JACKSONVILLE, Fla. \u2014 Jacksonville city leaders say they\u2019re not sure whether the city will be able to afford a $28.25 million completion grant sought by Gateway Jax for the planned downtown Publix. <\/p>\n
That store is considered to be the anchor tenant of Gateway Jax\u2019s $1 billion Pearl Square development, which promises 1,250 new downtown residential units.<\/p>\n
But with the city facing an uncertain financial future, city leaders, including Council President-Elect Nick Howland (R-Group 3 At-Large), are questioning whether the city can afford such a large cash incentive to make the grocery store a reality.<\/p>\n
>>> STREAM ACTION NEWS JAX LIVE <<<<\/b><\/a><\/p>\n \u201cEverything is kind of on hold until November,\u201d said Councilmember Matt Carlucci (R-Group 4 At-Large).<\/p>\n Councilmember Carlucci explained the biggest question mark is whether voters approve the property tax phaseout proposal in November, which could tank city revenues by $183 million starting next year, according to an updated analysis published by the Florida Association of Counties<\/a>.<\/p>\n \u201cWe\u2019re going to have to just prepare and just hold off on making any big promises or commitments to a lot of these projects because the money just will not be there,\u201d Carlucci said. <\/p>\n Action News Jax sat down with Mayor Donna Deegan Tuesday to discuss the project\u2019s future.<\/p>\n \u201cOut of anything that we\u2019re giving completion grants for, that is the most important one because so much hinges on it,\u201d Deegan said.<\/p>\n The Mayor argued city leaders need to find a way to fund the completion grant, but also said she is open to other potential funding solutions that might be presented.<\/p>\n [DOWNLOAD: <\/b>Free Action News Jax app for alerts as news breaks<\/b><\/a>]<\/b><\/p>\n Despite concerns over potential lost revenues that could come to fruition if voters approve the property tax cut later this year, she said she views this particular project as a must-fund item.<\/p>\n \u201cObviously, we need to start planning, but I think to assume what the voters are gonna do and to create havoc in this year\u2019s budget as a reaction to what they may or may not do is not the way to go if we want to continue the momentum of our city,\u201d Deegan said.<\/p>\n In a statement, Gateway Jax indicated it\u2019s working with city leaders to identify a path forward.<\/p>\n \u201cWe are excited to work with incoming Council President Howland and Mayor Deegan\u2019s administration to continue building on the success of the previous public-private partnerships between Gateway Jax and the City of Jacksonville to advance shared goals for the infrastructure of Downtown Jacksonville,\u201d a Gateway Jax spokesperson said in an emailed statement.<\/p>\n [SIGN UP: <\/b>Action News Jax Daily Headlines Newsletter<\/b><\/a>] <\/b><\/p>\n Action News Jax also reached out to Publix and asked whether the grocer would still be able to make the planned downtown store a reality in the absence of city incentives.<\/p>\n We have not heard back.<\/p>\n Click here<\/b><\/a> to download the free Action News Jax news and weather apps, <\/b>click here<\/b><\/a> to download the Action News Jax Now app for your smart TV and <\/b>click here<\/b><\/a> to stream Action News Jax live.<\/b><\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"JACKSONVILLE, Fla. \u2014 Jacksonville city leaders say they\u2019re not sure whether the city will be able to 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