Saying the progress of Downtown redevelopment has been “at best, debatable” since the Downtown Investment Authority was created, Jacksonville City Council President Ron Salem is creating a special committee to examine the DIA’s efficacy and explore what other cities have done to revive their downtowns.

In a memo Monday, Salem said the purpose of the Special Committee on the Future of Downtown is to generate solutions to spur “proper and healthy economic growth.”

Mayor Donna Deegan issued this statement in response to Salem’s action: “Growing our Downtown is a top priority. … It is certainly within the purview of the City Council to examine this matter as well. This is an important conversation we should have as a community, and as mayor I will continue to emphasize the importance of creating a vibrant Downtown for all our citizens to enjoy.” 

Read the rest of this story at the Jacksonville Daily Record, a Jacksonville Today news partner.