JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — There is new opposition to the mayor’s proposal to build a multi-million dollar shade structure over the Veterans Memorial wall.
Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan set aside $2 million for the project in her latest budget proposal, but veteran and City Council Vice President Nick Howland would rather see the memorial wall moved. He said that he is willing to invest if it’s determined that the memorial is in the right place.
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The councilman told Action News Jax, “Before we invest in a permanent shade structure, I want to ensure it’s in the right home, given the transformation that’s happening downtown and particularly along the Northbank of riverfront.”
Councilman Howland will host a noticed meeting to discuss options about the future of the wall next week.
For years, up to 3,000 guests have met under a temporary shade structure during the annual Memorial Day observance that is hosted at the wall.
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Harrison Conyers, Jacksonville’s Director of Military and Veteran Affairs, told Action News Jax that the temporary structure costs $140,000 for just one day of use.
If the city’s plans to build a permanent structure pan out, visitors to the memorial will be better protected from the heat and the installation will be more suitable to host events throughout the year. Renderings of the proposed project show a digital, programmable roof, built with cooling fans and a sound system.
The memorial wall is the second largest in the country, behind Washington D.C., and Conyers said the permanent structure is much deserved for the veterans and people the wall stands to honor.
Councilman Howland, however, wants to run an exercise that determines a new place where the wall has more exposure.
The councilman told Action News Jax that there are a lot of factors that will come into play if the wall is relocated, including whether the new location would bring more visitors and whether there would be more parking near the wall’s new location.
He is set to host a meeting on Monday, August 4th, with Councilman Chris Miller and Councilman Will Lahnen to talk more about options for relocating the wall.
The Mayor’s Office said the initial shade structure estimate was $5 million to $6 million, and there is $2 million in the budget. They will solicit requests for proposal for the construction work and see what costs come back.
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