The property where a liquor store was projected to open across from an elementary school in Northwest Jacksonville will be purchased by the City of Jacksonville, according to Mayor Donna Deegan, who made the announcement at one of her most anticipated community meetings.
Plenty of residents in the area that is riddled with high crime and poverty packed out the Legends Center to ensure that their voices were heard.
“Once there was a saying by the past mayor, ‘If you see something, say something.’ And my response to that is when we do say something, nothing gets done,” Rev. Betty Pittman said. “I’ve stressed that over and over.”
The majority of concerns expressed were regarding crime, quality of life, economic development and access to healthcare, but another hot topic that was addressed was the ongoing battle between the community and a prospective liquor store that was being built on Golfair Boulevard near the KIPP Voice Academy.
Deegan said the city is in the process of buying the property and letting the residents decide what they think should go in that spot instead.
Another controversial topic that was brought up involved plans to build a morgue next to the same school.