The ongoing dispute between Brentwood residents and Jacksonville city leaders has yet again come to a head as community members voice their frustration over the conversion of a building into a small business center. Lydia Bell, the President of the Metro Gardens Neighborhood Association, led a rally in front of the building at 865 Golfair Blvd, to demand answers on a decision they feel was made without their consent. "It's not the city of Jacksonville, it's our building. It's the people's building. They got it twisted," Bell conveyed in a statement obtained by First Coast News.
Despite assurances from Mayor Donna Deegan in August of 2023, that the community would have a say in the future of the building, which originally was to become a liquor store, residents were surprised to learn a construction permit was issued to transform it into the Jacksonville Small and Emerging Business Center. Bell told News4JAX, "What we are demanding is a meeting with anyone who made that decision so we can have a conversation that we never got, a conversation about this building."
The Mayor's Office sent a statement to News4JAX explaining that after careful consideration, they determined the location would best serve as a workforce development center due to the number of small businesses in the area. The statement also noted the building's size is smaller than the recommended size for a community center and that the nearby Brentwood Branch Library already has meeting spaces for community groups.
However, Bell and the Metro Gardens Neighborhood Association maintain their stance that the community was snubbed in the decision-making process. "They (are) making all these decisions Downtown without our input," Bell highlighted in an interview with JaxToday. The accusation stands that city officials have not sufficiently engaged with the Brentwood residents, notably on developments that significantly impact their neighborhood.
The center, expected to open in May, is intended to support small business owners and entrepreneurs with free education and resources.
