The Jessie Ball duPont Fund has purchased the former Haydon Burns Public Library for conversion into office space for nonprofit and philanthropic organizations.
"This building, with all its quirkiness, is one of the beloved structures in downtown Jacksonville. We hope that saving and repurposing the building will not only benefit our nonprofit sector and our downtown economy, but will also generate enthusiasm among local residents who have fond memories of the library," said Jessie Ball duPont Fund President Sherry Magill in a news release.
The fund is based in the Wells Fargo Center at 1 Independent Drive and will be one of the first tenants to move after the renovation, which is scheduled to take 18 months.
The fund's trustees have directed that the building be used as a green energy demonstration project, including Leadership in Energy and Environmental Design (LEED) certification, recycled water, energy-saving features and an accessible green roof.
The fund has experience in renovating historic structures to provide space for nonprofit organizations, said fund spokeswoman Mary Kress Littlepage.
She said when the duPont Chemical Co. donated a building in Wilmington, Del., the fund provided some financial support for the renovation.
"That provided a model for what the fund wants to do in Jacksonville," she said.
A separate legal entity, JBDF LLC, will manage the building, establish rental rates and hire a real estate agent, she said.
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