More details are available about the city’s expedited emergency demolition permit approved for the fire-gutted Rise Doro apartments Downtown.
The plan calls for partial demolition of the eight-story structure at 128 A. Philip Randolph Blvd.
City Chief Communications Officer Phillip Perry said Feb. 1 the permit has been approved for emergency work to begin.
The permit is listed as active.
Jacksonville-based ELEV8 Demolition told the city it would use at least one big crane with a boom of likely more than 100 feet to demolish the wood-framed floors above the concrete base. The city is reviewing a permit for ELEV8 to demolish the structure at a project cost of $1 million.
The city asks ELEV8 to provide a point-by-point description of the proposed procedure, including the number of days, times of day, truck route, worker and public safety, and the disposal of materials at the Otis Road Landfill in the Baldwin area of West Jacksonville.
The Florida Department of Environmental Protection describes the landfill as the Otis Road Disaster Recovery Debris Management and Recycling Facility, Class III Waste Landfill.
The contractor will provide for adequate escape facilities to be maintained at all times for construction workers. Life safety equipment will remain operational to the extent possible during the demolition.
Water and sewer would be disconnected; combustibles will be removed as soon as stripping is complete; and safeguards will be in place.
A site plan will show the safety perimeter, likely set up by the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department.
An owner’s authorization also is needed for permission to obtain the permit.
While Rise: A Real Estate Company is the developer of Rise Doro, it is leasing the land from Safehold Inc. of New York City.
Rise, through Jacksonville Properties I LLC, bought the 1.6-acre site for $5.2 million on Sept. 30, 2020, from 102 A Phillip Randolph LLC, a local ownership group led by Jacksonville investor Paul Grainger.
On June 1, 2021, Rise sold the property for $5.2 million to New York-based Safehold, which bought it as 102 A Philip Randolph Blvd Ground Owner LLC.
Duval County records show a ground lease agreement was executed June 1, 2021, between Safehold and Rise. The demolition permit lists A Philip Randolph Blvd Ground Owner LLC - Safehold - as the owner.
REIT.com describes Safehold Inc. as the first publicly traded company that focuses on acquiring, owning, managing, and capitalizing ground leases. Safehold says its $6.4 billion ground-lease portfolio is across 135 transactions in 40 markets nationwide, including Jacksonville. Calls seeking comment from Safehold Inc. were not immediately returned.
Perry said the developer is in touch with its financial partner. Safehold has an affiliation with the land and Rise has a lease for the structure.
"But the ownership entity is the one listed on the property appraiser. Rise is authorized to sign permits but would ask all owners for their approval," Perry said.
The city ordered the emergency partial demolition of the building destroyed by fire that was reported the evening of Jan. 28.
Speaking to reporters before nightfall Jan. 29, Mayor Donna Deegan said a structural analysis of the building showed that the wood-framed portions of it were unstable and would need to be razed as soon as it is safe to do so.
ELEV8 partner Ben Pfotenhauer said Jan. 31 an excavator will be used for the demolition.
“We are mobilizing immediately to clean up the area,” he said early Jan. 31.
“Once all safety and preparation protocols have been met we will proceed with demolition.”
Fire struck the seven-story building, also addressed as 960 E. Adams St., south of VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena over the weekend.
The property is along A. Philip Randolph Boulevard between Adams and Forsyth streets.
Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department firefighters worked overnight Jan. 28 to bring the flames under control and continued to pour water on the building into the evening of Jan. 29. By mid-day Jan. 31, no smoke could be seen coming from the building and firefighters were not pouring water on the remains.
JFRD Capt. Eric Prosswimmer said at that time that firefighters were “getting close” to extinguishing the blaze.
No injuries were reported, and the cause is under investigation.
