The Universal Marion (JEA) building is worth saving

[thelakelander]

The Jacksonville Electric Authority (JEA) is contemplating demolishing the historic Universal Marion building after it relocates its downtown headquarters in 2022. Landmark designation could save the 1963-built structure, and it easily passes the criteria. Will the Jacksonville Historic Preservation Commission and Downtown Investment Authority work with JEA in advance to spare it from the wrecking ball?

Read More: https://www.thejaxsonmag.com/article/the-universal-marion-jea-building-is-worth-saving/

[Wacca Pilatka]

Outstanding article.  I hope that the cycle of senseless demolition stops here.  Seems this building can be repurposed so easily, and of course I'd love to see the Embers/meeting room space reactivated.

When did Purcell's close?  Is there any active retail in that building now?

[thelakelander]

I know it was in the 1970s but I'm not aware of the exact year of closure at this time. However, I did find an article stating that the original owner left retailing in 1973. Purcell's was owned by Bob Myers. He is believed to have been the first white downtown merchant to employ an African-American in a sales position, according to his son, Johnny Myers of Philadelphia (from a 2002 TU article).

Myers broke retailing ground Took action for civil rights
April 13, 2002  The Florida Times-Union  Jessie-Lynne Kerr, Times-Union staff writer

....A native of Philadelphia, he (Myers) moved to Jacksonville in 1947 after service as an Army captain in World War II.

Mr. Myers went to work in the women's retail clothing business, eventually becoming a store owner. He is believed to have been the first white downtown merchant to employ an African-American in a sales position, according to his son, Johnny Myers of Philadelphia.

"It was in the early 1960s, and he decided it was time to move this black woman from the receiving department in the back rooms of Purcell's out front into a sales position," Myers said. "He believed it was the right thing to do. I remember some white customers closing their charge accounts in protest, and there was some graffiti on the store windows, but my father did not back down. Later, the other white merchants followed suit."

When Mr. Myers left retailing in 1973, he went into advertising. He later was public relations director for United Way of Northeast Florida.

Based on this Civil Rights era information, it could meet the criteria associated as being the location of a significant local, state or national event.

After Purcell's closed, the 25,000 square foot space was converted into a mini-mall. It appears to be vacant today.

[Wacca Pilatka]

Thanks Lake!
That's a piece of history I didn't know.

[Peter Griffin]

Seems this building can be repurposed so easily

Updating buildings like this is far from easy or cheap, but it appears to at least be viable.

[thelakelander]

We should keep in mind that it is cheaper to renovate than build the same thing from scratch. This structure is not in danger of collapse or no where close the level of deterioration of the Barnett and Laura Street Trio. If these buildings can be placed back into service, reuse of the Universal Marion should be viable. Another thing to consider with this building is the construction and layout of the property. It features an underground parking garage and a large parking garage across the street. The need for dedicated off-street parking is something that kills the feasibility of many downtown projects. However, this complex has it in abundance.

[itsfantastic1]

Wasn't there some talk a long time about about Mr. Atkins looking at bidding for four parcels surrounding Main St. including the JEA tower and the customer service center. Has that been put on the backburner because of the Barnett cost and the Trio not even being started? I'd at least hope putting out an RFP for the JEA building would be considered but releasing it too early may be just as bad given economic conditions in the near future and the city/JEA using that as justification that no one wants the building.

[Wacca Pilatka]

We should keep in mind that it is cheaper to renovate than build the same thing from scratch. This structure is not in danger of collapse or no where close the level of deterioration of the Barnett and Laura Street Trio. If these buildings can be placed back into service, reuse of the Universal Marion should be viable. Another thing to consider with this building is the construction and layout of the property. It features an underground parking garage and a large parking garage across the street. The need for dedicated off-street parking is something that kills the feasibility of many downtown projects. However, this complex has it in abundance.

Exactly - I meant "easily" in relative terms, of course.  E.g., compared to the old Independent Life Building, which has deteriorated yet still attracted a developer.  This one is still occupied and climate controlled, plus the parking advantage.

[jaxjags]

I totally agree this is a "must". Much more than the  DORO complex. I don't believe any of lot J is happening soon based on the latest events. So if the DORO complex cam be built with private money (and demolition will not occur until construction permits are issued), it will be a good addition to the sports complex.

[jaxlongtimer]

FYI, Charter spent tens of millions of dollars gutting this building and updating it in 1980 or so.  Money was no object as Charter was flush with oil profits and ranked 64th on the Fortune 500 as Florida's largest company by revenues.  The building was a state of the art, Class A building at the time, befitting the image of a high profile company with lots of "sex appeal."

