Thunderbird Hotel demolition approved along Arlington Expressway

[marcuscnelson]

After 59 years, the Thunderbird Hotel along Arlington Expressway has been approved for demolition.

https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/news/2023/feb/03/thunderbird-hotel-demolition-approved-along-arlington-expressway/

With this being 19 acres directly adjacent to a First Coast Flyer station and right next door to College Park (Town & Country), this seems like a prime site for redevelopment.

[jaxoNOLE]

After 59 years, the Thunderbird Hotel along Arlington Expressway has been approved for demolition.

https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/news/2023/feb/03/thunderbird-hotel-demolition-approved-along-arlington-expressway/

With this being 19 acres directly adjacent to a First Coast Flyer station and right next door to College Park (Town & Country), this seems like a prime site for redevelopment.

Woo-hoo! Major eyesore that needs to go, though it sounds like the future beyond demolition is very hazy at this stage.

It makes me wonder if the housing project in the old FBI building is dead. They pulled permits quite a while ago but I haven't noticed any activity since.

[thelakelander]

This should be a good redevelopment site. It will be interesting to see what will take its place.

[marcuscnelson]

Demolition is now underway.

https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/news/2023/jun/16/one-last-look-at-arlingtons-thunderbird-motor-hotel/

Surprised there doesn't seem to be a real answer yet on what will happen next. Personally, I hope it's not just townhomes like what they did with the old shopping center to the east. This should be a prime site for something impressive.

[thelakelander]

What's your definition of "impressive"? I can't imagine much going in here, other than the typical autocentric type development (i.e apartments, strip commercial, light industrial/service, etc.).

[Jax_Developer]

With all that acreage next to the revamped JWB shopping center, they "could" do something that would be impactful for the Arlington gateway. There is also a 10 acre vacant parcel behind it.

Somewhat dependent on how much the Arlington CRA can support that vision I bet.. but they do have a ton of excess funds available. Hence why I think there is some opposition to the bank building on that University corner being torn down... for a... car wash...

The 900 building also could be a great future redevelopment site.

[thelakelander]

Back in 2008 or so, I rezoned the parcel behind it for the Arlington Road Church of Christ to build a new campus there. A year or two ago, they had a deal to sell it. The plan at that time was apartments.

[Jax_Developer]

Trust me.. I'm waiting for the news article that reads "Former Thunderbird Hotel to be redeveloped into 700 apartments with some retail."

[marcuscnelson]

What's your definition of "impressive"? I can't imagine much going in here, other than the typical autocentric type development (i.e apartments, strip commercial, light industrial/service, etc.).

Ideally it should be a goal of the city for the zoning to enable something more urban for such a large opportunity site. Sure, 0 parking probably isn't going to happen but this much land this close to downtown with emerging retail, transit connectivity, should be ripe for growth. Worst case should be something akin to the Times-Union redevelopment, but ideally better than that.

[jaxoNOLE]

Finally up for sale, with hints at multifamily housing being the likely outcome:

Vacant Thunderbird site for sale along Arlington Expressway
Keyes Commercial of Aventura is marketing the 18.48-acre site at 5865 Arlington Expressway for $13.77 million.[...]
The Duval County Property Appraiser determines the fair market value of the site, which comprises two parcels, totals $5.23 million.[...]
The property is assessed for tax purposes at almost $1.34 million.
[...]
Heinrich said that the site's zoning as Commercial Community/General-2 allows for structures up to 60 feet in height, or about five floors, with no maximum lot coverage, "subject to standard development requirements such as landscaping and pedestrian infrastructure."

"The zoning flexibility opens the door to a wide range of uses, including hotels, retail centers, medical facilities, offices, movie theaters, and destination commercial projects."

He said residential developers are eyeing the property's long-term potential.

"According to the City of Jacksonville, the land can be rezoned to support large-scale townhome or multifamily development, with entitlement timelines estimated at five to six months. Conceptually, the site could accommodate approximately close to 1,000 residential units, aligning with the city's growing demand for housing near employment centers and major transportation corridors."

https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/news/2026/feb/09/vacant-thunderbird-site-for-sale-along-arlington-expressway/

[Charles Hunter]

It will be interesting to see what happens with this property. Large parcels located this close to downtown and the sports complex should allow some good infill development.

A question and an observation (or two)

1. Access may be a problem for the site. The only direct access to a public right-of-way is to the westbound Arlington Expressway Service Road. Coming from the west (over the Mathews Bridge), you will need to use the Cesery/Service Road exit, and go through the two signals at the Cesery / Service Road intersections. Those wanting to go east will have a more difficult time. They will have to use the Service Road to University Boulevard, north on University to the traffic signal at Los Santos and either make a (tight) U-Turn, or enter the University Park center to use the light to make a left turn onto University. Then they can access the eastbound Service Road on the south side of the Expressway. The eastbound movement may get easier if a project proposed by FDOT comes to fruition. They plan to replicate the "teardrop" roundabout that is south of the Expressway on the north side. This would allow westbound Service Road traffic to go directly south on University.

There is substandard access on the east side of the Thunderbird property. According to the City's GIS Property Map, there is about 76 feet of frontage at the end of Cesery Terrace. The last 300 feet or so, from Lone Star Road to the Thunderbird access, appear to be unmaintained or unimproved. Cesery Terrace is one block west of, and parallel to, Cesery Boulevard. North of Lone Star Road it has about 16 feet of pavement within 66 feet of right-of-way. For the last 100 feet, the ROW narrows to 26 feet.North of Lone Star Road, Cesery Terrace appears to have about 16 feet of pavement, as does Lone Star Road. Cesery Terrace is parallel to, and one block west of Cesery Boulevard, which has 4 lanes, on-street parking, but no left-turn lane. All measurements using the in-map measuring tools on Google Maps or the COJ GIS map.

2. Good news for the Arlington CRA, the property is within the CRA boundary. The increased tax base will be a boon to any plans the CRA has for civic improvements.

[jaxoNOLE]

I wonder if JWB would have any interest, as they might be able to facilitate access and incorporate it with their long term vision for College Park.