DCPS plan move from Southbank to Baymeadows, raising accessibility concerns

[fsu813]

From DCPS board member Cindy Pearson:

"Neighbor to neighbor, let's talk about the proposals to sell 1701 Prudential Drive (current DCPS administration building) and purchase a building at Prominence Parkway (former Southeastern Grocers headquarters).

The school board is scheduled to vote on two contacts on Tuesday, October 7. I appreciate the work of staff in negotiating both the sale and purchase contracts, but I am concerned that these are not good deals for DCPS.

I support DCPS moving the administration building to make way for development on the Southbank WHEN THE DEAL MAKES SENSE FOR DCPS. I have concerns that the proposed transactions are BAD DEALS for DCPS (and taxpayers).

-the proposed purchase price for 1701 Prudential is $20,000,000. Good price. However, DCPS would receive $12.5 million at closing and $7.5 million 3 years later. That would necessitate DCPS taking out a loan to make the Prominence Parkway building purchase, proposed renovations to Schultz Center and related moving costs. DCPS would be paying interest on that loan but not receiving any on the $7.5 million delayed payment from the purchaser. Any excess funds that DCPS would realize between the sale of 1701 Prudential and the purchase of the Prominence Parkway building would be delayed for three years.

-the proposed purchase price for the Prominence Parkway building is approximately $13,000,000 for the building and $600,000 for the furniture. The building does not have a natural space for an auditorium to hold monthly school board meetings. The proposal is to hold those meetings at the Schultz Center (off of Beach Blvd), which will require renovating that space to accommodate a dais, IT/audio-visual capacity and enhanced security.

In addition, the Prominence Parkway property (located near Baymeadows and I-95) would come with an annual property owners association fee of $42,000.

-the timing of the contracts would have DCPS closing on the purchase of the Prominence Parkway building by Dec 31, 2025. The district's goal is to move staff to the new location by July 2026.

The closing date for the sale of 1701 Prudential would be in the third quarter of 2026. DCPS would own two administration buildings for 6-8 months before closing with the 1701 Prudential buyer. DCPS would be fully moved into a new building before closing on the sale of 1701 Prudential.

-DCPS considers these transactions as favorable because it accomplishes the goal of moving off of the river, it will consolidate additional staff into one building (allowing DCPS to sell other property) and it will reduce operating costs (not considering loan repayment and an annual association fee).

-The lack of alignment in closing dates, the split payment on the sale of 1701 Prudential, the Prominence Parkway location at Baymeadows and 95 (including the plans to develop most of the former office park into residential units), the plan to split staff between Prominence Parkway and Schultz Center and the awkwardness of holding board meetings at Schultz Center leads me to believe that the negatives outweigh the positives.

My preference is that DCPS remain at 1701 Prudential while actively looking for a more central location for the administration building and negotiate a set of sale/purchase deals with terms that better serve the district's (and the taxpayer's) interests.

Please email me with your thoughts (positive or negative) about the contracts."

[thelakelander]

I agree. DCPS should stay where it is until moving makes financial sense for Duval County taxpayers. No reason to move forward the sake of moving or be pushed into thinking a deal must be rushed through now. When you do deals from desperation or being rushed, you generally end up on the bad side of a deal.

[Tacachale]

I agree. DCPS should stay where it is until moving makes financial sense for Duval County taxpayers. No reason to move forward the sake of moving or be pushed into thinking a deal must be rushed through now. When you do deals from desperation or being rushed, you generally end up on the bad side of a deal.

That reminds me of my situation buying an AC when ours died in the middle of August one year. A normal ass house doesn't need a unit that could refrigerate the Pentagon, but that's the first thing the companies show you!

[heights unknown]

I agree. DCPS should stay where it is until moving makes financial sense for Duval County taxpayers. No reason to move forward the sake of moving or be pushed into thinking a deal must be rushed through now. When you do deals from desperation or being rushed, you generally end up on the bad side of a deal.

And I also agree. What's the rush rush?? Why haw tail it without carefully and thoughtfully thinking this move through, for the taxpayers and the School Board, and end up with a bad deal that ultimately hurts and harms all concerned? Appears to me someone didn't really think everything through relative to this move and the purchase of a new location.

[vicupstate]

I agree. DCPS should stay where it is until moving makes financial sense for Duval County taxpayers. No reason to move forward the sake of moving or be pushed into thinking a deal must be rushed through now. When you do deals from desperation or being rushed, you generally end up on the bad side of a deal.

I agree to an extent, but it is possible some other buyer would buy the new (Prominence Parkway) building if they don't follow thru. Meaning the school board would need to find a similar appropriate building that is for sale or build new, either of which could be more expensive.   

[thelakelander]

Hopefully another buyer will buy it and keep it on the tax rolls. That would be a huge win for the Duval County taxpayer. That building is much larger than the school board needs, is not centrally located and an expense that DCPS does not "have" to make. To buy that building under the fear that someone else will get it, when the numbers are so questionable, would be the definition of desperation, imo.

[jaxlongtimer]

Ms. Pearson is spot on.  I have met her in the past and she is very grounded and centered, truly focused on getting the best education for our kids.  Not trying to score political points by grandstanding on culture wars or other divisive issues like some other DCSB members.

As such, I hope other board members give her heed and don't just go the opposite way because....

[jaxlongtimer]

Yea!  School board unanimously votes down selling their building to Fleet Landing and moving to Baymeadows.  Common sense prevails for once.  A rare outcome but much appreciated.

