EverBank seeks help to stay downtown as DIA flags large pipeline of completion-grant requests
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Summary
DIA told the committee EverBank is asking for assistance to remain downtown and that EverBank estimates a cost differential of roughly $1.4M (earlier) and a request figure of about $980,000 (Tarbert cited), with potential payments starting in 2027; Tarbert also presented a downtown development pipeline totaling ~ $1.14 billion and said active completion-grant requests currently total about $66M, with possible additional requests up to $225M depending on projects.
Committee members spent the afternoon discussing two interrelated financial issues: (1) a pending request from EverBank for incentives to remain in its downtown office and (2) a broader list of completion-grant requests and the downtown development pipeline.
Colin Tarbert said EverBank has asked for assistance to keep a major private office lease downtown rather than relocate to a suburban campus. Tarbert summarized the EverBank request to DIA as "about $980,000" and explained that earlier estimates put the annual delta of downtown occupancy versus suburbs at roughly $1.4 million, driven largely by parking and security expenses. Tarbert emphasized the risk to downtown momentum if a large tenant departs and said any incentive would be treated as an item to be considered by DIA and then sent to council if general-fund support is required.
Steve Devenau (EverBank representative) and city staff clarified aspects of EverBank's situation during committee questions: the company was represented as having about 800 employees working downtown, and staff described the EverBank ask as a cost-avoidance measure rather than a safety-related request. Devenau said terms under discussion have included commitments on employee counts and required capital investments by both EverBank and the building owner; Tarbert said EverBank would likely invest about $5,000,000 in tenant improvements while the landlord might invest roughly $10,000,000 in building amenities.
On timing, staff said the first payment tied to any incentive would not begin until 2027 (budget year 2027-28) and that any council decision would follow DIA board review. Council members raised concerns about precedent and asked for additional data: lease rates, occupancy of the building, which employees are hybrid, and a list of other downtown leases coming due so the city can anticipate future requests.
Tarbert also presented DIA's downtown development pipeline: roughly 10 projects with an estimated total development cost of about $1.14 billion. He said DIA currently has $66 million in active completion-grant requests under review and that additional potential completion grants across the pipeline could range from about $79 million to $158 million depending on the scenario, meaning possible near-term commitments of roughly $145 million to $225 million if multiple projects require assistance. Tarbert said DIA's objective is to transition away from completion grants over time and explore alternatives like loans, tax abatements, or TIF-backed infrastructure grants.
Committee members voiced a range of views: some urged fiscal restraint and alternatives to completion grants; others stressed the value of preserving large downtown employers and the momentum generated by recent investments. The committee requested that DIA supply detailed lease and renewal schedules, occupancy and employee-location breakdowns for EverBank, and more refined year-by-year projections for completion-grant exposure.
