Holland's plan to move elections office from Gateway could be a winner

[Tacachale]

Well, at least they're talking about it; hopefully something productive will come of the discussion. I'm pretty disappointed with those recommendations, though.

#1 sounds good at first, but if the office's needs require a suburban or industrial style building, it should not be in the downtown core.
#2 is incredibly short-sighted. It very well could end up saving pennies this year at the expense of pounds later.
#3 is great, mostly, if the Yates building serves *all* of the office's needs.
#4 is just downright terrible.

[thelakelander]

I'm definitely not a big fan of them staying at Gateway.  I think that not only is a bad idea for the city but also for the redevelopment of Gateway.

[Charles Hunter]

Another point that Holland brought up on TV was that you have to clear a security desk to get into the Yates Building - which might be a problem for voters.

If we are reconfiguring city buildings, and moving offices from one to another - why not reconfigure the Ed Ball building.  It seems enough room could be found on the first floor for the "front end' operations (including that big 'training room' on the 1st floor), the garage should provide plenty of access for moving elections equipment (might have to cut some new doors).  There is on-street parking, an attached garage, and the Court House garage is close by ("validate" parking?).

[Cheshire Cat]

Another option comes to light for the SOE facility.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The city council is now considering a proposal to move the Supervisor of Elections offices from the Gateway Mall into part of the first floor of One Imeson Industrial Park.

"We would build the space to their exact needs versus refurbishing their space," said Senior Vice President of the Phoenix Realty Group, Ladson Montgomery.

Under the 10-year contract, the city would pay $39,999.96 in the first year for maintenance costs. The amount would go up to $260,199.96 in the second year. The cost would go up three-percent every year after that.

"Gateway was built as a retail center," said Montgomery.  "This building is a distribution operation center so it's ideal for a situation like the Supervisor of Elections."

http://www.actionnewsjax.com/content/topstories/story/Moving-out-of-Gateway-could-save-taxpayers-big/xb5lptW2BU66mXE9Uq6TXg.cspx

[urbanlibertarian]

Holland said one of his criterea was bus service available for visitors and poll worker training.  Also, let's get it closer to the core city.

[Tacachale]

^Agreed. This is foolish.

[John P]

Wtf. This is ridiculous!!!!!!!!!

[thelakelander]

What kind of bus service serves Imeson?  Whatever it is, it can't be the type of high frequency service that Holland said was needed when he wanted to build in LaVilla and it's certainly not centralized.  If cost is the main consideration, they'd be better off simply buying a cheap warehouse in the urban core, like in the Springfield Warehouse District or Talleyrand.

[Tacachale]

The definition of penny wise and pound foolish.

[Charles Hunter]

Yes, the Imeson idea - which was floated during the earlier discussions - is dumb.  Primarily because of lack of bus service.  I thought the current plan is for the new landlords at Gateway to fix the place and reduce the rent?  Gateway has lots of bus service - the JTA Northside hub is just yards from the SOE's door.  Still leaves them with two offices.

[Cheshire Cat]

City Council member Matt Schellenberg has proposed legislation for the City to move the elections center of the Supervisor of Elections to North Jacksonville.

His bill competes with legislation to keep the center at Gateway Shopping Center. There's also an offer for space in the Southgate center.

Schellenberg said he was disappointed a City Request for Proposals was not issued to invite more offers.

"There is a lot of people that had an interest in it," Schellenberg said last week. "I think that's politics," he said.

Asked if a proposal could or would be issued for the elections center space needs, administration spokesman David DeCamp on Monday said he would have to ask the City's procurement department.

Schellenberg's bill proposes that the City sign a 10-year lease with GIV Imeson LLC for space at 1 Imeson Park Blvd. in the Imeson International Industrial Park.

The lease rate would be just under $40,000 for the first year, which represents common area maintenance fees and no rent, with rent beginning at just more than $260,000 in the second year.

Rents would then escalate by 3 percent each year. The lease also would provide that the landlord will make improvements valued at up to $650,000 before occupancy and pay $100,000 in moving costs.

Schellenberg said last week he proposed the legislation for the Imeson deal because Council auditors determined it was the best deal for the City
http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=539019

[carpnter]

It needs to be kept in the core.  Moving it to Gateway (or any other area) would require most people to have to go downtown and then catch another bus to get out to Gateway.  Keeping it in the core means people need to catch a bus downtown to get to the office. 

[fsujax]

The main election office would remain downtown. Moving anything to Imeson is not a smart idea. No transit service at all to speak of.

[thelakelander]

Yes, what they are talking about moving is already at Gateway. The downtown offices will remain downtown. Imeson may be the best for the city money wise but it certainly isn't accessible to the general public.  Gateway is at least a major JTA bus hub.  I don't think One Imeson has direct bus service.

[thelakelander]

There is a community shuttle that runs on 60 minute headways between Dinsmore and River City Marketplace that stops nearby.  To get access One Imeson from the rest of the city, you would have to take the CT1 or NS19 from Rosa Parks and transfer to the Dinsmore community shuttle. The NS19 has 60 minute headways and the CT1 runs on 30 minute headways.