by J. Brooks Terry
Staff Writer
The City’s delay in moving forward with the new Duval County Courthouse has left at least one major LaVilla development temporarily in the lurch.
In December, development team Easton, Sanderson & Co. and the Farah & Farah law firm approached the City with plans to redevelop property at the corner of Duval and Pearl streets. The property currently comprises 12 stories of office condominiums, a 456-space parking garage and 52 rental residential units.
Those structures would complement a proposed nine-story office building and apartment project at 323 W. Duval St. The Farah law firm is expected to be among the first tenants in the building.
Project renderings released in May were later approved by the City’s Design Review Committee. However Easton, Sanderson principal Sam Easton said at the time that until the new courthouse plan moves forward, his project would stay right where it is — on the drawing board.
“And that’s basically where we are today,” Easton said of his proposed $50 million development. “Our finances and partners are covered, but we won’t move forward without knowing what’s happening with the courthouse.”
Mayor John Peyton pulled the plug on the much-beleaguered and publicly scrutinized courthouse project last year citing skyrocketing cost overruns.
Months later a new, less expensive plan surfaced.
Easton, who owns much of the LaVilla property, said he and his partners were “comfortable” with Peyton’s proposal to split up courthouse operations between the existing Bay Street facilities and a new building at the site bordered by Duval, Julia, Broad and Adams streets.
“But all I know of that progress is what I read in the newspaper,” Easton said. “As soon as the City makes a firm commitment to build something there, we’ll be right behind them.”
The City Council, who would have ultimate approval, is currently reviewing that plan.
Easton said ground would likely be broken on his project within six months of the Council approving the amended courthouse plan.
“And really the only problem we have is that our property value is going up and people keep approaching us to buy it,” he said. “That’s a good problem because, in the event we don’t move forward, what we could get for it would more than cover what we’ve invested in it so far.”
Easton said he and his partners are remaining patient, but that they won’t wait forever.
“We’re looking forward to building a quality development,” he said, “and we understand that, when we look at what’s happening with the courthouse, it is what it is.
“We’re staying where we are for right now, but if we’re still waiting by the middle of the next calender year we may have to rethink our plans.”