Daily Record Financial News &
Thursday, September 17, 2015
Vol. 102, No. 219 • One Section
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Curry says go, King says no Mayor sought resignations from 3 on Planning Commission By David Chapman Staff Writer Mayor Lenny Curry continues to purge city boards and commissions of members with ties to his predecessor, the latest shakeup coming on the Planning Commission. This time, though, he has some pushback. Curry’s administration Tuesday sought resignations from three members of the nine-member quasi-judicial group whose duties include reviewing land use and comprehensive plan changes and zoning exceptions. Lara Diettrich, Lisa King
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and Joey McKinnon each were appointed by former Mayor Alvin Brown. With the exception of one member, the remaining members were appointed by former Mayor John Peyton and reappointed by Brown or are representatives from other entities. “While unfortunate and sad, it’s his prerogative,” said Diettrich, who tendered her resignation. King isn’t stepping aside as easily. A Democrat who lost her bid for City Council in May, King was reappointed last year to the commission for a term that ends in 2017.
She sent Curry a letter Wednesday, saying she respectfully declined to resign because she felt it was in the city’s best interest. A fourth member, Nathan Day, is term-limited and being replaced by Nicole Badgett. “I am convinced that the unprecedented appointment of four new members simultaneously will slow the work of the Commission to a degree that it will negatively impact the development pipeline and job creation in our City …,” her letter read. “… Today’s action seems to be in direct conflict with your stated goals and objectives.” King said she was told that
Curry wanted people on boards and commissions who shared his vision. It was a reason that left her puzzled, she said, as the two shared many of the same endorsements during the recent election. “I thought our visions were compatible,” she said. McKinnon, the third member asked to resign, said Wednesday evening he didn’t have the conversation with Curry’s administration until that afternoon. He said the call “came as a bit of a surprise” and, like King, said the reason provided was for “fresh faces” to serve. Planning continued on Page A-3
Gresham, Smith moving Downtown
‘Smoke and Mirrors’ at MOCA
Architectural firm taking 22nd floor at One Enterprise
Six national and international sculptors are featured in the “Smoke and Mirrors” exhibit that opens Saturday at the Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville. Above, Daniel Rozin’s “Penguin Mirrors” comprises 450 motorized stuffed animals, according to a news release from the museum. Each penguin turns from side-to-side and responds to the presence of viewers. The exhibit runs through Jan. 24. See more photos on Page A-4.
Special to the Daily Record
By Karen Brune Mathis Managing Editor
Celebrating $2.2B tourism industry By Max Marbut Staff Writer The recent rebound of Jacksonville’s $2.2 billion hospitality industry and the plan to continue its resurgence were topics at Visit Jacksonville’s annual Destination Celebration on Wednesday. More than 400 business leaders, elected officials and hospitality professionals gathered to recognize the importance of tourism to the local economy at the Prime Osborn Convention Center. Visit Jacksonville CEO Paul Astleford said tourism generated $2.2 billion in economic impact in 2014. Jacksonville hosted 5.8 million overnight visitors in 2014 and 3
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million in the first two quarters of this year, he said. Compared to 2009 during the depths of the recession when hotel occupancy percentage rate in Duval County averaged in the mid50s, occupancy mea- Astleford sured in July improved by about 40 percent to 73.6 percent. In addition, the average rate paid per room has increased for the past 22 consecutive months. Hotel room revenue in 2014 was $334 million, a 13 percent increase over 2013.
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“The hotels are busy and hotel revenues are setting records,” Astleford said. Mayor Lenny Curry said the hospitality industry supports more than 22,000 jobs in Jacksonville and his administration intends to leverage the impact of tourism. “We have all the assets to attract people to Jacksonville,” he said. Tourism also is having a positive impact on segments of the local economy that aren’t directly related to lodging. Lyndsay Rossman, vice president of global tourism marketing at Simon Property Group, said 40 percent of the 16 million people who shopped last year at St. Johns Town Center were not from Jacksonville. Tourism
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Suburban-based Gresham, Smith and Partners will move into the top floor of One Enterprise Center Downtown by year-end. The architecture, planning and design firm’s Jacksonville office will move from the Concourse at 5220 Belfort Road to the entire 22nd floor at 225 Water St., with a 360-degree view of the St. Johns River and Downtown. It will bring nearly 40 licensed architects and interior designers to the urban core. “It’s important for us as a firm to be a part of what’s going on in Jacksonville right now,” said Trevor Lee, who becomes managing principal of the Jacksonville office Oct. 1. He will succeed Joe Thompson, who will Lee remain with the firm through the end of the year. Lee said Gresham, Smith and Partners leased space in the suburbs for 17 years. “We see this tremendous momentum behind Jacksonville’s renewal in its core,” Lee said. Oliver Barakat, a member of the Downtown Investment Authority, wants to see more such movement. “All of our design and architecture firms should be located Downtown. It is a natural fit given the type of employees they would like to recruit, young creative minds,” he said. Barakat said he hopes the firm’s staff patronizes the food trucks, bars and restaurants there “and be highly integrated into
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