Abandoned Jacksonville: Old JEA Tower Building

[Wacca Pilatka]

Scrub, was it you who used to run that early 2000s website with all the Jacksonville skyscraper photos?

[Scrub Palmetto]

Scrub, was it you who used to run that early 2000s website with all the Jacksonville skyscraper photos?

It was, yes. I was a wee teenager at the time! Toward the end, I was expanding it to include architecture throughout the city, but I moved onto other things before getting very far with that version.

[strider]

I guess I misunderstood that it was a city owned property.  At the moment though, it looks like it is in bankruptcy so no one can buy it, tear it down nor get it for back taxes (which are like 342K). OK, at least can't buy it easily.  I think most of the properties owned by Hionides's various holding companies are in bankruptcy.

[Wacca Pilatka]

Scrub, was it you who used to run that early 2000s website with all the Jacksonville skyscraper photos?

It was, yes. I was a wee teenager at the time! Toward the end, I was expanding it to include architecture throughout the city, but I moved onto other things before getting very far with that version.

I enjoyed that page very much.  So many great pictures.

[Scrub Palmetto]

I enjoyed that page very much.  So many great pictures.

Thanks! I'm glad it's remembered fondly. Wow, it's hard to believe it was 15 years ago when I started that site, and 12 years ago when I took it down.

Segueing back to the topic, I pulled up this mildly interesting info from my old page on this building (233 W Duval):

"The floors labeled '1-15' are office floors while floors '16-18' are service floors. At the top of the elevator core is a square, glass room called the 'Skyroom'. It is labeled the '19th' floor. However, since there is no 13th floor, the building really only has 18 floors."

I'm not sure who sent me that, but it's probably in an old e-mail somewhere.

[Houseboat Mike]

anyone have any update on this?

[thelakelander]

I should soon. I was supposed to talk with the developer yesterday, but had a timing conflict.

[BoldCityRealist]

Glad this popped up in the feed again. I absolutely adore this building and it is in a fantastic area of Downtown that could really use a jolt. With the new Courthouse facilities and Hemming Park only blocks away, this structure along with the Ambassador (and the already occupied Metropolitan Lofts) could make one of the most urban corners of downtown the most vibrant section, hopefully encouraging infill between it and the river-focused residential areas.

[BoldCityRealist]

http://www.dasherhurst.com/portfolio/independent-life-building/

Those are some real nice looking drawings, it would be real nice to see that come to life.

I wonder why Chris isn't responding, you think he'd want to unload the property - in this market he can't be drowning in offers.

Also, this design is AMAZING. Wow. Really wish someone with cash would buy it and move forward with this.

[Houseboat Mike]

http://www.dasherhurst.com/portfolio/independent-life-building/

Those are some real nice looking drawings, it would be real nice to see that come to life.

I wonder why Chris isn't responding, you think he'd want to unload the property - in this market he can't be drowning in offers.

Also, this design is AMAZING. Wow. Really wish someone with cash would buy it and move forward with this.

talk about the ultimate crowdfunding opportunity!

Actually...how feasible would that be, to try and crowdfund something like this? I have zero knowledge of how that works.

[heights unknown]

As this is an abandoned building owned by the city, does it get the rolling fine treatment like many others do?  Is it at risk of being torn down? After all, just from the pictures, it meets the criteria MCC uses to condemned building after building and impose those fines.

It is sad that we still promote the construction of new office buildings on newly developed land while we have so much empty downtown.  Just think of how many office buildings have been built on the Southside in just the last ten years while this building sat empty. Sometimes I wonder if we were not consolidated would Downtown be better off?  At least then Downtown could compete for the companies to fill office space, as it is our city council is willing to sell everything else out to enable new construction in the suburbs.

There are plenty of Consolidated cities that do not have these issues.  Nashville, Indianapolis, Norfolk for example all have strong Downtowns.  Dallas, Houston, Austin, OKC and Charlotte, while not consolidated per se, all stretch out over many hundreds of square miles with lots of suburban office districts, yet their Downtowns are thriving as well.     

The difference is those cities are not stuck in a 1980's mindset. 

Try 1960s or even 1950s mindset.

[heights unknown]

Glad this popped up in the feed again. I absolutely adore this building and it is in a fantastic area of Downtown that could really use a jolt. With the new Courthouse facilities and Hemming Park only blocks away, this structure along with the Ambassador (and the already occupied Metropolitan Lofts) could make one of the most urban corners of downtown the most vibrant section, hopefully encouraging infill between it and the river-focused residential areas.

And if that "jolt" happened in that area of downtown, it could extend and affect growth and revitalization in Lavilla, which is also much needed.

[Marle Brando]

Beautiful design! I stare out of my windows at Metro everyday wishing I had neighbors in an activated Old JEA Tower as well as the Ambassador Hotel. It would really make the Lofts residents feel that much more connected to the core. This gap definitely needs to be filled as the MASSIVE courthouse backside and the MASSIVE at&t brick and concrete block of a building on church st are really killjoys I must say.