JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Most of the remaining businesses at the Jacksonville Landing have until Friday to move out.
The city of Jacksonville has plans to demolish the riverfront mall.
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Action News Jax reported Monday several small business owners said they feel neglected by the city, which has paid hundreds of thousands of dollars to bigger businesses at The Landing.
Since then, Action News Jax got answers from the city about how it’s treating those businesses.
“There are a variety of tenant agreements with a variety of terms. Not everyone is getting relocation money and here is why;. The bulk of the tenants had agreements with 30-day termination options in their lease,” said city Public Affairs Director Nikki Kimbleton in an email to Action News Jax.
NAIWBE spa owner Sylvia Walker was one of the businesses that got a 30-day notice to move out.
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“No one has approached us about trying to really understand from a small business perspective the costs, you know, all the costs that are associated with starting over and finding that place because sometimes it doesn’t happen in 30 days,” said Walker.
Walker is upset the city gave Hooters until the end of October to move.
The city also offered Hooters and Fionn MacCool’s hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Kimbleton said the city had to “fulfill financial obligations” because some of the larger businesses made improvements to their spaces.
Walker said she upgraded her storefront, too.
“So, to say that there were only a few businesses that did build-outs and should be afforded those relocation dollars is very appalling and I think it’s a slap in the face,” said Walker.
Kimbleton acknowledged The Landing tenants are likely struggling to find comparably priced spaces downtown because the rent at The Landing was under market value.
“The foot traffic in the last probably 10 years or so here at The Landing has not been what it was when the mall first opened. So, the rent is under market value because, as small businesses, we took a chance,” said Walker.
Kimbleton sent Action News Jax a list of available real estate downtown that she said the city provided The Landing’s small businesses to try to help.