by Joe Wilhelm Jr.
Staff Writer
Improvement projects continue to progress at Cecil Commerce Center and Jacksonville’s shipping terminal and the City Council’s Seaport/Airport Special Committee was updated on that progress Tuesday.
Bob Simpson of the Jacksonville Aviation Authority (JAA) presented the Authority’s plans for Cecil Commerce Center. Those plans include the construction of five new hangars, with Alenia, Army National Guard and FCCJ occupying three of those hangars. The other two will be large and small spec hangars with the possibility of a third spec hangar currently being discussed.
The JAA is partnering with Florida Community College at Jacksonville to offer a program for coating, maintenance, repair and overhaul of aircraft in one of the hangars. Current businesses operating on the property include Boeing, Flightstar, Jet Turbine Services, U.S. Customs, FCCJ, U.S. Coast Guard and U.S. Army National Guard.
“The large spec hangar will probably go out to bid in the next couple of months,” said Simpson.
Talks about bringing the commercial space industry to Cecil Commerce Center began in 2005 when Jacksonville hosted the Super Bowl and JAA has continued to position itself to attract that industry. An environmental assessment has been completed for the property and application has been submitted to the Federal Aviation Authority to allow Cecil Field to become a horizontal launch pad for space flight.
“The FAA requires a 10,000-foot runway that is 200-feet wide and we met those requirements,” said Simpson. “We are trying to draw the commercial side of the space industry.”
The review process for the application could take anywhere from 4-6 months to complete, Simpson estimated.
One of the bigger projects ahead of the JAA is to install security fencing around its runways.
“We have fencing around the edge of the property, but none near the runways,” said Simpson. “It would provide better security and wildlife protection.”
Jacksonville Port Authority Executive Director Rick Ferrin followed Simpson with an update on the dredging projects at the City’s port.
The Port Authority is currently searching for funding for the Mile Point Project that would deepen the section of water where the Intracoastal Waterway and St. Johns River meet. The two waterways flow in opposite directions, which tends to make ships spin depending on the tide.
“Right now, some ships have two four-hour windows that they can make it to port,” said Ferrin. “The tidal conditions restrict depth at that point to about 33 feet.”
Ferrin estimated that the project would cost about half a billion dollars to complete.
The Army Corps of Engineers has recently completed a feasibility study on the project and Ferrin expected to see the study soon. He told the members of the Committee that he would get them copies of the study as soon as they were available.
Ferrin estimated that the permitting process for the project would take about 18 months and the project could be started in about two years once it received approval.
Adam Hollingsworth, Mayor John Peyton’s chief of staff, also attended the meeting to represent Ron Barton, executive director of the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission. He presented the Committee with descriptions of the about 130 City infrastructure improvement projects the mayor will request federal Economic Stimulus Package funds for. These projects include $407 million in improvements for Port Authority projects on a three-year plan.
“As the Mitsui terminal opens in earnest in January, those roads will see an increase in traffic,” said Hollingsworth. “And we need to be able to handle that increase.”
Hollingsworth also notified the Committee about proposed legislation that would expand the definition of a “blighted area” to include, “land previously used as a military facility.”
If bill 39-00216-09 passes, more funding options would be available for the development of Cecil Commerce Center, a former Navy Air Station.
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