by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
Thursday, the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission is expected to approve TriLegacy as the master developer for Cecil Field. The decision will, in all likelihood, make TriLegacy — which is also the developer of the 10-year, $860 million Shipyards project — the largest public-private developer in the history of Jacksonville.
“I can’t think of anybody we’ve got bigger contracts with,” said JEDC executive director Kirk Wendland.
Once the JEDC approves TriLegacy, City Council will be the last remaining hurdle for the development company, which will be charged with marketing and developing about 2,400 of Cecil Field’s 17,000 acres. The 20-year plan comes with a price tag of $857 million, a tad shy of the projected Shipyards cost.
Unlike the Shipyards, which is a mixed-use development complete with hundreds of residential units and a hotel, Cecil will be almost exclusively commercial development. Wendland said there are no exact chronological guidelines regarding Cecil, but the area has been specifically apportioned.
“We’ve attached one exhibit to the contract, which is a district plan,” explained Wendland. “What it says is, if you are going to develop here, it has to be aviation manufacturing. This is set aside for commercial. It outlines the types of uses over a long period of time.”
The awarding of the contract to TriLegacy has been a long time coming. In June 2001, the JEDC put out requests for proposals for the master developer. The City’s Professional Services Evaluation Committee eventually recommended TriLegacy and representatives from the developer and the JEDC have been ironing out the details of the contract until just recently.
TriLegacy officials were hesitant to talk about the development and contract until the JEDC has a chance to see and hear their presentation.
“We are looking forward to the presentation at the JEDC meeting Thursday,” said TriLegacy CEO Jeff Spence. “It would be premature of us to make any comment on the agreement until after the presentation.”
Wendland said Cecil Field represented a unique opportunity for the City to obtain a former airport, assist with infrastructure work and then turn the marketing and developing over to a private company.
“That was our game plan,” he said. “TriLegacy will handle the operations, plans and manage the whole area.”