Does anyone have the scoop on what's going on with the old Haskell building now that they have moved? A they recently had a drill rig out in front of the building doing what I can only assume was geotech work, there are a bunch of survey stakes out there, and today there were a group of people meeting out there looking at things. Seems like something may be afoot with that property!
Hope (however vainly) whatever happens there, it is better than another One Riverside with heights right up to the rivers edge. The Haskell Building is both distinctively curved back from the river over its frontage and tapered down to the waterfront showing a little respect to the river.
I am guessing it's not long for this world knowing Jax tears down everything older than 25 years, sometimes less. I also expect its replacement to be ugly and unimaginative like One Riverside. And, the property has a mature tree canopy that is sure to be leveled.
To add insult to injury, the City will give the developer tens of millions in incentives... for prized premium riverfront, no less.
I used to work in there and always felt the building had a museum vibe, I also think it would be good as food hall.
I'd like to hope it doesn't get demolished and if someone wants to build more condos there's an open lot right next door.
Quote from: JaGoaT on January 28, 2026, 12:48:20 PM
I used to work in there and always felt the building had a museum vibe, I also think it would be good as food hall.
I'd like to hope it doesn't get demolished and if someone wants to build more condos there's an open lot right next door.
I believe the drill rig was working on that lot too.
I feel like there's no way the building isn't eventually turned into more housing of some kind. It would be cool to see if become a museum of some kind...
Wait a minute...don't we need a new building for our Science Museum? ;D
Weirdly, I was kidding, but the Haskell old HQ is 120,000 square feet (basically perfect for MOSH, and more square feet than the current new building proposal). And has parking garage etc.
I mean it's probably not perfect, but what could you build if you put the current $90 million raised purely into exhibits and adapting the building? hmm
^I wonder if a good chunk of the money raised is tied to the new museum and site itself? Like, if they attempted to do a cheaper project at the existing museum or a different site, some donors would want their money back.
I don't see how this property doesn't meet the wrecking ball unfortunently. ~7 acres. The retail around here is prime. I'd also argue that this piece being developed into Mixed-Use has a lot more potential synergy with the area than anything else. One of the few sites that would strongly support it.
The Haskell building is sure to be doomed if the American Transtech building goes down. This was a world class A+ building that many considered as either the first, or close to the first, modern call center in the entire world. It was here that AT&T built, in an amazing single year, a facility that handled the entire breakup of the century-plus old AT&T/Bell System monopoly into multiple companies, the biggest corporate breakup in U.S. history.
The call center infrastructure eventually became Convergys which provided call center services to its clients. AT&T leveraged this operation to serve as a demonstration of its emerging call center technologies to sell to the world.
So, aside from its architecture, it should be deemed an historic building in the annals of American business and Jacksonville. Shame to see it disappear. It will be looked back upon as a modern day tech version of Henry Ford's Model T factory we recently demolished.
Quote(https://media.yourobserver.com/img/photos/2026/02/05/Transtech_1_t1100.jpg?31a214c4405663fd4bc7e33e8c8cedcc07d61559)
Original AT&T American Transtech campus headed for warehouse redevelopment
The city is reviewing permits for two speculative industrial centers at almost $17 million to replace the 43-year-old Baymeadows property.
A futuristic Baymeadows building developed in 1983 for AT&T American Transtech is in permitting review for redevelopment that includes demolition and new construction.
AT&T American Transtech developed the campus to handle shareholder services for the court-ordered breakup of AT&T, a monopoly that operated the entire U.S. phone system.
Transtech built a three-story, 102,145-square-foot office building and a two-story, 106,275-square-foot computer/telecom data center on 28.29 acres at 8000 Baymeadows Way. It hired 1,300 employees to handle the task of divvying up shares of the seven new companies to AT&T stockholders.
After several ownership transformations through sales, the 43-year-old structure is now in line for demolition to be developed into a warehouse park....
https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/news/2026/feb/06/original-att-american-transtech-campus-headed-for-warehouse-redevelopment/
^I was surprised to this one being proposed for demolition and warehouses being the replacement. I wasn't aware that it was vacant but I haven't been back there in a while.
Here you go... this is a better project than the one they proposed for the School Board property. And, it shows there were countless other properties available on the river reducing the value of the SB property.
QuoteFleet Landing bets on urban senior housing with downtown Jacksonville high-rise targeting affluent retirees
Fleet Landing is betting that aging Jacksonville residents want skyline views and waterfront access — rather than relocating out of the urban core for aged living care.
The Jacksonville-based continuing care firm has secured the former headquarters of The Haskell Company at 111 Riverside Ave. for a proposed 32-story senior living tower that would cost an estimated $375.9 million to build.
Designed to accommodate about 425 residents and incorporate public-facing amenities along the riverwalk, the project aims to anchor affluent retirees in Riverside, Avondale, Murray Hill and San Marco while drawing new households to the urban core....
