Assume this plays out. What would you do with the Charles E. Bennett Building and property? Can they just deed it over to COJ? Would DCPS, UF or something else make sense there?
QuoteList of federal buildings slated for sale includes 11-floor Bennett Building in downtown
The federal government intends to put the 11-story Charles E. Bennett Federal Building in downtown Jacksonville up for sale because the General Service Administration says it's among a host of federal buildings nationwide that are "not core" for government operations.
Tenants of the building at 400 W. Bay St. include an Internal Revenue Service taxpayer assistance center, a U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development field office and a U.S. Department of Labor Wage and Hour Division office.
QuoteMayor Donna Deegan's administration is closely watching what happens with the Bennett Building and also the announcement the federal government will terminate its lease of office space for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers in the Prudential Building in downtown.
Full article: https://www.jacksonville.com/story/news/local/2025/03/05/feds-plan-sale-of-charles-e-bennett-federal-building-in-jacksonville/81471242007/
I hope they just sell it to a private entity for whatever price they can get. The COJ owns to much land in downtown as it is. We don't need to add another block to its inventory for it to manage/develop.
https://dia.jacksonville.gov/getmedia/c8e8ef56-5f76-4bc0-8eb3-a88b3429191b/20221006_City-Owned-Parcel-Map_1.pdf
I'm curious how full that garage to the west gets on a daily basis. If it has excess capacity, perhaps there's an opportunity to develop that surface lot and add some density to the area without the expense of structured parking.
Quote from: Captain Zissou on March 05, 2025, 09:56:29 AM
I'm curious how full that garage to the west gets on a daily basis. If it has excess capacity, perhaps there's an opportunity to develop that surface lot and add some density to the area without the expense of structured parking.
There're about 9 near-full blocks of parking lots/structures within like 2 blocks of that building, which is also adjacent to the monorail's central station. This desert is
begging for some new development of basically any sort. Hopefully they develop some of the surface-level lots first, easy pickings.
Also, would someone mind explaining how to insert an image into a post? New here!
It's an opportunity for someone. I'd like to see it converted to apartments or hotel or combination of both. It's in a pretty good location in the middle of both the proposed UF grad campus and Brooklyn (and the maligned Daily's Gas Station). And as was mentioned earlier, those surface lots are screaming for development.
If it did scream for development from developers we would've seen proposals a long time ago but those big lots scream for big skyscrapers that would show off the skyline to across the almost to near in places half mile wide river on the southbank. But right now offices single family homes and apartments in florida are on a slow especially in Jacksonville in market problems. Sales across in florida fell 18 percent in January lot of cancellations. Orlando had the second highest share of cancellations in the country after Atlanta, Georgia, with 18.2 percent of pending home sales falling through, up from 16.8 percent a year earlier.
Jacksonville had the fifth-highest share, with 17.8 percent of home sales being canceled, up from 16.4 percent a year earlier.
Quote from: Papa33 on March 05, 2025, 02:17:05 PM
It's an opportunity for someone.
Hear me out: we could use a good storage facility around here.
Quote from: Skybox111 on March 05, 2025, 05:13:33 PM
If it did scream for development from developers we would've seen proposals a long time ago but those big lots scream for big skyscrapers that would show off the skyline to across the almost to near in places half mile wide river on the southbank. But right now offices single family homes and apartments in florida are on a slow especially in Jacksonville in market problems. Sales across in florida fell 18 percent in January lot of cancellations. Orlando had the second highest share of cancellations in the country after Atlanta, Georgia, with 18.2 percent of pending home sales falling through, up from 16.8 percent a year earlier.
Jacksonville had the fifth-highest share, with 17.8 percent of home sales being canceled, up from 16.4 percent a year earlier.
It's owned by the federal government, they aren't going to play redevelopment games so developers probably haven't bothered.
Personally I think that building, and especially the lot, are an eyesore. Hopefully someone does something worthwhile with it.
I definitely disagree with your sentiments.... This building is less than a block away from the river, the Jacksonville center for performing arts/Jacksonville Symphony, corkscrew park, the Marriott Jacksonville downtown, CSX headquarters, 2 blocks away from Duval county courthouse, JEA headquarters, and more...
A mixed use building with residential units and some form of commercial space developed on one of those parking lots would do well.... It's amazing that there aren't many restaurants in walking distance from the Jax center of performing arts/Jax symphony with the many shows they host year-round.
Its screams for development, but city policy has encouraged development outside of the core for a long time. Market shifts also make a difference. It seems like soon as downtown Jax starts picking up momentum, the national real estate market starts to shift.
