by Glenn Tschimpke
Staff Writer
On June 25, the fate of a potential Jacksonville landmark will crystallize. That’s the day when the four architectural firms vying for the contract to design the proposed Duval County Courthouse complex will present their ideas.
The complex, sprawling over several blocks in western downtown, is dotted mostly with surface parking lots and inconsequential buildings. It is also home to the Southern Bell Telephone and Telegraph building.
Built in 1913, the Jacksonville Historic Preservation Commission would like to give the building landmark status. The City wants to hold off pending the outcome of the design competition.
“We asked them in a letter to delay the designation pending finalization of the design competition because we did not know how its use would fit in,” said Sam Mousa, Mayor John Delaney’s chief administrative officer.
If the building is designated as a landmark, it would be more difficult to tear down, requiring City Council approval. Getting the Council to buy into razing another old building could be a tough sell given the fight outgoing president Matt Carlucci and vice president Suzanne Jenkins gave to save the now-doomed buildings on the site of the new downtown library. Carlucci focused much of his presidency on preserving downtown’s historical heritage, something incoming president Jerry Holland has promised to carry forth.
While the City owns the Southern Bell building and can ultimately tear it down, watchdog groups like the Historic Preservation Commission make it their business to make sure older buildings remain standing.
“Unlike the library project, we haven’t been invited to discussions on this project,” said Lisa Sheppard, a member of the commission. “It’s the commission’s charge to identify buildings for designation. It’s downtown. It’s been on previous lists in the past and there are several clues that indicate it would meet the criteria.”
While the federal courthouse a block away has been labeled as a sacred cow to the architects, the Southern Bell building was grouped with the rest of the buildings in the seven-block complex.
In minutes of a May 22 meeting with the Historic Preservation Commission, courthouse project manager Chris Boruch explained the City’s approach toward developing a courthouse complex.
“. .. at the time we started the design competition, that was not a listed building nor was it even proposed to be a listed building,” he said. “And we’ve got several other buildings on the site . . . so we said, ‘Look, we’re giving you a clean sheet of paper. Propose to us what you think the new courthouse complex should look like at the end of the competition for our consideration.’”
Although the elements indicate the mayor’s office is positioning itself to tear down the building, Mousa discounted the speculation.
“I think we’re beyond the demolition mind set,” he said. “I think it can be incorporated into the design. At the moment, we’ll see how it fits in with the courthouse concept.”
When asked if he thought the building would eventually see the wrecking ball like the Rhodes building, he was skeptical.
“I don’t think so,” he said. “That building is easier to work with than the Rhodes building ever was.”
“The difference between this and the library, is it was pretty clear they were going to use all of that property for the library,” said preservation commission member Frank Ashton.
In contrast, the courthouse complex is over several city blocks, which means the Southern Bell building has a better chance of survival than the Rhodes building did.