JEA Selects Downtown For New Corporate Headquarters

[Charles Hunter]

Where is the discussion about "moving to Southside"? I didn't see that in the linked articles, just that they my renege (oh, sorry, "exercise their option to cancel") on the Adams Street HQ site.  And where on SS? The old car dealership at Southside and Atlantic, that they didn't get high enough bids for? (or is that part of the plan ... reject the SSide bids, and move there?) And, if that is what is being considered, what will a new building on that contaminated site cost? And, as someone said, very difficult for folks who pay in cash to get to.

[thelakelander]

Earlier I saw something that said Southside between Atlantic and Beach Boulevards and west of St Johns Bluff. Now I can't find it but the only thing that fits in that box is the Koger Center or whatever it's called now. Overall, sounds more like a scare tactic that's a worse case scenario to tilt the push to change state and local government charters.

[tufsu1]

I don't know how the board did not nip it in the bud much earlier. However the board members themselves do not appear to be utility experts. They probably do not know much beyond what management is feeding them, and management's position seems to have changed drastically in recent months.

ask yourself who selected/appointed the board members

[tufsu1]

That's what is most frustrating. Why would you ever respond to anything city-related as a company if this is standard operating procedure. You won the JEA headquarters competition, just kidding, we don't need it. You have the best unrealistic convention center design, naw just kidding you aren't Shad. We need to remove contaminants at the shipyards; nah, let it sit; it helps the land value. We need $12 mil to redevelop the Landing, nope; we'll tear it down for $18 mil. The city seems to becoming it's worst enemy.

This!

[Papa33]

Bring the old JEA tower back to life!

[bl8jaxnative]

It could be a scare tactic.  It could be a negation tactic.

[marcuscnelson]

If JEA needs a new business to expand into, how about municipal fiber? If Chattanooga can do it, why can't we?

https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/ezpk77/chattanooga-gigabit-fiber-network

[DrQue]

If JEA needs a new business to expand into, how about municipal fiber? If Chattanooga can do it, why can't we?

https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/ezpk77/chattanooga-gigabit-fiber-network

I don't know for sure, but I think the charter would have to be amended for JEA to move into the fiber space. Definitely is an interesting idea.

[bl8jaxnative]

If JEA needs a new business to expand into, how about municipal fiber? If Chattanooga can do it, why can't we?

https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/ezpk77/chattanooga-gigabit-fiber-network

The question isn't can it can be done but should it be done.  PRtainment firms like Vice love to sex the story up.  But their claims are largely fairy tales.   Chattanooga's turn around has to do with city leadership over decades, not their costly, __ILLEGAL___ move into fiber.

Dig further and you'll find this move cost the utility and the city quite a bit.  And they made it just as private companies were making the same investments in the area.   It was costly for the rate holders, racked up a  lot of debt and was essentially illegal. 

[Tacachale]

If JEA needs a new business to expand into, how about municipal fiber? If Chattanooga can do it, why can't we?

https://www.vice.com/en_us/article/ezpk77/chattanooga-gigabit-fiber-network

The question isn't can it can be done but should it be done.  PRtainment firms like Vice love to sex the story up.  But their claims are largely fairy tales.   Chattanooga's turn around has to do with city leadership over decades, not their costly, __ILLEGAL___ move into fiber.

Dig further and you'll find this move cost the utility and the city quite a bit.  And they made it just as private companies were making the same investments in the area.   It was costly for the rate holders, racked up a  lot of debt and was essentially illegal.

I don't think that's an accurate assessment of what happened in Chattanooga.

[thelakelander]

Ryan files for review of $72.2 million JEA headquarters

Ryan Companies US Inc. is requesting city review of its civil plan, or 10-set, for JEA's proposed $72.2 million Downtown headquarters.

Documents filed July 8 with the Planning and Development Department show Ryan asked the city to move forward with review of the 201,470-square-foot building and 850-space parking garage at 325 W. Adams St. A 10-set is technical review of the horizontal construction aspects of a development project.

In a July 8 email, Downtown Investment Authority Operations Manager Guy Parola informed Ryan-contracted attorney Cyndy Trimmer that paperwork can be submitted for the 10-set "in light of the time-sensitive nature with this project."

However, Parola added that the designs for the nine-story high-rise will need final approval from the Downtown Development Review Board before the DIA will sign off on the 10-set.

Full article: https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/article/ryan-files-for-review-of-dollar72-2-million-jea-headquarters

[heights unknown]

Ryan files for review of $72.2 million JEA headquarters

Ryan Companies US Inc. is requesting city review of its civil plan, or 10-set, for JEA's proposed $72.2 million Downtown headquarters.

Documents filed July 8 with the Planning and Development Department show Ryan asked the city to move forward with review of the 201,470-square-foot building and 850-space parking garage at 325 W. Adams St. A 10-set is technical review of the horizontal construction aspects of a development project.

In a July 8 email, Downtown Investment Authority Operations Manager Guy Parola informed Ryan-contracted attorney Cyndy Trimmer that paperwork can be submitted for the 10-set "in light of the time-sensitive nature with this project."

However, Parola added that the designs for the nine-story high-rise will need final approval from the Downtown Development Review Board before the DIA will sign off on the 10-set.

Full article: https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/article/ryan-files-for-review-of-dollar72-2-million-jea-headquarters

OK; so in essence, this thing might be built, but then again it might not. All of a sudden JEA is "cash strapped" and considering (or threatening, whichever way you want to look at it) moving to the southside. Hope all of this is ironed out and they remain in the urban core.

[thelakelander]

Definitely happy that the Ryan Companies site was selected by JEA. It will be great to replace a full block of surface parking with 220,000 square feet of office and 8,500 square feet of retail:

The DIA board will consider extending rights to Ryan Companies US Inc. to develop a $72.2 million JEA headquarters at 325 W. Adams St.

The project comprises an office building up to 220,000 square feet and 8,500 square feet of ground-floor retail space.

The development includes an 850-space parking garage.

https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/article/dia-considering-development-rights-for-jea-headquarters-lots-at-cathedral

[Steve]

I hadn't heard the Retail Space number. Assuming that doesn't get conveniently value engineered out that's a small win.

Now....if you really wanted to you could do a lot more retail than that on the site.

[Ken_FSU]

I hadn't heard the Retail Space number. Assuming that doesn't get conveniently value engineered out that's a small win.

Now....if you really wanted to you could do a lot more retail than that on the site.

Assuming this is the customer service center, right?

Not mentioned in the article, but there's also supposed to be another 11,000 square feet of retail space in the parking garage (unless the space noted in the article is actually the garage space).