Possible buyer for Hayden Burns Library Downtown

[thelakelander]

^If they buy it and successfully pull off what they say they want to do it will help both in the short and long term, every bit as much as an Everbank or RockTenn moving in.

[PeeJayEss]

^If they buy it and successfully pull off what they say they want to do it will help both in the short and long term, every bit as much as an Everbank or RockTenn moving in.

I'd daresay moreso, as it will not only bring the professional types in but aid the mission of the non-profits using the space.

Even if this is simply office space, I would not relegate it to simply a 9-5 use, as non-profit organizations involve a lot of volunteer work hours. Any board meeting or special events planning by non-full-time members would likely take place after hours or even on weekends. Any flex space or public meeting space may be used during these "off" hours to an even greater extent. Like all the others here, I'd like to have this thing surrounded by retail, but I think it would be a positive no matter how you slice it.

Maybe this place will be so successful they'll have to expand by demolishing the parking structure across the street, or building on one of the parking lots across the other street. I'm just kidding.

[Cheshire Cat]

The Jessie Ball duPont Fund has entered into a purchase-and-sale agreement for the former Haydon Burns Library Downtown for potential conversion into offices for nonprofits.

The Jacksonville-based fund is a national foundation that provides grants to organizations identified by the late Jessie Ball duPont.

Fund President Sherry Magill said the organization has leased space for its offices Downtown for about three decades and buying a building is an idea that's been "kicked around" for the past couple of years.

"We're passionate about Downtown," she said.

The fund leases space in the Wells Fargo Center at 1 Independent Drive and supports 330 eligible organizations. Its areas of focus are strengthening the independent sector; building the assets of people, families and communities; and building the capacity of eligible organizations.

Magill said The Library at 122 N. Ocean St. would be converted into a center to house mission-oriented nonprofit organizations. She said they would rent office space and share open areas.

"It's big, but not too big, and wonderfully open and transparent. We can imagine doing a lot of things with it," she said. "It's attractive and in a great location.

http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=539074

[JeffreyS]

19. Fuddruckers.

[Dog Walker]

A building used just like this one was the catalyst for the renewal of downtown Ashville, NC beginning twenty years ago.

[billy]

All kidding, and our list aside, I think it's a good fit.

[ben says]

A building used just like this one was the catalyst for the renewal of downtown Ashville, NC beginning twenty years ago.

Which? The arcade?

[Dog Walker]

Nope, that came later.  It was an office building about one block from the arcade that was used as a common set of offices for a number of non-profits, the same use as proposed for the library.  Because there were 40-50 new workers in the area, a couple of cafes opened then more businesses moved into the area when they saw that the old garment buildings could be re-purposed as loft offices.

True organic growth.

If any of you have not been to downtown Asheville, you are missing one of the most active and vital urban districts in the South along with a lot of really great beer.

[acme54321]

Asheville is awesome.  The downtown Friday night drum circle is a spectacle to behold

[duvaldude08]

Its offical

The trustees of the Jessie Ball duPont Fund have agreed to proceed with the purchase of the Haydon Burns Library building and plan to convert the downtown landmark into a philanthropic and nonprofit center.

Closing on the purchase of the building is set for Wednesday. Terms of the purchase are not being disclosed, according to a news release.

"This is a great moment for the Jessie Ball duPont Fund and for the city of Jacksonville," said Sherry Magill, president of the Fund. "This building, with all its quirkiness, is one of the beloved structures in downtown Jacksonville.

"We hope that saving and repurposing the building will not only benefit our nonprofit sector and our downtown economy, but will also generate enthusiasm among local residents who have fond memories of the library," she said.

Read our earlier story on the proposed purchase at http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2013-03-22/story/dupont-fund-initiates-purchase-haydon-burns-building.

The trustees conducted a 90-day review of the building's condition and the feasibility of the planned conversion. That review revealed no insurmountable issues, according to the release.

The primary purpose of the project is to create a "philanthropic and nonprofit center that will be home to a variety of organizations, including the Jessie Ball duPont Fund. Collectively, these tenant organizations will benefit from the synergy created when they co-locate," according to the release.

Operating costs will be reduced through affordable rental rates and bulk purchasing, which will free additional philanthropic dollars to meet other community needs.

"We think the building will be a center of nonprofit activity, a gathering place for thoughtful leaders and volunteers who care deeply about the provision of services to all citizens of Jacksonville," said Magill.

Also, the trustees hope to use the building as a green energy demonstration project. The building will be engineered to meet LEED certification requirements, including an accessible green roof, recycled waterand other energy-saving features.

In addition, the structure of the building and its 33,000-square-foot basement will be an "excellent refuge" for nonprofit services can be coordinated in the wake of a manmade or natural disaster, according to the release.

The library has been vacant since 2005. Renovations, which will be in keeping with the historic architecture of the building, are expected to take at least 18 months, with occupancy possible in late 2014 or early 2015.

How many and which nonprofits will be housed in the building has not yet been determined. The renovated building will have in excess of 80,000 square feet of rentable space, according to the release.

For more information, email Magill at smagill@dupontfund.org or go to dupontfund.org

[Tacachale]

The more I hear about that project the more I'm coming around to it. It definitely sounds like something that will benefit Jax.

[PeeJayEss]

Awesome.

[Kiva]

Its offical

The trustees of the Jessie Ball duPont Fund have agreed to proceed with the purchase of the Haydon Burns Library building and plan to convert the downtown landmark into a philanthropic and nonprofit center.

Also, the trustees hope to use the building as a green energy demonstration project. The building will be engineered to meet LEED certification requirements, including an accessible green roof, recycled water and other energy-saving features.

This is great that they want to have it LEED certified.

[thelakelander]

Great to see another large building in our core becoming occupied.  I look forward to seeing that block occupied with people on a daily basis.

[thelakelander]

Ouch!

Haydon Burns library sellers lost more than $1 million on deal

The Jessie Ball duPont Fund paid $2.2 million for the Haydon Burns Library in Downtown Jacksonville, according to public records.

The fund announced the closing of the sale Wednesday but declined to disclose the price. The deed was recorded Thursday.

The seller was a group of Jacksonville investors led by developer Bill Cesery. The group paid $3.25 million for the property in 2007.

full article: http://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/blog/2013/06/haydon-burns-library-sellers-lost.html