by J. Brooks Terry
Staff Writer
The Downtown Design Review Committee of the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission has approved conceptual plans for Rail City Junction, an office development project downtown comprised of 24 refurbished train cars.
Located on a 1.9 acre lot under the Hart Bridge just east of Metropolitan Park, project representatives said site construction and rail car acquisition, installation and refurbishment could be completed by October.
“We believe the project is innovative and well-suited for that area,” said Jean Moyer, a JEDC spokesperson. “As long as it is done right, it has the potential to be good for business and good for the people who are already over there.”
Moyer said the group has not requested City incentives for the project.
“Not right now,” she said. “At this point, all they’re asking for is approval of their design plans.”
Larry Henson, a representative with project principle KART Development, LLC, pitched the idea before the JEDC’s Design Review Committee and Moyer said final approval of engineering plans and various other schematics could come as early next month.
Henson told the DRC the project, a reported $8 million investment, meets or exceeds all downtown overlay zoning standards with respect to proposed landscaping, lighting, paving and fencing.
Decorative brick, historic lighting and large palms have been incorporated into design sketches.
“KART Development is committed to the continued success of Jacksonville,” said Henson. “[Rail City Junction] is a unique, first class office and entertainment development consistent with the long term objectives of the City.”
Tom Atkins, an architect with HDR, Inc., helped prepare much of the conceptual designs. He said the development was loosely based on the Cockaboose Association, a similar rail car reuse project at the University of South Carolina.
“Rail City Junction is similar in that it involves taking old train cars and converting them for different purposes,” he said. “The primary difference, though, is that in South Carolina, the cars are mostly used as entertainment venues, parties and things like that.
“This is much more of an office development because the environment we’re looking at lends itself more that kind of concept.”
Atkins added Rail City Junction would be one of the largest projects of its kind in the country.