Quote from: Skybox111 on March 05, 2025, 05:13:33 PM
If it did scream for development from developers we would've seen proposals a long time ago but those big lots scream for big skyscrapers that would show off the skyline to across the almost to near in places half mile wide river on the southbank. But right now offices single family homes and apartments in florida are on a slow especially in Jacksonville in market problems. Sales across in florida fell 18 percent in January lot of cancellations. Orlando had the second highest share of cancellations in the country after Atlanta, Georgia, with 18.2 percent of pending home sales falling through, up from 16.8 percent a year earlier.
Jacksonville had the fifth-highest share, with 17.8 percent of home sales being canceled, up from 16.4 percent a year earlier.
Just spitballing here....
There is no reason for DCPS to occupy such a valuable piece of waterfront real estate and create unusable Riverwalk frontage. I know they looked into the feasibility of selling the property, but then could not justify the cost of new headquarters and moving expenses.
Could this be the district's new headquarters? This seems to have a relatively similar footprint, maybe a little more space.
Or a more radical plan: I was even thinking they could sell the DCPS property for the cost of refurbishing and moving to the old JEA headquarters, keeping it tax free and with other incentives for the new owner until the district moves out. But I don't think JEA would go for turning that over to the school district, and there's the huge wild card of finding some unforeseen costly repairs needed on a decades-vacant building.
Let's see if GSA actually sells the property. Like the tariffs and firings, this administration lurches one way today and the opposite way tomorrow.
Federal buildings likely feature lots of special security and access features along with fortified construction. Not sure Federal agencies can just move to any ordinary office building somewhere else. There is a reason the buildings look like fortresses at times.
Do you think IRS employees want to be openly exposed to the tax hating public? (Maybe the FBI building off Gate Parkway would take them. LOL.)
Even the state office buildings on Davis street are in a gated park.
Then there is likely the need for secure and fortified communication and power linkages which Downtown may excel at vs. other locations in the suburbs.
Some national articles are also pointing out the cost of moving thousands of employees, outfitting new locations to government specs, and buying new furniture and equipment given much of what is there is aging and not worth salvaging in a move.
I also wonder, for leased spaces like that used by the Army Corps, how the government can arbitrarily break long term leases without paying significant penalties/damages.
Finally, the savings announced are a tiny decimal point to the Federal budget... I read maybe a net savings of $450 million across the whole country.
In the end, there are a lot of unanswered questions and, knowing the Musk gang, probably little to no thought was put into another knee-jerk decision. lf so, I wouldn't be surprised if this whole process is paused or cancelled.
Quotefsu813 Hear me out: we could use a good storage facility around here.
Only if it has a ground-floor Fudruckers.
QuoteJrz Jax There is no reason for DCPS to occupy such a valuable piece of waterfront real estate and create unusable Riverwalk frontage. I know they looked into the feasibility of selling the property, but then could not justify the cost of new headquarters and moving expenses.
Could this be the district's new headquarters? This seems to have a relatively similar footprint, maybe a little more space.
To my eye, the Bennett Federal Building looks considerably bigger than the current DCPS Building.
Quotejaxlongtimer
Let's see if GSA actually sells the property. Like the tariffs and firings, this administration lurches one way today and the opposite way tomorrow.
[lots of smart stuff]
In the end, there are a lot of unanswered questions and, knowing the Musk gang, probably little to no thought was put into another knee-jerk decision. lf so, I wouldn't be surprised if this whole process is paused or cancelled.
The DOGE is largely theater for the base. Theater that is having tragic consequences, but already several of their big firings have been reversed (oops! we need trained people to monitor our nukes?), and their reported savings shown to be vaporware. I will also be surprised if they actually sell the Bennett Office Building.
... and the list is gone
Quote
First Coast News
WASHINGTON — The Trump administration on Tuesday published a list of more than 440 federal properties it had identified to potentially offload, including the FBI headquarters and the main Department of Justice building, after deeming them "not core to government operations."
Hours later, however, the administration issued a revised list with only 320 entries that excluded every previously listed building in Washington, D.C. And by Wednesday morning, the list was gone entirely. "Non-core property list (Coming soon)" read the web page where the list had previously been posted.
https://www.firstcoastnews.com/article/news/nation-world/federal-buildings-for-sale-doge/507-a0c02191-b600-4c8a-b5cd-e96d2452512d
I sure am glad the Stable Genius hired this other Genius to revamp the gummint.
^ That's the fastest any prediction I made came true 8)!
