by Bradley Parsons
Staff Writer
The new Tax Collector’s branch office near 9A and North Main Street is a reflection of the Northside’s rapid growth, said Tax Collector Mike Hogan.
The branch inside the Main Street Shopping center at 12961 N. Main St. will replace a branch closed on Dunn Avenue. Speaking Monday morning after cutting the ribbon to open the new branch, Hogan said the Northside’s growth made the location a natural.
“We have a pretty good idea of where the growth is happening from looking at building permits and other data,” said Hogan. “I knew the Northside was underserved.”
But even Hogan was surprised by the pace of development in the area. He scouted locations two months ago from a Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office helicopter and was caught off guard by the number of builder’s signs sprouting from the ground.
“Even some of the pilots, who patrol the area regularly, saw developments that weren’t there just a couple weeks before,” said Hogan.
The location, about one mile north of 9A, is also intended to service commuters to and from fast-growing Nassau County. The branch will be open from 7:15 a.m to 5:45 p.m. Monday through Friday.
All that growth means that commercial real estate in the area is no longer a bargain.
Hogan said his office will pay $16-20 a square foot to rent in the red-brick-lined shopping center. That’s about what the Tax Collector’s office pays across the county, said Hogan.
In the future, Hogan hopes to buy rather than rent. He thinks the City could save money by buying land for multi-purpose buildings. These “government centers” could offer residents one-stop shops, joining offices like the Tax Collector, Supervisor of Elections, Library, and even community centers.
“With Tax Collector branches, if you build it, they will come,” said Hogan.
The new branch brings the Tax Collector’s presence to 10 branches across the county. Hogan has the Argyle Forest and OakLeaf area targeted for the next expansion.
“OakLeaf is almost a small city to itself,” said Hogan. “That’s an area where we definitely want to increase our level of service.”
City Council member Ronnie Fussell grew up on Dunn Avenue when the only major development was the Budweiser brewery. Fussell along with the area’s Council representative, Warren Alvarez, joined Hogan for the opening. Fussell said it’s heartening to see growth starting to take root in the area.
“The Northside’s waited a long time,” he said.