About Downtown Investment Authority

Jacksonville’s heart is in its Downtown urban core

At the heart of every great city lives a great downtown, but great downtowns take time, effort and vision. They are built by people and organizations that care deeply about making downtown vibrant, welcoming and vitally important to the culture of the city at large. In our city, building with vision begins at the Downtown Investment Authority (DIA). The DIA was created to revitalize Jacksonville’s urban core by utilizing Community Redevelopment Area (CRA) resources and is guided by a nine-member board of directors. The DIA seeks to attract investment, facilitate job creation and increase residential density through capital investments, planning, marketing and public-private partnerships including the provision of incentives for the general community and Downtown stakeholders.

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DIA Board of Directors

The DIA’s investments and policies are steered by the Board of Directors who conduct open-to-the-public business on an unpaid, volunteer basis. DIA’s Board of Directors is comprised of leaders in their respective fields, including real estate and finance professionals along with Downtown business owners. DIA staff has decades of combined experience in real estate development, redevelopment and urban planning as well as local and state government. This experience is a value-added proposition for the Downtown market and community as DIA’s leadership and staff are uniquely qualified to guide a project from inception through realization.

DIA’s Guiding Redevelopment Goals

Reinforce Downtown as the City’s unique epicenter for business, history, culture, education, and entertainment
Increase rental and owner-occupied housing downtown, targeting key demographic groups seeking a more urban lifestyle
Simplify the approval process for downtown development and improve departmental and agency coordination
Improve walkability/bikeability and connectivity to adjacent neighborhoods and the St. Johns River while creating highly walkable nodes
Establish a waterfront design framework to ensure a unique experience and sense of place
Maintain a clean and safe 24-7 Downtown for residents, workers, and visitors
Promote design for healthy living by using planning and economic development policies