For a generous fee, I will next share my predictions for the stock market ;D
Yikes! The quiet part is now ear-bleedingly loud
QuoteThe administration also said it was seeking to offload federal buildings bearing the names of civil rights icons Martin Luther King Jr. in Atlanta and Rosa Parks in Detroit, and the Montgomery, Alabama, bus station that was pivotal in the civil rights movement and now serves as the Freedom Rides Museum.
Quote from: Jrz Jax on March 06, 2025, 12:13:45 AM
Yikes! The quiet part is now ear-bleedingly loud
QuoteThe administration also said it was seeking to offload federal buildings bearing the names of civil rights icons Martin Luther King Jr. in Atlanta and Rosa Parks in Detroit, and the Montgomery, Alabama, bus station that was pivotal in the civil rights movement and now serves as the Freedom Rides Museum.
I respect the naming and all, and I am a black man, but...there are a lot of more important things to really worry about. However, if this all keeps up, look for civil war not too far away in our future on the horizon. It's best to just let things alone; and from me this goes for all races that want things changed, removed, etc. Let our history be our history and speak for itself, be it monuments, museums or whatever; none of it offends me. Sometimes when I read stuff like this the word "revenge" comes to mind. Back on topic, I think they, the Feds/government, should just leave all of these districts, federal buildings, etc. alone. Look for cuts in other areas where they (or someone) thinks that there's rampant, glaring, and staunchly evident fraud, waste, abuse, etc.
GSA has revoked the termination of USACE's lease at 701 San Marco. Looks like they are staying put (for now).
Quote from: bg904 on March 10, 2025, 09:02:56 AM
GSA has revoked the termination of USACE's lease at 701 San Marco. Looks like they are staying put (for now).
Source?
A quick survey of the local news sites - WJXT, First Coast News, Action News, WJCT, Times-Union - does not show anything on this story.
Quote from: Charles Hunter on March 10, 2025, 12:09:42 PM
Quote from: bg904 on March 10, 2025, 09:02:56 AM
GSA has revoked the termination of USACE's lease at 701 San Marco. Looks like they are staying put (for now).
Source?
A quick survey of the local news sites - WJXT, First Coast News, Action News, WJCT, Times-Union - does not show anything on this story.
Apparently there was a no termination clause in the lease and the building owner filed a lawsuit.
Quote from: Charles Hunter on March 10, 2025, 12:09:42 PM
Quote from: bg904 on March 10, 2025, 09:02:56 AM
GSA has revoked the termination of USACE's lease at 701 San Marco. Looks like they are staying put (for now).
Source?
A quick survey of the local news sites - WJXT, First Coast News, Action News, WJCT, Times-Union - does not show anything on this story.
I have no source either, but for what it's worth, I did hear the same thing from someone at USACE over the weekend at an event in Orlando. Hoping it's true. That said, would be shocked if anyone really knew what was happening from day-to-day in Washington right now.
Quote from: Charles Hunter on March 10, 2025, 12:09:42 PM
Quote from: bg904 on March 10, 2025, 09:02:56 AM
GSA has revoked the termination of USACE's lease at 701 San Marco. Looks like they are staying put (for now).
Source?
A quick survey of the local news sites - WJXT, First Coast News, Action News, WJCT, Times-Union - does not show anything on this story.
My source is the commander, COL Bowman, who sent out an email to all employees this weekend.
Thanks, bg904, the local news websites still haven't picked up this story.
Quote from: acme54321 on March 10, 2025, 01:34:09 PM
Quote from: Charles Hunter on March 10, 2025, 12:09:42 PM
Quote from: bg904 on March 10, 2025, 09:02:56 AM
GSA has revoked the termination of USACE's lease at 701 San Marco. Looks like they are staying put (for now).
Source?
A quick survey of the local news sites - WJXT, First Coast News, Action News, WJCT, Times-Union - does not show anything on this story.
Apparently there was a no termination clause in the lease and the building owner filed a lawsuit.
Per my comment below earlier in this thread, this is no surprise. A lease is a contract to be legally enforceable unless the parties mutually agree otherwise. The only out I could imagine would be one that provided for substantial penalties to make up for an early cancellation. If such exist here, I would expect they would be onerous enough to discourage breaking the lease early. The only other possible out I could see is if the tenant went into bankruptcy. At the rate Trump is destroying our government and economy, that unimaginable outcome may not be off the table at some point :(.
QuoteI also wonder, for leased spaces like that used by the Army Corps, how the government can arbitrarily break long term leases without paying significant penalties/damages.