The development project at the former Times Union site is a critical piece in the puzzle to revitalizing the Downtown Jacksonville area and we must get it right. Included in the mixed-use development plans is a grocery store. There are currently talks about another Publix going up at this site rather than an affordable speciality grocery store that our area truly needs.

I've had many conversations with people in the community and there is an overwhelming desire for a Trader Joe’s to reside in 32204. In the past decade, we have seen a 20% increase of residents flocking to Downtown Jacksonville to call it home. Of these new residents, the demographic largely consists of young professionals, young families, middle and upper-class individuals, and renters. Trader Joes grocery stores attract the demographic that currently dwells in our urban city and will entice more individuals and families to move downtown. We currently have two Trader Joes in Jacksonville, but they are located 30-minutes away from downtown. We have an overflow of Publix and Winn-Dixie grocery stores near Downtown, and it would be a great injustice to the area to add another one. In addition to attracting more residents to our downtown, Trader Joe’s is an environmentally conscious company and would be mindful of waste and trash not polluting our beautiful river.

Once we hit the goal of 500 signatures, I will forward the petition to Jeff Fuqua of Fuqua Development and Katherine Mosley of TriBridge Residential who will be the ultimate decision makers, Trader Joe's and also City Council-members for informational purposes. Jeff Fuqua is already a champion of this idea and has responded positively to my email request, agreeing that a Trader Joe's or another speciality store would be best for the site. 

We have a slim window before the development plans are finalized to circulate this petition, and make sure our voices are heard. Let's rally together for a Trader Joe's on this beautiful riverfront site for us and our future generations to enjoy.

 Thank you so much for your time.