by Max Marbut
Staff Writer
Better Jacksonville Plan Project Manager Dave Schneider appeared before the Downtown Development Review Board of the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission Thursday to update members on an aspect of the Duval County Unified Courthouse project.
The board granted conceptual approval Jan. 28, 2010, for the design of a pedestrian bridge connecting the former federal courthouse and post office and the County Courthouse under construction Downtown.
The locally approved design complemented the look of the two buildings in terms of color and facade.
However, the design was rejected by the State Historical Preservation Office.
“They said the bridge should look like neither building,” said Schneider. He explained the state was concerned that people not familiar with the project might conclude that the bridge had always been part of the federal building, which could lead to confusion.
“Let’s just not build it,” said board member Andy Sikes.
“That would be a tough sell,” said Schneider.
The bridge was requested by the State Attorney’s Office, which will occupy the five floors of the former federal building, to provide security for prosecutors crossing from their offices to courtrooms across the street.
Schneider presented a new design based on metal and glass. Board members expressed opinions that the new design needs to reflect in some way the architecture of the new courthouse and directed Schneider to work with the project’s architects and present another design at the board’s meeting in March.
Sikes asked if there was an appeal process for the state’s decision. Schneider said the City purchased the building from the federal government for $800,000 and the agreement stipulated that any modifications to the structure have to be approved by the State Historical Preservation Office. Failure to comply with the state’s decision would result in the building reverting to the federal government.
Schneider also said the building is old enough to be eligible for inclusion on the National Registry of Historic Buildings but no application has been filed.
In other action Thursday, the board approved the language of City Ordinance 2010-901, which clarifies zoning regulations for surface parking lots Downtown. If enacted, the legislation would require property owners operating parking lots on their parcels to landscape the lots and improve the sidewalks around them to meet existing Downtown streetscape standards.
When asked what the ordinance provides in terms of enforcement, Assistant General Counsel Jason Teal said the first step would be to issue a citation. Following that would be a hearing before a special master and if the property owner still failed to comply with the ordinance, judicial remedy would be the final step, including possible foreclosure and seizure of the property by the City.
JEDC Executive Director Ron Barton said the proposed ordinance already has had an effect on at least two of the 30-40 property owners who would be affected by the zoning requirements. They have already shut down their parking lots.
The proposed legislation would also enforce standards on property not being operated for parking.
“If in three or four years there are no more foundations sticking out of vacant lots, this bill will have done its job,“ said board member Roland Udenze, an architect at Haskell.
The proposed legislation now heads to the City Council’s Land Use and Zoning Committee for its approval.
The next meeting of the DDRB is 2 p.m. Feb. 24 in the JEDC conference room at 1 W. Adams St.
356-2466