JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville city leaders will discuss a proposed solution to tackle the ongoing flooding issues along Ken Knight Drive at a Tuesday city council meeting.
For years, residents living in flood-prone properties along the Ribault River have expressed frustration over floodwaters entering their homes, saying the problem occurs during serious weather events and typical Florida thunderstorms.
This week, members of the city’s Finance and Neighborhoods, Community Services, Public Health, and Safety Committees met to discuss two bills aiming to allocate FEMA grant money and a city of Jacksonville match to acquire and demolish two flood-prone properties.
One property is on Ken Knight Drive North, the other is around the corner on Wrico Drive. Both homes are close to the Ribault River, one of which sits feet away from it. Timothy Washington and Trina Falih have lived across from one of the properties for 6 years.
The homes are the second and third properties in Ken Knight Drive purchased through the city’s buyback program.
According to the Emergency Preparedness Division, the program is designed to help neighbors who have experienced flooding move to an area on high ground that does not flood.
Once the city acquires the properties, the plan is to eventually tear them down and turn them into green spaces. According to the bills filed for each property, the funding to complete each project would come through FEMA grant money and a city of Jacksonville match.
To learn more about the Ken Knight Drive buyback through the city of Jacksonville, visit: JaxReady - Mitigation
