by Mike Sharkey
Staff Writer
The City is currently negotiating with the Jacksonville Transportation Authority to sublease land under the Acosta Bridge for the purpose of extending the Northbank Riverwalk.
According to Stephanie Barker of JTA, the land is owned by the Florida Department of Transportation.
“When the Acosta was planned and built, JTA owned the property under the bridge,” said Barker. “We sold it to the State, which leased it back to us for a $1 a year, I think, and we built a park-n-ride.”
A resolution working its way through three City Council subcommittees — Finance, Transportation, Environment & Energy and Recreation & Community Development — would allow JTA to sublease the property to the City for $1 a year.
“All we are asking is to put in the Riverwalk in that location,” said Lynn Westbrook, director of Public Works. “We will lease about one acre of land. The biggest part of it will be a retention pond, the rest will be Riverwalk.”
Westbrook said the configuration of the property in the legislation is that of a flag and only about 30-40 feet of riverfront will be used. He also said the project has already been bid on and the money has been allocated.
Barker said the property has essentially been on hold for almost a decade. The plan has always been for the Northbank Riverwalk to run from near Alltel Stadium to almost Riverside. That plan hasn’t changed.
“Eventually we want the Riverwalk to run all the way to the Fuller Warren Bridge,” said Sharon Ashton, Mayor John Delaney’s press secretary.
In order for that to happen, three major riverfront property owners between the Acosta and Fuller Warren bridges — the Times-Union, the YMCA and Blue Cross Blue Shield — will have to either sell or donate land to the City. Westbrook indicated those agreements are being worked on and should happen.
The portion of land the City will sublease from JTA is one section of the Northbank Riverwalk extension that will eventually connect the riverfront gazebo near CSX to the Times-Union.
“The entire segment will cost about $7 million,” said Westbrook, adding the City can only work on portions of the Riverwalk in which they actually control the land. Once this legislation is passed, the City will control the land and work will begin. “In a couple of weeks, they ought to physically get started.”