GNP Development to restore former JEA Tower
(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/photos/520663201_oihDP-L.jpg)
Central Florida-based GNP Development plans to give downtown's largest abandoned skyscraper a new lease on life!
Read More: http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2015-apr-gnp-development-to-restore-former-jea-tower
This is good news.
Hopefully this proposal will stick, its a good looking building and needs a new lease on life. (no pun intended)
I sure hope they don't need incentives.
Renderings look awesome. The building appears to be in good shape, so hopefully everything goes smoothly.
^ The Hemming Park "bat signal" being shot up on the building's back facade this week is pretty sweet!
I know I sound like a huge pessimist here but.... I'll believe it when I see it. These renders have been around for years and considering the old Barnett building / trio are stuck, along with several other high profile projects, I'm not holding my breath anymore.
Anyways, here's hoping it works out. *sips whiskey*
^^^Yeah, it's understandable not to get hopes up high. Like many said, hopefully everything goes as planned. These renderings are tailor made for this building; Instantly from an aged office tower to a trendy modern high rise.
Quote from: vicupstate on April 07, 2015, 10:30:59 PM
I sure hope they don't need incentives.
of course they will need/seek incentives
Looks like it would be an awesome addition to DT. That area is pretty desolate.
I didn't see any mention of a timeline on this thing. Is there one?
How old is the rendering?
It's from May 2013
GNP's announcement was provided yesterday. However, this does not mean that they haven't been quietly working behind the scenes for a while. On the other hand, until we learn more, for all we know they could be taking over another entity's failed proposal. Only time will tell.
The design was originally created by Dasher Hurst. They have many neat designs on their page (my personal favorite is 323 Duval Street). Click "Project Info" in the top right, while looking at any of the projects, to see their inspiration.
http://www.dasherhurst.com/portfolio/independent-life-building/ (http://www.dasherhurst.com/portfolio/independent-life-building/)
323 Duval was a nice design. Unfortunately, it & the 404 Julia project went up in smoke nearly a decade ago.
Quote from: thelakelander on April 08, 2015, 10:05:45 AM
323 Duval was a nice design. Unfortunately, it & the 404 Julia project went up in smoke nearly a decade ago.
Believe it or not, that design for 323 Duval was from 2002-3 time period. We did a number of different studies while at Rink Design for an office building to house the slew of Attorneys that were sure to move to Lavilla with the new Courthouse. In one of the nighttime renderings (image 3 on our website), the open space beyond was the lawn in front of the County Courthouse which at that time was the Cannon design before it got thrown out. Too bad none of the office designs ever got built, the delays of the Courthouse were the demise in this project.
Incidentally, we drew a lot of influence from the adjacent Independent Life Bldg which we consider a great mid-century building. You can see a lot of it's influence in the Federal Courthouse too.
This is awesome news whichever way it goes. Can't wait to see what they've got planned for it.
Quote from: bill on April 08, 2015, 06:54:14 AM
Quote from: vicupstate on April 07, 2015, 10:30:59 PM
I sure hope they don't need incentives.
of course they will need/seek incentives
Per the Jax Business Journal:
Quote"We are expected to spend $20 million restoring the current structure, which will include a parking garage. Should the market warrant adding the additional 80,000 square feet, we would be spending $31 million on the entire project."
The developer is looking for a retailer to occupy 15,000-square-feet of retail space on the first floor, as well as businesses to pre-lease or build-to-suit office space. Larger leases in 2,000-square-foot range would receive an ownership percentage in the property, and GNP would provide all the capital and build out costs, Gerenger said.
GNP doesn't have tenants nailed down yet, but Gerenger said he's in talk with two law firms.
Gerenger said he's been working on the project since 2013. Architectural renderings of the project were created by Dasher Hurst Architects several years ago and have been posted on the firm's site for at least a year.
Full story: http://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/news/2015/04/09/developer-proposing-31-million-project-at-former.html
I agree with the poster who will believe it when it actually happens. Maybe I am getting older, but I don't like getting my hopes up only to have nothing happen...
