Curry wants to move the jail

[remc86007]

This sounds expensive: https://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/news/2018/12/05/mayors-administration-commits-to-relocating-jail.html?ana=e_du_prem&s=article_du&ed=2018-12-05&u=XALuhoKTfQRT3OObZ9UHWw0505842d&t=1544045861&j=85376321

Any suggestions where we should put it?

[DrQue]

Oh come on. I am no fan of the jail, but cannot imagine it is currently worth the expense to demo and rebuild elsewhere.

Those funds could be used to incentivize countless other projects in the core, which would have a much broader impact.

[KenFSU]

ARE YOU KIDDING ME?

This is insane.

[Steve]

I had read that by 2030 it would be at end of life. If true, then it has to happen anyway.

Personally, I have no issue with this, assuming the new location makes sense. One thing that came out of the Courthouse discussion was that originally Delaney wanted to locate the new Courthouse near the jail....until he learned that the time consuming process is loading the prisoners on the bus; not the transport itself.

In other words, if near downtown it wouldn't be a major increase in time to transport.

[thelakelander]

I'm skeptical the jail goes anywhere anytime soon. If they can't afford a convention center, they aren't moving a perfectly fine multi-story jail either.

[Kerry]

Is it just me, or is Jax broke?  Where did all the money go?

[jcjohnpaint]

They should just cover it with Christmas lights

[thelakelander]

Just read the article. No I don't see COJ coming up with $400 million to move the jail soon. You could build a "logical" convention center for cheaper than that. However, the most interesting thing in this story is representatives from the mayor's office and Sleiman enterprises participating in the same panel discussion on the same stage. Bravo, JBJ!

For the record, I do agree with the Sleiman and Jacobs guys. The Landing is well suited to benefit from the current and proposed development projects taking place around it. It also makes sense to address the convention center issue sooner rather than later. Capitalize on the momentum of supportive private sector hotel, restaurant and entertainment projects being proposed right now and also get that thing out of the old terminal so it can become a train station again.

[KenFSU]

Thankfully it doesn't sound super commital, more of a campaign promise.

"It would be a shock to me if four or five years from now there's not either a very advanced plan or even execution of a plan to relocate the jail outside of the core."

To Lake's point, where do we find $400 million out of the general fund (we're lucky if the state kicks in $50 million) to move the jail, when we can't afford to develop a convention center creatively finance over three decades?

I might be wrong Steve, but I think the 2030 estimate from the JSO wasn't structural end-of-life, but their estimate as to when they expected to reach max capacity for staff and inmates.

SO MANY OTHER THINGS you could do with that money.

The only way I see it happening in the next five years is if the city finds itself on the recieving end of a major economic windfall (*coughJEAcough*).

[KenFSU]

However, the most interesting thing in this story is representatives from the mayor's office and Sleiman enterprises participating in the same panel discussion on the same stage. Bravo, JBJ!

I loved this last line:

"I believe, after 31 years, (the Landing's) time has come to truly effectuate the type of momentum and serve as catalyst to reinvigorate downtown as opposed to try to survive and sustain in a singular way without any ancillary support from both population or commercial activity," McNaughton said. "I'm incredibly optimistic, and with 38 years left on our lease, we couldn't be happier."

[Steve]

Thankfully it doesn't sound super commital, more of a campaign promise.

"It would be a shock to me if four or five years from now there's not either a very advanced plan or even execution of a plan to relocate the jail outside of the core."

To Lake's point, where do we find $400 million out of the general fund (we're lucky if the state kicks in $50 million) to move the jail, when we can't afford to develop a convention center creatively finance over three decades?

I might be wrong Steve, but I think the 2030 estimate from the JSO wasn't structural end-of-life, but their estimate as to when they expected to reach max capacity for staff and inmates.

SO MANY OTHER THINGS you could do with that money.

The only way I see it happening in the next five years is if the city finds itself on the recieving end of a major economic windfall (*coughJEAcough*).

I'd have to find my source. You could definitely be right

[I-10east]

I don't see all of those pleas to move the jail like I often saw LOL

[Adam White]

It would be great to move the jail. I think Jacksonville would really benefit from a riverfront parking lot.

[thelakelander]

I don't see all of those pleas to move the jail like I often saw LOL

Moving the jail has always seemed like a suburbanite's solution to DT revitalization.  It's right up there with demolishing buildings because they're vacant. Just an expensive public expenditure that doesn't do anything other than put money in the pockets of those doing the demolition and the rebuilding. What's next? Running Maxwell House and North Florida Shipyards off?

[Kerry]

The problem with the jail (and police station) is that it is ugly.  The butalist architecture that so many cities use is the problem.  There are lots of beautiful prisons, jails, and police stations.

This is the new police station and jail in downtown  Edmond, OK.  No one would have a problem living next door to this.