to replace Krutko is under way.
Al Battle, DDA's chief of project management, has said that he
will apply for Krutko's job, said Audrey Moran, Delaney's chief of
staff.
Moran said Delaney is expected to determine how the selection
process will work for the job, which paid Krutko $125,000 annually.
Jim Citrano, chairman of the DDA, said Krutko has developed good
assistants, including Battle, who will play a part in carrying out
the revitalization vision for downtown.
Citrano said that is a credit to Krutko.
"He has taken people who have worked with him and really involved
them and grown them. It is important to get a replacement soon for
Krutko because the DDA is being approached by developers."
Staff writer Earl Daniels can be reached at
or via e-mail at edaniels.