Wow. GNP is buying the building for $2.1 million. That's 1/3rd the cost of turning the little Bostwick building into a restaurant.
Quote from: thelakelander on April 09, 2015, 05:38:16 PM
Wow. GNP is buying the building for $2.1 million. That's 1/3rd the cost of turning the little Bostwick building into a restaurant.
Speaking of that... What's up with that?
Quote from: thelakelander on April 09, 2015, 05:38:16 PM
Wow. GNP is buying the building for $2.1 million. That's 1/3rd the cost of turning the little Bostwick building into a restaurant.
maybe so...but they also expect to spend $20+ million redoing the building
QuoteFormer JEA building on Duval Street sold for $2 million in Jacksonville
The former headquarters for JEA was sold for $2 million last week, according to Duval County Clerk of the Court records. West Duval Towers llc. bought the property at 233 W. Duval Street on Dec. 28 from Chris Hionides's 233 W. Duval Street llc. The transaction occurred after the courts assigned the property to Iberiabank during foreclosure proceedings.
Full article: http://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/news/2016/01/05/former-jea-building-on-duval-street-sold-for-2.html
Wonder if this means anything will actually progress with this building?
I would love to see something happen with this building! Perhaps it will become part of the changing urban landscape of 2016. The building needs a lot of work, but they only paid $2 million for it. I wouldn't think they would buy it just to have it sit empty.
This seems to be an ideal spot for the relocation of the Duval County School board headquarters as it'd offer a great centralized location downtown as well as ownership percentage in the structure shall they choose to move there. Hopefully they look into this as it would provide a permanent tenant to this building and fill space needed to get this project off the ground much sooner.
One problem with the DCSB. In The Resident article this month, Vitti said they would want lots of parking. The JEA Tower has very little.
Right, I remember seeing that stated as a condition of relocation. I assumed the proposed parking structure next to the building would provide enough parking but I guess that is unknown and dependant upon how many spaces Vitti requires and how many would be left for other building tenants.
Quote from: thelakelander on January 06, 2016, 06:23:00 AM
One problem with the DCSB. In The Resident article this month, Vitti said they would want lots of parking. The JEA Tower has very little.
Lots of parking??? Looking at Google Maps I count 8 parking structures within close proximity to this building. God forbid employees would have to walk 1 to 3 blocks to get to their office. It may be worth mentioning to the general public that it is actually healthy to walk a little bit to your mode of transportation instead of plopping out of your car at the entrance of your office to then plop into the seat that you will remain at for the next 8 to 9 hours each day. I have never seen those parking structures full, even on week days. You'd think some dedicated parking could be arranged without the need for more parking options. The whole parking mindset in Jacksonville and similar totally car dependent cities is mind boggling to someone who has lived in cities where people are actually willing to walk a little bit to work. It is a complex that is preventing a lot of progress in this city.
With that said though, if they want surface parking like they have now, would relocating to the area near Jefferson and State be better with the other public offices over there? It is actually a fairly nice campus and looks like there is still some vacant property. Or heck, anywhere on a vacant lot in La Villa with the parking hidden from street view.
https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/jacksonville-redevelopment-233-w-duval-street-stephen-arrivello (https://www.linkedin.com/pulse/jacksonville-redevelopment-233-w-duval-street-stephen-arrivello)
http://www.loopnet.com/Listing/19161667/233-West-Duval-St-Jacksonville-FL/?Intcpt=false&linkcode=29230&StepID=105&sourcecode=1aeewc015a00312 (http://www.loopnet.com/Listing/19161667/233-West-Duval-St-Jacksonville-FL/?Intcpt=false&linkcode=29230&StepID=105&sourcecode=1aeewc015a00312)
Based on these two postings from 2015, I would say they are actively moving on the redevelopment. BTW, it is nice to read Jacksonville described in such a positive way! Closing the sale is a good first step. Plans include adding a parking garage, so actually a possible DCPS move isn't that far-fetched. I think it would be a great location for the school board building.