The Story Behind The Union Terminal Warehouse Company

[Metro Jacksonville]

The Story Behind The Union Terminal Warehouse Company



Hovering over the Mathews Bridge Expressway, the century old Union Terminal Warehouse Company was the largest industrial building in Jacksonville for decades. Today, Metro Jacksonville takes a look inside and shares the story behind it.

Read More: http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2014-oct-the-story-behind-the-union-terminal-warehouse-company

[Noone]

Thanks again for the history. The water tower is iconic when seen from Hogans Creek after exiting the Maxwell House property.

[Non-RedNeck Westsider]

I do a lot of design and collaboration work with the millshop in the back, under the bridge.

I won't lie, the first time that I visited his shop I thought, "This looks like a great place to dump a body."

I was surprised to find how many unique craftsmen rent spaces in the building.  Everything from furniture makers, general woodwork, acrylic signs and displays and metal working.  I suppose the JaxHax being there makes sense, but I've never ventured very far in the building.

[Gunnar]

I find it shocking that the building has not been demolished yet! After all, someone would probably want to build a grandiose project right there at some time, or at least it would make a nice grassy lot.
[/sarcasm]

Seriously, great building and good that it is still left. Looking at the pictures, it does seem that there are loading docks for tractor trailers, or at least they could be modified to support them.

Wouldn't that make for a great business start-up incubator (lots of probably cheap space)? Depends on road access and it would be even greater if railroad access could be restored.

[ronchamblin]

I have a space on the 4th floor, a little over 8,000 sq. ft. -- the only space I have on a rent basis.  Pretty good rent for simply storing books.  The space is allowing us the flexibility to organize my packed warehouse on Forest Street, and will allow us to move stored books from the 225 Laura St. building when we resume renovation there.

I like the old elevators ... and simply the "old" environment.  I love the "basic" aspect of it.  I've noticed some active workers and projects in the building.

[JPalmer]

Seems like a good place to have a county jail, as opposed to a water front view.

[Dog Walker]

Great article, Kristin!

That building still looks surprisingly modern for when it was built.

Lots of familiar names as tenants to us "older" Jacksonville residents.  My father-in-law ran his food brokerage business out of the Weisenfeld warehouse after it moved to the waterfront next to the old Acosta Bridge.  It was torn down to build the Seaboard (now the CSX) building.

[MissMinda]

The Union 3B Art Studios is also in current residence at 700 E. Union Street.

We currently have 10 artists in the space and are holding a Pre-Holiday Open House on November 22.

This is our facebook page: https://www.facebook.com/theunion3b

[jaxboy]

My mother was a billing clerk at Union Terminal back in the 1960's and early 70's. The rail service was still in use as this was a busy place at that time. I remember that each morning there would be groups of men referred to as "Casuals", that would gather to get chosen for the daily jobs that were offered there. There used to be a lady that sold hot lunches, to the workers, from her car, several times a week. It was good home cooked meals at a very reasonable price. If you didn't get to her soon after lunch break started, she would always be sold out. I used to join my mom to enjoy those lunches during the summer when school wasn't in session.

[Gunnar]

Not sure this was mentioned yet but the Union Terminal Warehouse is for sale (@ $ 4.9 Million).