...In addition to residential units, the development is designed to activate the riverfront.
A restaurant open to the public will front a landscaped plaza connecting Riverside Avenue to the riverwalk. A 400-seat auditorium will be open to the public for events and available for private rentals. A five-story screened parking garage along Riverside Avenue will include ground-floor retail space....
...The riverfront acquisition comes mere months after Fleet Landing's offer to purchase the Duval County Public Schools' former headquarters along the Southbank fell through — and just days after Chase Properties terminated its agreement with DCPS to buy that property.
In the aftermath of that fallout, Ashby said he received myriad calls from property owners in the urban core offering opportunities to help realize the vision of an urbanized Fleet Landing location.
https://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/news/2026/02/20/fleet-landing-finds-a-home-in-riverside.html?utm_source=st&utm_medium=en&utm_campaign=BN&utm_content=JA&ana=e_JA_BN&j=44249304&senddate=2026-02-20
(https://media.bizj.us/view/img/13142550/20260217-fleetlandingriverside.png)
Interesting project - I like the idea; will be curious the site plan.
The linked article includes this
QuoteFleet Landing submitted its proposed design for the property to the city's Downtown Development Review Board on Feb. 20. If the plan receives approval, the nonprofit anticipates roughly a year of additional design work before launching a presales campaign intended to "give confidence that the product is accepted in the marketplace."
Looking forward to when the plans are posted as part of a DDRB agenda - March 12 meeting? (not posted as of this morning)
The Haskell building sits on 5.3 acres and, when combined with the adjacent vacant lot, there's a total of 8 contiguous acres on the waterfront in Jacksonville's most popular downtown area. While I like the old Haskell building, it failed to maximize the use of that property. If all that goes onto this land is a 5 acre tower, it will be a big miss in my opinion. I too am looking forward to seeing the site plan.
Interesting, and happy to see the market at work. As a side note, the City should officially remove Brooklyn from the jurisdiction of the DDRB and DIA. Brooklyn can stand on its own two feet now and it doesn't need the oversight or investment packages to succeed.
Quote from: Ned Plimpton on February 20, 2026, 12:36:21 PMThe Haskell building sits on 5.3 acres and, when combined with the adjacent vacant lot, there's a total of 8 contiguous acres on the waterfront in Jacksonville's most popular downtown area. While I like the old Haskell building, it failed to maximize the use of that property. If all that goes onto this land is a 5 acre tower, it will be a big miss in my opinion. I too am looking forward to seeing the site plan.
Ned, to your point, I didn't post the below that was also part of the article. More to come, it appears.
QuoteThe 780,000-square-foot tower will be set back on the property along the riverwalk, with architecture and interiors designed by Gensler and engineering by Goodson Bergen & Associates. Plans call for 239 independent living residences, 28 assisted living residences and 18 memory care suites in the first phase. The site is zoned to allow up to 728 residences, leaving room for a potential second phase buildout.
Interesting. I look forward to learning more about this project.
Very interesting. It will stick out like a sore thumb. But will definitely boost the skyline.
With this great momentum in Brooklyn, wonder what's next? Do we see more type1 construction projects go up beyond the river bank? How does OneRiverside(OR) view this project considering they just finished a stick figure next door? Would they(OR)adjust phase 2? This being a one off project can we keep the momentum going? Lastly, would this better be suited for in the core of downtown?
Love it, as long as it doesn't come with the request for a massive handout from the general fund. Brooklyn can't be the priority when the CBD needs so much work.
10/10 render lol, I don't think this will stick out like a sore thumb at all. Extends the skyline and will have contrast with FIS building. If I could have things my way this would be built at the empty lot between Haskell and YMCA.
I'm all for a Brooklyn boom in the long run I think that strengthens the CBD.
Quote from: MakeDTjaxGre@tAgain on February 20, 2026, 02:28:25 PMVery interesting. It will stick out like a sore thumb. But will definitely boost the skyline.
With this great momentum in Brooklyn, wonder what's next? Do we see more type1 construction projects go up beyond the river bank? How does OneRiverside(OR) view this project considering they just finished a stick figure next door? Would they(OR)adjust phase 2? This being a one off project can we keep the momentum going? Lastly, would this better be suited for in the core of downtown?
If only there was cheap & simple solution to connect Brooklyn to the Central Core.
^LOL
Would a Brooklyn Skyway station not automatically like double ridership?
^Getting the cars fixed and the Skyway reliable again would at least triple the ridership back to what it was around in 2015, which is a lot higher than the U2C could perform at capacity a decade or two down the road.
Adding a Brooklyn station, along with infill development like Pearl Square, UF LaVilla, JEA Southbank riverwalk extension, etc. coming on-line would most likely result in another significant bump. It really is a no brainer to keep it when you seriously consider everything happening in downtown as a whole right now.
Does anyone have the DDRB submittal for this one yet?
