2020 has finally come to an end.
It was a year of unprecedented challenges in which we lost several local businesses and, much more significantly, hundreds of residents as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic – which we’ll talk about more later. It was also a year of slow but steady progress on a number of issues in Jacksonville, including riverfront development and racial equality.
As we look forward to a more positive year in 2021, let’s take a quick look at some of what made 2020 noteworthy locally – the good, the bad, and the in-between. Here are the five biggest stories from Jacksonville in 2020, in no particular order.
A lot of talk has emerged over the latter half of 2020 about Lot J – specifically, about the city’s contributions to it.
The deal, which would involve Jaguars owner Shad Khan and developer The Cordish Companies building a mixed-use entertainment center at the site TIAA Bank’s Lot J parking lot, has become controversial for several reasons, including but certainly not limited to its potential ramifications for the future of the Jaguars in Jacksonville.
The development team is asking for well over $200 million in total – and expects a quick decision. But perhaps the biggest sticking point currently is the $65.5 million “breadbox” loan attached to the deal.
The loan more or less gives Khan and Cordish a net total of over $50 million to use, and pay back, at their discretion without paying interest. The city, meanwhile, would need a loan of its own to make it work – one which would almost certainly not be interest-free.
City council is expected to vote on the deal in January.
