The former Morocco Shrine Center in South Jacksonville is in review for demolition to prepare the site for redevelopment into a hotel, student housing, multifamily housing, commercial and retail uses.
The city is reviewing a permit application for ELEV8 Demolition to remove the two-story structure on 37 acres at 3800 St. Johns Bluff Road S. at a project cost of $471,000.
Almost a year ago, Morocco Temple Association Inc. sold the Morocco Shrine Center building to Town Center East Acquisition LLC of Atlantic Beach.
The $16.48 million sale was Nov. 11, 2021.
The exhibition hall was built in 1985 and expanded in 1990. It has hosted social gatherings, weddings, trade shows, holiday events and even the grunge band Nirvana.
The Klotz Group of Companies and KBR Group announced in October 2021 that they would demolish the 100,000-square-foot building to make way for The Village at Town Center.
A letter with the permit says the property comprises a two-story building and four single-story structures.
Demolition will be done with an excavator. The debris will be loaded into dump trucks and hauled to certified landfill.
The early development plans called for a 1,025-unit mix of luxury and market-rate apartments, residences for those age 55 and older, student housing and a five-story hotel.
Plans called for 15 buildings. Amenities include a grill patio, turf play mounds, workout pads, food truck space, picnic areas, an open lawn and shade areas.
Retail, office space and a restaurant will take up 2.6 acres.
The property is near the University of North Florida.
City Council approved rezoning and a large-scale land-use amendment for the site Sept. 14, 2021.
A year ago, developers said construction was expected to start in 2022.
The Morocco Temple Association Inc. bought a new headquarters in Orange Park on Dec. 29.
Staff writer Dan Macdonald contributed to this report.
