CSX to move 550 jobs downtown?

[thelakelander]

Looks like they are going from +275k square feet of Southside space to less than 140k square feet of Northbank space. The old JEA building is around 162k square feet and 100% empty. Evidently, not only One Enterprise Center but BOA and Suntrust also have +100k square foot blocks of empty space in them too?

Overall, the square footage reduction desired and the amount of empty space in existing buildings are reflections of why we should not expect any speculative highrise office buildings happening locally.

[Steve]

Forgot about the old JEA building. What a great story that would be, but it seems highly doubtful.

[JaGoaT]

My mother works for CSX and told me they are moving people to the 550 building and plan on building a facility near the convention center

[acme54321]

I'm surprised that if they are going to build something it wouldnt be something on top of a garage on one of their surface lots.  I guess a mid rise something or another in lavilla would probably be cheaper to build.

[blizz01]

I mean, it's 550 people; the 550 Building only makes sense......

[thelakelander]

I believe 550 is already full.

[heights unknown]

In 1994-95 I worked for CSX when they were in the old Southern Bell Building, now Everbank Bldg I believe. Great company. Economy is ramping up and it appears they are looking at several options. Most sensible would be to occupy available space in existing scrapers on the Northbank. Next option is space out in the suburbs in which it appears they are mulling that option. Lastly, maybe build their own facility but they'd better make that decision quickly in order to meet the move in deadline. If they chose to build a new facility next to their headquarters and 550 building, I am sure it would be the type of building they could build in less than a year and a half, and hopefully with a built in parking garage below the offices. 25 to 30 stories makes sense to me with the building/scraper being slender in size and not wide or fat. The last option is possible as someone mentioned their Mother who works for CSX stating that they are already moving employees to the 550 building (I thought it was full?). However, they will probably pick SUNTRUST, BOA, or  ONE ENTERPRISE to relocate their employees from Southpoint; me personally...I'm hoping they build a new building/facility...a new scraper on the Northbank...haven't seen that since the early 90's. Bring it on.

[heights unknown]

Oh, they could move their employees to one of the 3 scrapers (temporarily or for an undetermined period), and keep them there while building a new facility. Haven't heard this option mentioned but don't rule it out if they don't or can't get what they need downtown or elsewhere.

[thelakelander]

I can't imagine them building a skysraper. They only want 100 to 140k square feet. In comparison, the BOA has over 660k square feet of space.

[heights unknown]

Yes Lake, I will agree that's a pipe dream (scraper or even a new facility on existing land next to 550 water street); we can hope or dream I guess. CSX is a burgeoning, successful company, so I wouldn't rule out a new facility looking at future growth and expansion at the Jax headquarters.

[thelakelander]

I wouldn't rule out new infill but I would rule out anything coming close to or over 500 feet in height.

[banjo]

I hate to say it but I don't see headcount growth in the future for CSX's Jacksonville overhead/back office operations. Its all using technology to do more with less. That being said I don't think there will be much of a reduction either. Not that I have any real information either way. If rail transport picks up with the economy CSX will experience growth but it will be in the field and the extra crews required to run the trains. Here's hoping the current populist trend doesn't hamper international trade.

[heights unknown]

I wouldn't rule out new infill but I would rule out anything coming close to or over 500 feet in height.

I hate to say it but I don't see headcount growth in the future for CSX's Jacksonville overhead/back office operations. Its all using technology to do more with less. That being said I don't think there will be much of a reduction either. Not that I have any real information either way. If rail transport picks up with the economy CSX will experience growth but it will be in the field and the extra crews required to run the trains. Here's hoping the current populist trend doesn't hamper international trade.

If more business comes to town and starts lighting in the core, along with more residential then we might possibly see scrapers up and over 500 feet; again, pipe dreams.

[thelakelander]

Looks like CSX has selected BOA:

By Karen Brune Mathis, Managing Editor

CSX confirms in letters to the Downtown Investment Authority that it wants to bring 550 employees Downtown to the Bank of America Tower, if the DIA can work with the landlord to make the move from Southside work financially.
That gap as of Jan. 6 is $1.9 million over the seven-year lease term, down from $2.7 million in a November request.

CSX said with an arrangement, it is prepared to enter into a lease for 120,000 square feet of space over multiple floors at the tower in the city's urban core.

http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=549291

[Jim]

also- that seems like a lot of vacant space- didn't realize boa was so empty, but maybe 120k sq ft in a bldg. that size is less than it sounds

That's about 11% of the building.