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 separate vote on downtown design standards so staff can work with Mitchell and other stakeholders.

Details of Mitchell’s request and city response City Manager Scott summarized support programs available to downtown businesses and what the city can offer if Mitchell finds a new downtown location. “We have one‑on‑one consultation with downtown development, eligibility for a facade grant of $10,000, sign grants of $500, a design grant of $500, and a competitive redevelopment grant up to $30,000,” Scott said, adding that Jazz on Dargan previously received a combination of city grants and credits totaling $29,692 (tenant fit‑out), a $300 business license credit and a $5,000 COVID relief grant.

Council members said they want Mitchell to remain downtown. Several members praised the venue’s contribution to downtown life and asked staff to find policy options to reduce friction between new residents and existing entertainment uses. Council directed staff to defer the downtown design‑standards item that had been on the agenda so planners can meet with Mitchell and explore specific changes, including sound‑mitigation measures.

Noise rules and policy limits Council discussed the city’s current noise rules, which staff described as a 10 p.m. quiet‑time standard in downtown measured by decibel thresholds (the staff presentation referenced roughly 70 decibels as the downtown limit; about 55 decibels is typical conversational level). Councilmembers noted the tension between calling a district an entertainment area while enforcing a 10 p.m. quiet time and asked staff to include soundproofing and other mitigation options in the design‑standards review.

Council members also discussed the limits of municipal authority. The mayor and staff reiterated they cannot force a private property owner to choose a tenant type for property they own, though the city can adopt zoning, design standards and other policy tools that shape future developments.

What’s next Council deferred the downtown design standards item to allow staff to work directly with Mitchell and other downtown stakeholders on possible policy changes (including sound‑mitigation approaches) and to return to council with recommended edits. Council members urged Mitchell to meet with the mayor and city manager to pursue available assistance.

Mitchell and several supporters in the packed gallery thanked the council for the discussion and for the offers of help.