A new sight is in store for the Jacksonville skyline after the Downtown Investment Authority board voted Jan. 17 to allow CSX Corp. to install new signs on its Northbank headquarters.
The board’s vote came after a request by CSX to replace the signs on its high-rise office building at 500 Water St. with programmable LED signage. The approved signs, which are in the shape of company’s initials and a CSX train, are digital boards featuring technology that allows them to change colors and display moving images.
The Downtown Development Review Board approved CSX’s request in November 2023 but capped the size of the signage at 1,201 square feet – the size of the current signs. CSX had requested 1,656 square feet for the upgraded signage.
The company appealed the decision, prompting a discussion with DIA staff that led to a compromise solution allowing the signage to be up to 1,330 square feet. Other conditions that were approved by DDRB staff remained intact, including that the signs are to remain static unless they’re coordinated to light and sound shows being planned for Friendship Fountain and the exterior of the Jacksonville Center for the Performing Arts.
The DIA board approved the compromise solution unanimously.
Bryan Tucker, vice president for corporate communications at CSX, told the board the company appreciated the DDRB’s approval and tried to redesign the signs to conform with its conditions.
He said the extra square footage was needed to make the CSX letters and train shapes scale properly with each other.
CSX’s application to the DDRB lists the company’s contractor for the project as Taylor Sign & Design Inc. in Jacksonville.