There is no way this building should have huge needs today if it has been properly maintained since.  Sure, there may be cosmetic needs and routine replacements like HVAC, etc.  And, there may be a need for some technology updates.  Again, though, one would think that JEA would have been on top of this all along and there wouldn't be any "deal killer" items to address.

I might add that if memory serves me correctly, JEA bought the building for a fraction of Charter's investment in it.  So, it can't be on JEA's books for much which should enable it to sell it for a lower price to support renovations by others.

Keep in mind that similar type buildings dating from the era like the Riverplace/Gulf LIfe Tower, Independent Life/Wells Fargo building, Southern Bell/Everbank tower and Prudential/One Call building all remain vibrant office towers so there is no reason the Universal Marion Building, with proper stewardship, shouldn't also.  It's interesting that the two most recent significant towers that are candidates for demolition in this town are controlled by governmental entities:  the former City Hall and JEA.  What does that say about their stewardship abilities?   (Meanwhile, the unfinished Berkman Tower II lives on ! )

[vicupstate]

^^ If Charter was prospering so in 1980 yet bankrupt by 1984, they must have been very poorly led.
I don't have a hard time believing JEA did not do required maintenance on the building. The Marble bank building was renovated in the 1980's too but look at what it looked less than 20 years later.

[Wacca Pilatka]

Charter was hit hard by the early 80s oil crash and also lost several members of its leadership team simultaneously in a helicopter crash in Ireland.

I think the updates to the building might've been pre-1980, though, because in the early 80s Charter was planning to move into what's now the EverBank building, as a joint development with Southern Bell.

[thelakelander]

^In addition, one of its subsidiaries was the subject of a $1.8 billion lawsuit in 1983.

[jaxlongtimer]

^^ If Charter was prospering so in 1980 yet bankrupt by 1984, they must have been very poorly led.
I don't have a hard time believing JEA did not do required maintenance on the building. The Marble bank building was renovated in the 1980's too but look at what it looked less than 20 years later.

Charter was hit hard by the early 80s oil crash and also lost several members of its leadership team simultaneously in a helicopter crash in Ireland.

I think the updates to the building might've been pre-1980, though, because in the early 80s Charter was planning to move into what's now the EverBank building, as a joint development with Southern Bell.

^In addition, one of its subsidiaries was the subject of a $1.8 billion lawsuit in 1983.

A little Charter history:

Charter's fortunes went from 0 to 100 in 1979 when it acquired the assets of bankrupt oil company Carey Energy (owned by the family of the then governor of NY).  Charter then proceeded to go on a deal making binge buying lots of assets it shouldn't have.  When the oil markets crashed a couple of years later, Charter no longer had the cash flow to support all those sexy companies it bought like magazines, newspapers, radio stations, collectibles companies, etc. plus refineries, oil tankers, gas stations and more, not to mention its dozen plus jet fleet, at the time the world's largest corporate air force.

But, in 1980, things looked good and Charter splurged accordingly.  It did act as a developer for the Southern Bell/Everbank building that came later as Charter's real estate division (the origins of the company) assembled the Mayflower Hotel block it sits on.  Southern Bell wanted to lease the building, not own it, so Charter was building it.  When oil hit the skids amid record high interest rates, Charter was forced to turn the building's completion and ownership back over to Southern Bell. 

Charter did have dreams of building a new 70 story headquarters for itself, but that was on the Sears block it also owned.  It never got far when oil crashed and Charter sold that block to a developer.  It now hosts the Omni hotel and Enterprise Tower.

I can confirm Charter totally gutted the Universal Marion building around 1980 and spared no expense.

Here is another example of Charter's impact on Downtown:  Its former subsidiary, Jacksonville National Bank, owned the Laura Street trio including the Marble Bank building. JNB's sister company, and also former Charter subsidiary, at the time, Alliance Mortgage (formerly Charter Mortgage and, ultimately, Everbank) owned most of the rest of the block down to Main Street.  As noted, they did a beautiful job of renovating the Marble Bank circa 1978-1980, and it is, again, inexcusable that the buildings found themselves in such a state of disrepair.

The lawsuit Lake may be referring to might be over the used oil sprayed on the dirt roads in Times Beach, MO, one of the most famous environmental contamination incidences in U.S. history (along with Love Canal, NY).  Charter didn't own the company at the time the spraying was done but inherited the liability when it bought the offending company via an acquisition of its parent company.  As far as I know, that litigation has gone on up to the present, long after Charter was absorbed by Viacom.

[Wacca Pilatka]

Thank you Jaxlongtimer!