Big changes coming to Jacksonville Landing?

Developers pitched their plans to the Downtown Investment Agency to tear down the Jacksonville Landing and build a completely new shopping and living complex on the waterfront. What we don't know just yet is how much it'll cost you.

It's a question we asked Jacksonville Landing owner Toney Sleiman and it sounds like taxpayers may have to chip in a bit.

"It's gonna have to be a private-public partnership," said Sleiman.

He says they don't know much about potential tenants yet so there's no solid price tag or timeline for completion.

From the sounds of it, store owners like Kelly Pickens of The Pink Cupcake would be willing to chip in.

"I think that the Landing needs an overhaul."

Sleiman says with both the mayor and city council backing the project, the time for change is now in downtown. Mayor Alvin Brown says he's all for it.

"I think it's going to happen. Not could happen, it WILL happen."

Sleiman says Jacksonville should stop being the city that compares itself to other cities and instead be the city others use for comparison.

"Everybody's got plans. I'm tired of plans too. I want to go forward and make this city and change downtown," says Sleiman. "We want people to start saying 'Hey, have you seen what Jacksonville's done?' We want to be like Jacksonville.

The new plans include a high-rise hotel, restaurants, workforce housing, and a parking garage. They'd also move all the buildings back from the water to create more space along the river while still keeping the outdoor area that's there now for concerts and events.

Jacksonville resident Christopher Rosier tells WOKV he's already downtown a lot reading and writing at the library, but he'd be willing to shell out a bit extra if it meant more to offer at the Landing.

"No, I mean I'm not against taxes at all."

Rosier says his only concern would be how long it would take them to rebuild the whole complex. There is currently no timeframe for when the project may get started or finish.