Apparently there was much concern about the deal falling apart and DCPS being caught in a jam if that were to happen.  Deal was just too risky to approve.  Add, the public pushback and the plan died, at least for now.

There really is no urgency to doing a deal.  There is plenty of riverfront available for development for now.  Given the volume of land, currently, and for the foreseeable future, oversupplied, selling the Board's building would be selling at a depressed price that won't cover the cost of moving elsewhere.  Wait until there is a true shortage to meet development needs and then, maybe, get a premium price that makes another location worth considering.  Likely, at least several more years out.

Duval School Board rejects plans to leave downtown for Baymeadows, leaving uncertain future

Twin deals to sell Duval County Public Schools' Southbank headquarters and move to Baymeadows were unanimously rejected by the School Board Oct. 7, stalling again a years-long goal of moving government offices off the downtown riverfront....

https://www.jacksonville.com/story/news/education/2025/10/07/duval-school-board-votes-down-plans-to-leave-downtown-for-baymeadows/86570821007/?tbref=hp

[Charles Hunter]

I second  that "Yea!"

I wonder if there will be some conversations between the Board Chair and Supt. Bernier about "transparency" and sharing information with the Board?

This quote from the Jax Today article doesn't surprise me, after listing the reasons Board members voted No on the two items,

Tony Ricardo did not give a reason for his votes.

Sadly, he is my SB member.

[MakeDTjaxGre@tAgain]

It looks like Fleet Landing is off the table, leaving it up to Chase Properties to make this project happen. They're reportedly considering either a land swap involving the Suddath building plus around $5 million, or an outright purchase for roughly $17 million. Is the Suddath building even vacant? It's still fairly new, and details are limited. If they go with the $17 million buyout, that raises another question — where would DCPS relocate? Lots of uncertainty here.

I'm also not entirely confident in Chase Properties. According to their website, they were behind the original "Healthy Town" concept at the old JEA site, which later became the Rivers Edge project. Outside of the townhomes and park, not much has materialized there. They're also responsible for those hideous townhomes proposed behind the Toll Brothers section at Rivers Edge. On top of that, they're planning a hotel, 600 residential units, and retail space on the current DCPS site—if it gets approved. It's certainly ambitious, but I'm not holding my breath.

[thelakelander]

^Interesting. Where did you get this info?!

[MakeDTjaxGre@tAgain]

^Interesting. Where did you get this info?!

Mostly Action News report.

https://www.actionnewsjax.com/news/local/fleet-landing-drops-out-bid-dcps-hq-board-considers-chase-offers/PGDQHDC7WNCA7GMVFZ5N3XFIW4/

https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/news/2025/feb/05/trailview-a-53-unit-town-home-community-planned-for-downtown-southbank/

https://www.chaseproperties.com/

[jcjohnpaint]

Why would they need to swap anything with so much undeveloped land on the south bank?

[MakeDTjaxGre@tAgain]

Why would they need to swap anything with so much undeveloped land on the south bank?

I mean it's close to their current site. Not sure the specifics, I would think an appraisal would be needed from both since it's city related and a that there's a fair deal. But seems bigger, nicer, newer, parking garage, and off the river with a more central location next to a park. Plus almost 5M to renovate. Does Suddath have tenants?

Where would they go if they did sell and buy somewhere else? Leasing has to be off the table. That's like burning money with no return. In the future they'll be worse off - it's a waste of money. If the plan is to lease Florida Blue temp and get land near the courthouse to build the big beautiful building they proposed years ago, I'd be fine with that.

[Charles Hunter]

It looks like Fleet Landing is off the table, leaving it up to Chase Properties to make this project happen. They're reportedly considering either a land swap involving the Suddath building plus around $5 million, or an outright purchase for roughly $17 million. Is the Suddath building even vacant? It's still fairly new, and details are limited. If they go with the $17 million buyout, that raises another question — where would DCPS relocate? Lots of uncertainty here.

I'm also not entirely confident in Chase Properties. According to their website, they were behind the original "Healthy Town" concept at the old JEA site, which later became the Rivers Edge project. Outside of the townhomes and park, not much has materialized there. They're also responsible for those hideous townhomes proposed behind the Toll Brothers section at Rivers Edge. On top of that, they're planning a hotel, 600 residential units, and retail space on the current DCPS site—if it gets approved. It's certainly ambitious, but I'm not holding my breath.

"... the Suddath building [is] still fairly new" - I'm not sure what you consider "fairly new," but the building was there in the mid-1970s when I worked in a nearby building on the Southbank. Back then, 50 years ago, it was the IBM Building.


"If they go with the $17 million buyout, that raises another question — where would DCPS relocate?"
From this

That swap would keep district headquarters in the urban core, while the other option would move operations to Prominence Parkway in Baymeadows, a newer and larger space that could consolidate more departments.

I take it that with the cash purchase, DCPS would still move to the Baymeadows site.

From the ActionNews article

Other members, like Melody Bolduc, shared concerns that the Suddath building didn't offer enough parking space for employees and room for expansion at the Suddath site.

True, there is no room to expand the Suddath building, with Treaty Oak Park next door. But, why would the existing parking deck be inadequate?

I agree, more details are needed.
What is the square-foot comparison between the current building and Suddath?
Where would the Board meet?
Would the $5 million fully cover renovation and relocation?
To get to Ms Bolduc's concern, what is the head-count comparison between DCPS and the Suddath Building (at full use)?