The initiative includes improvements on Adams Street from Laura to Ocean streets; Ocean Street to Forsyth Street; Forsyth Street to Newnan Street and Newnan Street to Bay Street.  Coconut-lined hanging baskets containing a variety of plants and flowers including lantanas, verbenas and african daisies will be attached to buildings along the corridor. Brightly colored “Be Downtown” and other similarly phrased banners will also be on display and “Be Downtown” decals will be placed on parking meter boxes to decorate and identify this primary Downtown corridor. 

Screened fencing will be placed around the Laura Street Trio and the vacant lot located on Adams Street between Laura and Main streets.  The screens will have graphic images of Downtown projects and blank canvases for the American Institute of Graphic Artists (AIGA) to paint.  Additional panels will be available for the public to also express their artistic impressions of Downtown.

•The Cultural Council of Greater Jacksonville and Jacksonville’s Art in Public Places Program will present a lecture by Broward Hatcher, creator of the Tillie K. Fowler Memorial.  The lecture is open to the public and will take place at the Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville (MOCA) on Wednesday, April 1 at 7 p.m. in conjunction with Art Walk.

•The City of Jacksonville and the Captain’s Club will present the 25th Annual Blessing of the Fleet on Sunday, April 5 at 2 p.m.  The event will take place on the Northbank Riverfront of the St. Johns River.  Vessels of all sizes are welcome to participate.  To register, visit www.makeascenedowntown.com or email events@coj.net.

•Bravo’s Top Chef: The Tour is coming to Jacksonville!  On April 9, the tour will bring your favorite “cheftestants” and their signature dishes to Hemming Plaza.  Show times are at 10:30 a.m., 12 p.m. and 1:30 p.m.  Seats will be available on the day of the show on a first come, first served basis.  Admission is free.  Click here for more information. 

•The Dedication Ceremony for the Tillie Fowler Memorial will be April 20 at 7 p.m. on the Northbank Riverwalk behind the YMCA.  The 18.5-foot, fully illuminated abstracted oak tree memorial will be installed on March 30 and will take five days to install. 

•The Jacksonville Public Library, in collaboration with the Southern Genealogical Exchange Society (SGES), is hosting a Spring Seminar and Genealogy Fair at the Main Library on April 25.  The seminar is free and will feature a nationally known speaker.  For details, visit the Jacksonville Public Library Web site or the SGES Web site or contact Laura Minor with the Jacksonville Public Library Genealogy Special Collection at (904) 630-2409. 

•The Jacksonville Urban League, a community-based organization located in the LaVilla area of Downtown, announces its upcoming 2nd Annual Empowerment Summit featuring Education, Employment and Economic workshops and symposiums.  The event will take place at the Jacksonville Urban League on April 29 from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.  Click here for more information or call Julia Wilson at (904) 356-8336.

Downtown Action Plan Update
•The JEDC approved a resolution to recommend that City Council amend the Downtown Overlay Zone to remove public pay phones within city rights of ways and in city parks and to prohibit pay phones in city rights of ways in the future.  The resolution was made to deter and eliminate certain nuisance activities from public rights of ways and public parks. The resolution will enhance the pedestrian environment on Downtown streets and in parks and will help promote a healthy and vibrant Downtown.  This initiative is part of the overall effort to address the “Clean and Safe” service level for Downtown; Action Step No. 1 in the Downtown Action Plan.

DVI Launches New Mobile Website
•Downtown Vision, Inc. launched a new user-friendly Web site for mobile internet users.  The site includes the latest schedule of Downtown events, a directory listing and other on-the-go information.  Check it out at www.dtjax.org. 

LaVilla Building Renovated
•The Ronco Group, a St. Augustine based-company, completely renovated a 100-year-old former automotive repair garage located in the LaVilla area of Downtown at Jefferson and West Adams streets. The company is relocating some of their management to the newly renovated building and will lease the remaining office space.

Historic Dyal-Upchurch Building Acquired
•DUDA, headquartered in Oviedo, Fla., has acquired the Dyal-Upchurch building in Downtown.  Major capital expenditures are underway that include the replacement of the roof, upgrades to the air conditioning and heating system and other deferred general maintenance items.  The company recognizes the efforts of the Laura Street Improvement Plan and the Bay Street Improvement Plan and wants the property to be consistent with those efforts.

Yoga Classes Offered Downtown
•Looking to get fit during lunch?  Traditional Hatha Yoga classes (also called therapeutic or restorative yoga) are offered every Monday and Thursday from 12 p.m. to 1 p.m. on the 14th floor of the Modis Building.  Prices vary starting from $4.16 per session up to $8 per session, depending on your participation level. You can try it for free!  All fitness levels are welcome.  For more information, contact Victoria Jeune at (904) 389-1962 or vjeune@aol.com.

New Retail in Downtown
•Access Public Relations, a full-service PR and strategic communications firm, opened a new office at 31 W. Adams St., Ste. 305.