Idea for new downtown Jacksonville convention center gets struck down in City Hall

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Downtown Investment Authority met with the city of Jacksonville over plans for a new convention center to replace the Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center.

The patch of grass where the old courthouse used to be on Bay Street downtown could have been its new home, but the idea was struck down in City Hall Thursday morning.

New videos and renderings show a brand-new convention center that would have brought new shops, restaurants, and activities to downtown.

A company called Jacobs Group in Tampa, Florida presented the plan, saying it would bring some $200 million in economic impact.

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Council member Reggie Gaffney was for the plan.

“If you look at Savannah, Tennessee, you look at other cities, they say you built it, other businesses will come. People will come to your city, and it’ll grow that way,” Gaffney said.

The DIA said a new convention center was voted on back in 2018 but never passed because it was an expense that the city wasn’t considering at the time.

A new convention center would cost the city over $500 million and unlike the Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center, it would be close to restaurants.

The DIA would not comment on camera about this proposal but did say during the meeting if lot J had passed and brought more restaurants and other activities for guests, a new convention could be a good move.

But for now, Gaffney said a new convention center has been put on hold.

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“DIA put the financial packets together. When they tell us that the dollars don’t add up and then any smart person is going to back off and say, let’s take a deep breath until we can figure out how to move forward again,” Gaffney said.

Action News Jax also tried to talk to the Jacobs Group after the meeting. The company declined to comment.

Gaffney says if a convention center does happen, it probably won’t be here for another five to 10 years.

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