Owner of Jazz on Dargan urges city help as downtown redevelopment threatens venue

Thomas Mitchell, owner of Jazz on Dargan, told the Florence City Council that planned redevelopment near his Dargan Street location threatens the future of his seven‑year downtown business.

The matter came during appearances before council, when Mitchell described Jazz on Dargan’s role in downtown revitalization and said the property owner has not given him a clear reason for asking the venue to leave. “We stuck through that through thick and thin,” Mitchell said, noting the club’s role in bringing patrons and events to a downtown that was previously quiet.

Why it matters: Council members and staff said the case highlights a recurring tension in downtown redevelopment—balancing growing residential infill with long‑standing entertainment and commercial uses—and prompted the council to pause a…