JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The AT&T building downtown will soon have a new name.
Mayor Alvin Brown announced at a news conference Monday that the building will be renamed EverBank Center and will house about 1,500 current EverBank employees and create new job openings.
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Brown said the change is just part of his plan to revitalize the downtown area.
"I feel very good, you know. I keep my commitment to the citizens of our great city. It's something that I campaigned on," he said.
Brown said he wants to rejuvenate downtown to be like it used to be. He said that in 1986, 17 percent of the city's tax revenue came from downtown. Currently, it's at 2 percent.
"My vision for downtown is I want people to work downtown, live downtown, visit downtown," Brown said. "I want downtown to be a destination, which I think is great. We have a beautiful St. Johns River."
The mayor went on to say this is a milestone because corporate leadership will bring a vibrant street scene that is missing.
EverBank CEO Robert Clements said parking was the main concern for the current employees about the move, but Brown said there is plenty of parking downtown, and there will be three parking garages accessible for employees at no cost.
"If you include the cost of the move, the cost of the build out, furniture, technology, it's a very big number," Clements said.
City and state incentives were applied. There will be a $2.75 million grant plus $420,000 in tax refunds from the city and $1.68 million from the state when EverBank creates 200 new full-time jobs.
People making the move to the new location will get the opportunity to go on tours to make them comfortable with the area.
Employees are scheduled to begin moving into the new center from their Southside office in June, and the transition should be complete by September.