JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Jacksonville City Council voted Tuesday on a resolution they hope will breathe new life into a trio of historic, but now dilapidated buildings in the heart of downtown.
The city council passed a resolution urging the mayor’s office to come to a settlement or lien forgiveness agreement with the owner of the Laura Street Trio, so development is no longer held up by code violation fines.
The city says the current owner owes $800,000 in code violation fines. Mayor’s office Chief of Staff Mike Weinstein said the mayor’s office will stay on top of the fines.
“We’re just delaying our effort,” he said. “We’re not taking away the opportunity for us to get the code enforcement remedies back to us and what they owe us, but it’s not gonna interfere with the purchase.”
Paul Bertozzi, CEO of Live Oak Contracting, said he's ready to get to work to buy the Laura Street Trio by the end of the year.
“It’ll make a big change in Jacksonville for sure,” Bertozzi said about developing the buildings.
Bertozzi didn’t want to go into detail about his vision for the Laura Street Trio before closing on the property. The latest plan includes a hotel, apartments, and entertainment and retail space.
Bertozzi said he wants to have a plan complete by the first quarter of next year.