Governor Crist suggesting axing Duval County School Building on riverfront.

[Seraphs]

On the news I caught a little blip of this.  I'm not certain, but I thought I heard them quote Governor Crist, "One way the city of Jacksonville can have additional money is to get sell the property the Duval County School Board is sitting on."

While I'm not a Crist fan, I'm behind this all the way.  Did anyone hear something like this?

[jbm32206]

I didn't catch it, but that's a good idea. Always thought it was a waste of our taxpayer money to pay for the school board building to be on prime property.

[brooklyn-ite]

Chances are that it is just as contaminated as the old Jea site that is supposed to be "prime" real estate too -- as long as someone else will hold the liability for all the contamination lawsuits they would have in 30 years if they put condos on it.  Just like we have in good ole' Brooklyn with the Incinerator that was on Forest St in the 50's.  The area is prone for high lead levels due to the Ash that settled all over the immediate area.

[jbm32206]

I know that the school board members just had their officies remodeled...so that would seem they're not quite ready to give up that property.

[thelakelander]

Here's a few views of the school board and Wyndam Hotel site in the 1950's.

[urbanlibertarian]

Love them historical photos. 

[Pavers]

Where do you get those old photos, lakelander?  Is there a source online?  They are quite amazing to view.

[thelakelander]

Where do you get those old photos, lakelander?  Is there a source online?

Here you go...

http://www.floridamemory.com/PhotographicCollection/

[spidey]

Nice find, lake.  Thanks for sharing. 

[Jason]

Its amazing how much the riverfront has grown into the river.  Water Street got its name because it used to actually border the water!

[urbanlibertarian]

The original riverbank was as close (more or less) to Bay St. as the riverwalk is now to Water St.

[Timkin]

I wish DCSB would reacquire Annie Lytle and convert it back into School Board offices.. Perhaps add on a detatched addition in the School's Back yard, since Residential efforts never came to pass... Seems #4 would be a fitting reuse as School Board offices .  Just a pipe dream.. The Transit Station would also be a nice reuse,,,but I don't know about the feasibility of either .Just seems if it would have been allowed to put a 3 story addition there for residential , the same could apply for DCSB.

[cityimrov]

Just to make sure, isn't the Duval County School System it's own independent authority completely separate from the city?  That means they are in their own little world pretty much separate from the mayor and city council?

If I got that right, does that basically mean the only way for the school board to move away from the land is for the school board itself to vote itself into another facility? 

[Cricket]

On the news I caught a little blip of this.  I'm not certain, but I thought I heard them quote Governor Crist, "One way the city of Jacksonville can have additional money is to get sell the property the Duval County School Board is sitting on."

It's a good idea that is worthy of discussion imo but your headline is misleading. Why quote the Governor word for word when you're not sure he said it? Is there an audio or some kind of media somewhere where he  suggested "axing"?

[Charles Hunter]

Yes, cityimrov, the DCSB is separate from the City of Jax.  The benefit to the City would be putting riverfront land back on the tax rolls.  But is today's market a good one to try to sell this property?  It seems unlikely the DCSB would get enough to finance acquisition and construction or renovation of new offices.