CSX to move 550 jobs downtown?

[KenFSU]

CSX could bring 550 more workers Downtown to Northbank

CSX Corp. has a large presence Downtown — and it would like to increase it.

The company is consolidating its operations and seeking to shift at least 550 employees from its Southpoint facilities to a Southside or Downtown site.

The location would provide a "safe, comfortable accessible workplace that promotes collaboration in the best, most cost-effective facilities available," said CSX spokeswoman Melanie Cost in a statement emailed late Monday.

If "all else were equal," she said, that would mean bringing those employees to about 120,000 square feet of vacant space on the Northbank of the St. Johns River...

Full story:
http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=548919

[acme54321]

Didn't they recently buy 550 Water St?  You'd think that would be where they are going, unless it's full.

[Steve]

Didn't they recently buy 550 Water St?  You'd think that would be where they are going, unless it's full.

My understanding is that building is full. They need more space.

[thelakelander]

One Enterprise Center is largely empty and pretty close to their headquarters.  Or they can consider adding a 120k sf building on one of their large parking lots along Water St.

[MusicMan]

How about into the Old Barnett Bank Building?  That would give them all the space they need now plus room for further expansion down the road.

[KenFSU]

Or they can consider adding a 120k sf building on one of their large parking lots along Water St.

This was my first thought.

That sea of parking.

[thelakelander]

If I had my choice and money was no object, I'd elect for expansion on their own land. Placing infill on that lot between the 550 building and the performance arts center would be a positive exceeding job creation for DT. Nevertheless, beggars can't be choosy.

[lowlyplanner]

Parking is actually a little bit tight in that corner of downtown, with the Water Street Garage full of Everbank and Citizen's employees.

I think a combination garage / office building on their big surface parking lot would make a lot of sense...

And it could add some street level retail there.

CSX actually has an employee cafeteria, which can't be fun to operate.

[MusicMan]

Yes combo of garage (4 levels at least) plus office above would work. That's a premium parking lot for CSX folks and the ones who get to park there probably don't want to lose it.

[vicupstate]

It sounds like they are strictly looking at already built space only.  it would eb difficult to build something new and have it ready in time anyway.

Given the high vacancy rate on the Northbank, it is best that they take existing space.   

[FlaBoy]

I think it is probably more likely they snag floors 2-9 in the One Enterprise Center which can all be available. In some ways, with that much space, they may want to just buy the One Enterprise Center as well. New construction would be a lot more expensive.

http://www.loopnet.com/xNet/Looplink/Profile/Profile.aspx?stid=cbre&LID=17382420&LL=true

[jaxjaguar]

Wouldn't it be better if they went into Suntrust Center so we could get the tenancy up to add the retail in the parking garage? Or did that contract get nullified recently?

Also, since I feel like dreaming a little. How cool would it be to have CSX build a new building / garage / retail on that brown parking lot, if the city helped them fund a large enough garage to turn that black lot into a park that connected to Brooklyn via a second Ped bridge to the north? It would add a HUGE, much needed, green space in the heart of downtown on the river and give an alternate scenic route for cyclists and pedestrians into Brooklyn. The ramps there would provide plenty of shade like the arts market, but unlike the arts market on pleasant sunny days you would have the option of moving into uncovered areas. And the view into downtown would be excellent, similar to the Bicentennial Capitol Mall State Park in Nashville! Ugh... gotta wake up now.

[KenFSU]

Bank of America tower badly wants CSX:

http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=549024

[jaxjaguar]

I know it'll never happen, but how cool would it be for CSX to renovate the old JEA building behind Sweet Pete's in some sort of joint effort that included a garage and retail?

[Keith-N-Jax]

Geez you could get about four scrapers in all those surfaces lots if the market ever picks up