Alvin Brown signs improvements bill for northwest Jax

Long awaited infrastructure improvements are heading to parts of northwest Jacksonville.

Mayor Alvin Brown, joined by other city leaders on Friday, signed an ordinance authorizing more than $7 million for water main improvements on U.S. 1 and redevelopment projects on Phelps Street and the Soutel Drive corridor.

The city council unanimously passed the ordinance this month.

Although heavily traveled, the portion of U.S. 1 has seen little development because of the lack of water service.

Northwest Jacksonville Community Development Corporation CEO Paul Tutwiler said he was “very excited” to see improvements are on their way to becoming reality.

“What it really means is transforming a community to the 21st century,” he said. “We need to make sure that we are prepared for the future that we deserve.”

The ordinance is part of the Renew Jax Initiative announced in November. Renew Jax is designed to revitalized certain city neighborhoods through public-private partnerships.