Link to the DDRB Agenda packet. It includes the Fleet Landing proposal and the Baptist Hospital proposal.
https://coj365-my.sharepoint.com/personal/rmezini_coj_net/_layouts/15/guestaccess.aspx?share=IQD8Mwkxj2mBTo7qeGrW6MkBAadDrtlj4HXXICCG4nsi0NY&e=DAdyH4
Quote from: Charles Hunter on March 06, 2026, 06:01:01 PMQuotehttps://coj365-my.sharepoint.com/personal/rmezini_coj_net/_layouts/15/guestaccess.aspx?share=IQD8Mwkxj2mBTo7qeGrW6MkBAadDrtlj4HXXICCG4nsi0NY&e=DAdyH4
SUBPART D. - APPROPRIATIONS FOR COMMUNITY REDEVELOPMENT AGENCIES
Sec. 106.340. - Definitions.
CRA or Community Redevelopment Agency means and includes any agency created by Council to carryout community redevelopment under F.S. Ch. 163, Pt. III. This term includes the Downtown Investment Authority ("DIA"), the Renew Arlington Community Redevelopment Agency ("Renew Arlington CRA"), the Jacksonville International Airport Community Redevelopment Agency ("JIA CRA"), the KingSoutel Crossing Community Redevelopment Agency ("KingSoutel Crossing CRA") and such other agencies as may be created by the Council for community redevelopment purposes.
Financial Obligations Category means the budget category on an Approved CRA Budget that itemizes expenses related to the CRA Board's debt service and expenses, mandatory contractual payments, and other financial obligations of the CRA, including, but not limited to, debt payments, REV grants and QTI grants.
Great share! The Fleet Landing proposal looks really nice, and well put together - just stands out a bit from my opinion. I'm curious if they plan to acquire the empty lot next door for a potential Phase 2 as well.
It's also encouraging to see that both LaVilla may get revisions to increase height restrictions - hopefully over 90ft. Maybe Cathedral can go back to the drawing board. The current limits in the Cathedral District really hinder skyline expansion from a visual standpoint—the skyline essentially drops off significantly in that direction. Revising those limits could help extend the skyline toward the stadium area and better showcase the city.
Right now, when people take photos of the skyline or downtown, the view typically ends around the Hyatt or mostly the Main Street Bridge because there aren't many taller buildings beyond that point. That's been the case for many, many years. If the height restrictions are updated, it could open the door for additional skyline angles and more dynamic shots—panoramic photos, more drone perspectives, and views from the Hart or Mathews bridges, or even Main Street heading south. There's a ton more places that you can take a photo from, this can help unlock it. Even when the river isn't in the frame—one of our biggest assets—it would still allow for a more complete and impressive skyline composition.
Lavilla will look nice from 95N with UF grad campus.
Quote from: MakeDTjaxGre@tAgain on March 06, 2026, 10:20:59 PMGreat share! The Fleet Landing proposal looks really nice, and well put together - just stands out a bit from my opinion. I'm curious if they plan to acquire the empty lot next door for a potential Phase 2 as well.
Looking at the Fleet site plan, they appear to be only taking 1/2 of the Haskell Building's footprint creating an empty lot where there is none now. I gather you are talking about the next lot over, to be clear.
Curious about the planned auditorium and its use. Being on the riverfront, will it be open to public events or only for residents? What will be its seating capacity? I thought they were going to also include a restaurant open to the public?
I note that part of the tower violates the height setbacks from the river. Once again, it appears the City is rolling over for this. I get there is a volume/massing allowance swap here but I still feel that this creates a massive (pun intended 8)) loophole that frustrates the purpose of the guideline, especially, when repeatedly violated.
I note the following guideline cited by DDRB that it is pushing aside:
QuoteWaterfront Design and River Views: setbacks, height and access corridors.
It is the intent of this subsection to encourage and protect enticing views of the river
from as many places in downtown as possible by providing View and Access Corridors
at the street level, to maximize overall value by providing both enhanced public spaces
at the riverfront and by facilitating river and creek views from as many buildings as
possible, as well as managing building forms and massing to be respectful of the
context of the surrounding buildings and of the pedestrian environment by stepping
buildings up from the river and defining height zones as delineated hereunder to allow
views around, over and through the architecture, and, to respect the scale of the context
in which development occurs.
And, here is the guideline vs. the request:
ZONE C100' TO 175' SETBACK FROM MHWL
MAX HEIGHT ALLOWED: 75'
Request: 375 feet!QuoteFINDING: The conceptual site plan identifies a view corridor aligned with
Stonewall Street extending from Riverside Avenue to the St. Johns River. The
proposed development maintains this corridor and provides a public plaza and
pedestrian access connection linking Riverside Avenue to the Riverwalk. The
submitted volume diagram indicates building height distributed within Zones B
and C in accordance with the waterfront height provisions of §656.361.6.2.H.
What's the point of having a rule that is never enforced!
I'd give up the restrictions to see steel construction.