Proposed Daily’s site plan (Downtown Investment Authority)

Previously discussed at last month’s DDRB meeting, First Coast Energy L.L.P. has proposed developing a Daily’s gas station and convenience store at a primary entrance to the LaVilla community. Proposed for a 1.4-acre block bounded by Forsyth, Jefferson, Bay and Broad streets, the planned gas station would include 16 fueling stations, a 4,125 square foot convenience store, minimum 5,000 square foot restaurant with a rooftop bar.

As proposed, the site would be dominated with surface parking and in conflict with the Downtown design code and the LaVilla community’s vision for the revitalization of Broad Street, which was Jacksonville’s major downtown business district prior to desegregation.

A 1940s photograph of LaVilla’s Broad Street, illustrating the sense of place and character of the Black Wall Street. (Ellie Weems)

As a result, the project received significant pushback from the DDRB in January. Seeking a compromise, Council Member Reggie Gaffney Jr. facilitated a public meeting on February 21 between the Daily’s team and LaVilla community members. The community spoke of the importance of this important neighborhood gateway to a plan to restore Broad Street back to its prominence as a high density, pedestrian scale, mixed-use urban environment. It was noted by community members that much has been regarding what the Daily’s team would like but little has been mentioned about what is important for LaVilla and how the Daily’s team intends to design a project respectful of the LaVilla community’s specific vision.

The Turkey Hill Mini Mart in Columbus, OH is an example of a gas station being designed to fit into a historic pedestrian friendly neighborhood. (Google Streetview)

Community members mentioned a need for the Daily’s team to develop a mixed-used product that would not include surface parking on Broad Street, have increased density from the original concept and be architecturally respectful and complementary of Broad Street’s historic build environment, character and sense of place.

It is anticipated that First Coast Energy will release more details about a revised concept at the March 9th DDRB workshop.

Hybrid Virtual/In-Person workshop information

An urban gas station from LaVilla’s past. The J.J. Daley, Inc. at the intersection of Jefferson and Forsyth Streets in 1940. (Courtesy of the State Archives of Florida)

Notice is hereby given that the City of Jacksonville Downtown Development Review Board (DDRB) will meet on Thursday, March 9, 2023, at 2:00 p.m., via Hybrid Virtual/In-Person workshop meeting. The workshop meeting noticed herein can be accessed virtually through the Zoom.US computer application or in-person at the Lynwood Roberts Room located on the first floor of City Hall and via the Zoom US computer application. The purpose of this workshop is to hear and discuss the requests for deviation from the Downtown Overlay for the Daily’s Mixed-Use Project, DDRB Application 2023-003.

PHYSICAL LOCATION

Lynwood Roberts Room First Floor of City Hall at St. James 117 West Duval Street Jacksonville, Florida 32202

Visitors are encouraged not to enter City owned public buildings if they have: symptoms of COVID-19, a fever of 100.4 degrees Fahrenheit or higher, are currently undergoing evaluation for COVID-19 infection, a diagnosis of COVID-19 in the prior 10 days or have had close contact with someone infected with COVID-19 during the prior 14 days. Any member of the public entering City owned public building may choose to wear a mask inside the building.

VIRTUAL LOCATION

Interested persons desiring to attend this meeting virtually can do so via Zoom (including by computer or telephone) using the following meeting access information:

Join Zoom Meeting https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86808516459?pwd=c0kvNnFiaU9saHpxTTVHc3Q2UEVldz09

Meeting ID: 868 0851 6459 Passcode: 733477

One tap mobile +1 (301) 715-8592 (Washington DC) +1 (309) 205-3325 (US)

Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kbdB3c3jb

Only individuals attending the meeting in-person will have an opportunity to provide public comments. Persons who cannot attend the meeting in-person, but who wish to submit public comments regarding any matter on the agenda for consideration at the meeting, may do so by sending their public comments via electronic mail to DDRBPublicComments@coj.net prior to the start of the meeting. Public comments received prior to the meeting will not be read during the meeting but will instead be forwarded to all DDRB Board members for review in advance of the meeting and will remain a part of the permanent record for the meeting itself. You are encouraged to submit public comments well in advance of the start of the meeting to provide DDRB Board members with adequate time to read them in preparation for the meeting.

Please contact Jovita Harper by telephone at (904) 255-5302 or by email HarperJ@coj.net if you have any questions regarding this notice or if you experience technical difficulties during the meeting.

If you have a disability that requires accommodations to participate in the above Downtown Investment Authority meeting, please contact the Disabled Services Division at: (904) 255-5466, TTY-(904) 255-5476, or email your request to KaraT@coj.net and we will provide reasonable assistance for you. The Florida Relay Service can be reached at 711. All requests must be received no later than 12:00 p.m. on March 8, 2023. Requests for accommodations received after 12:00 p.m. on March 8, 2023, may not be met.

NOTE: If any person decides to appeal any decision made with respect to any matter considered at this meeting, such person will need a record of the proceedings, and for such purpose, such person may need to ensure that a verbatim record of the proceedings is made, which includes the testimony and evidence upon which the appeal is to be based.

A recording of this meeting will be available upon request by emailing HarperJ@coj.net after its conclusion.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR PUBLIC ACCESS AND PARTICIPATION VIA ZOOM APPLICATION

  1. If you have already registered for the Zoom application on your computer, enter the link below in the address line for Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge Internet Browser.

Link to Meeting via Zoom by Computer: https://us02web.zoom.us/j/86808516459?pwd=c0kvNnFiaU9saHpxTTVHc3Q2UEVldz09

Meeting ID: 868 0851 6459 Passcode: 733477

Public Comment

Verbal public comment is only available to in-person meeting attendees and not available to those attending virtually. However, written public comment may be submitted prior to the start of the meeting pursuant to the instructions above.

  1. To access the meeting on Zoom through your computer if you have not registered for Zoom, follow these instructions:

Sign up for the Zoom application by typing – Zoom.US – into Google Chrome or Microsoft Edge Internet Browser.

Go to: JOIN A MEETING on Dashboard.

Enter the Zoom meeting ID and meeting password listed below:

Meeting ID: 868 0851 6459 Passcode: 733477

INSTRUCTIONS FOR JOINING A ZOOM MEETING BY DIAL-IN PHONE ONLY

Dial: +1 (646) 558-8656. Find a local telephone number via this link: Find your local number: https://us02web.zoom.us/u/kbdB3c3jb

Enter the Zoom meeting ID and meeting password listed below:

Meeting ID: 868 0851 6459 Passcode: 733477

If you join before the meeting has started, you will be prompted to press # to wait.

If you call using your mobile telephone or device, you will be prompted to enter a unique participant ID. Press # to skip.

Public Comment Verbal public comment is only available to in-person meeting attendees and not available to those attending virtually. However, written public comment may be submitted prior to the start of the meeting pursuant to the instructions above.