Suburban Jacksonville: Cecil Commerce Center

[Metro Jacksonville]

Suburban Jacksonville: Cecil Commerce Center



Representing more than 3 percent of the land area in Duval County (17,000 acres), Cecil Commerce Center is a significant, long-term economic development asset to the City of Jacksonville.

Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/content/view/1061

[ChriswUfGator]

Now to be fair, you really have to keep things in perspective.

3/4ths of that list of employers that you posted in the article were either businesses that COJ had to offer incentives to get them to move to Cecil from an existing location within the county (Translation = No actual jobs gained), or they're just city or governmental agencies that COJ relocated there to try and use the space.

And I think the most telling statistic in your article is that 4% of the land area in a county with 1 million residents is only responsible for 2500 jobs. More people than that live on my street in Riverside. We're talking 4% of the land area in the entire county, and at any given time it contains less people than a large office tower.

I am happy to see the City finally coming to its senses and handing it over to a private developer. That's exactly what should have happened right from the beginning.

[thelakelander]

Is it safe to assume you believe the Navy should have been allowed to return a few years ago?

[ralpho37]

I'm so sick of people being so pessimistic about EVERYTHING in Jacksonville...  Cecil Commerce Center is an economic engine for the otherwise lackluster Westside.  With time, it is sure to become the Westside's primary hub of light industrial activity.

[ChriswUfGator]

Well if the Navy returned, I certainly don't think it would be a bad thing. It would definitely benefit the local economy, and revitalize that area of the Westside.

But aside from that, I think the current plan of giving it over to a private developer is probably the smartest option, as the private guys aren't saddled with the complacent attitude that a steady stream of tax dollars tends to generate over at City Hall. They will probably get things going over there, much better than the City has ever been able to.

I mean, let's face it, COJ has spent 15 years and a couple hundred million dollars trying to get something going at Cecil, when it probably should have just been given over to private developers to begin with. We're pretty much right back to square one with that place, except now it's almost two decades later.

Also, don't get me wrong, I do agree Cecil is an asset. I just don't think it has been properly utilized by COJ.

[reednavy]

They really could've come up with a better name than Cecil Commerce Center Parkway. It just rolls right of your tongue!

[Doctor_K]

Cecil Commerce Center Parkway.  CCCP?  

[Deuce]

Who owns the cool funky building near the top of the photographs?

[Jason]

Although I believe the Navy should have been allowed to return, I still see immense potential at Cecil.  The city was smart to pass off the development and marketing to the private sector.  Once the economy gets rolling forward again I think we'll start to see that potential revealed.


Oh, and I agree Reed.  Cecil Parkway would suffice.

[thelakelander]

^^Deuce, that's FCCJ.

[will]

I would like to see a large portion of that land set aside as a preserve. I disagree with the notion that land in the city limits is nothing more than a resource that should be exploited for profit. That has led to the sprawling mess we have today. I know that there is already development on the site, I'm merely suggesting that we re-develop the existing brownfield sites available before mowing down the rest of it.

[reednavy]

JAA really needs to try and get some big cargo companies to this airport. We now have competition opening next May in Panama City.

[vicupstate]

What exactly is in that RFP?  Is the city selling the land to a developer or just contracting for marketing/development services?  I assumed it was the later.

[BridgeTroll]

JAA really needs to try and get some big cargo companies to this airport.

I think this will happen with better connectivity to I-10

[Ocklawaha]

Removal of the Railroad Line was a real stroke of Genius...

Whoever did it, gets the Ockla-IDIOT award for the Century!

Put it back, do it fast, do it now, and extend it BEYOND the CSX to the NS just to the North, Lease the operation to one of our 45 headquartered railroad companies.

OCKLAWAHA