by Bailey White
Staff Writer
The new U.S. Courthouse at Jacksonville is complete and next year construction will begin on the new Duval County Courthouse, shifting Jacksonville’s legal community west of Main Street.
The impact of the change is already being felt in LaVilla.
“Lawyers with a trial practice will find it very convenient to be in walking distance of the courthouse and not have to worry about parking,” said Bill Joel, president of the Jacksonville Bar Association, explaining the renewed interest in the area.
The law firm of Spohrer Wilner Maxwell & Matthews moved to LaVilla a year and a half ago.
“We’re delighted to be in LaVilla for a number of reasons,” said attorney Bob Spohrer. “The fact that this will be the center for federal and state judiciary makes it especially attractive to firms that do trial work.”
Ed Booth of Spohrer Wilner said they are already enjoying the LaVilla area and he’s pleased with how the area has been revitalized.Twenty years ago, Booth rode with a police officer who patrolled the area.
“It was when I was a young assistant in the State Attorney’s Office. It was a rough and dangerous neighborhood,” he said. “The City has done a great job in providing incentives for moving here.”
The firm chose the area before the City selected the courthouse location, but they saw other amenities in the area.
“We were taking somewhat of a risk, but it’s a wonderful central location. Parking is very convenient and secure and it’s very accessible to our clients,” said Booth. “It’s already a nice place to work.”
As it turns out, the firm is a block away from where the courthouse will be located.
“It will be very convenient to walk to the courthouse,” said Booth. “We’re all very excited about its opening.”
Coffman Coleman Andrews & Grogan is also relocating to LaVilla.
“Our building should be done in mid-May,” said Patrick Coleman, whose firm practices labor law.
He said his firm will benefit from being in the vicinity of both courthouses because most of their business is in the federal courthouse.
“We’re very excited about it,” he said.
The Jacksonville Economic Development Commission is currently negotiating with attorneys Russell Smith and Harold Lippes, who are collaborating on a project to turn a historic building into legal offices.
“It’s in the early stages right now,” said Smith, who currently practices with an associate on Newnan Street.
The attorney’s responded to an Request for Proposals sent out by the JEDC last summer for the 752 Adams St. building.
“We asked for uses that are compatible to the area,” said Al Battle, managing director of the Downtown Development Authority.
Battle said the interest lawyers and others in the legal profession have in the area is natural, given the vicinity of the new courthouses.
Smith and Lippes plan to convert the 11,000 square-foot building into offices for their own firms and for other small firms or solo attorneys.
“We want to offer affordable space near the courthouse,” said Smith.
Both agree that the space would also be ideal for court reporters or other members of legal support.
Though they aren’t sure exactly when construction will start, the finish date will coincide with the finish date of the county courthouse.
“We’d like to have construction finished and tenants moved in before the new courthouse opens,” said Lippes, who added that they will be working with the City’s Historic Preservation Commission to maintain the historic integrity of the building.
The attorneys said they were drawn to LaVilla because of the history surrounding the area.
“We both love the area,” said Smith. “We want to be part of the downtown renaissance.”
Now that a number of businesses have established themselves in LaVilla, the JEDC has issued an RFP for a restaurant for property near the Ritz Theatre.
“The business will be driven by customers,” said Battle. “If it was out of the box right away it could produce a lot of unsuccessful ventures.”
It’s something LaVilla’s current tenants will appreciate.
“We’re certainly looking forward to additional retail space,” said Spohrer.