Completed in 1916, the former National Guard Armory has served many purposes.
The home for National Guard troops, a place to train. It's been a spot for social gatherings, an entertainment venue with boxing matches, concerts. Most recently, it's housed city departments.
The site has been discussed as a possible elections office and a homeless day center, but neither idea went anywhere.
It's been vacant for years, has deteriorated and needs work.
In 2011, the city Recreation Department asked nonprofits to submit ideas they had for the facility. The Sons of Confederate Veterans, Kirby-Smith Camp 1209 responded and has since worked with the city on plans to restore the building and turn it into a museum. A bill for a lease was filed with City Council in June.
"What the building represents is the history of Jacksonville and the military heritage of Jacksonville," said Calvin Hart, camp commander.
Then, something happened. A group of four nonprofits came forth seeking the historic site, wanting to turn it into an arts and education hub.
Suddenly, the armory is a hot piece of real estate.
Different uses
Saturday morning at the Old City Cemetery, Hart and a couple of dozen members of the Kirby-Smith Camp wrapped up their monthly duty of cleaning and maintaining the historic final resting place.
"We restored this," Hart says, looking over the gravestones. "It wasn't in good shape … every month we serve."
Hart says the camp is the largest in the country with about 225 members, with some on this morning coming from Baker and Nassau counties.
Blocks away is the armory, the place they want to restore to respect American veterans. Part of the plan calls for a military museum plan, with the rest open to other civic groups.
In the past three months, Hart and the group have worked with the city's Office of General Counsel and others to hammer out details on its proposed lease and use of the space.
"It's been a good relationship," Hart said.
Hart said he thought all was well until last week when council committees began to discuss the proposal.
Last Monday, the Transportation, Energy and Utilities Committee passed the bill 6-1, but before the vote there was talk about possible deferral because another group had shown interest.
That interest was on display Tuesday to the Finance Committee.
The first hour of the meeting featured a presentation led by Kathryn McAvoy, director of The Performers Academy. The academy is one of the four nonprofits, along with The Art Center Cooperative, The Jacksonville Centre of the Arts and The Art League of Jacksonville pushing an alternative use for the building.
McAvoy was joined by others who pitched to turn the site into "The Artery at the Armory," a cultural destination focused on the arts and featuring galleries, studio space and community education, among other activities.
She said the group has for months been putting together their plans and wanted to make sure it had financial commitments in place before it presented.
"We weren't late to the game," she said in a later interview. "It's not like we were doing nothing."
After the hour-long discussion about the plan, the Finance Committee deferred action.
"We think we have a better use of this space for the community and the city of Jacksonville," McAvoy said.
Hart disagrees with the notion.
"It's about the building," he said. "That's complete disrespect to the veterans who served out of the armory and sacrificed. It's becoming a veterans issue now."
Hart said he had "no idea" about the other group wanting the building until the past week at the committee level.
"They're trying to hijack it," he said of the building. "After three years of work."
A matter of support
Council member Kim Daniels sponsored the Sons of Confederate Veterans bill and has worked with the organization for some time on the matter.
She told the Transportation, Energy and Utilities Committee members the arts group had never come to see her, which is a "real big problem." She also used the "hijack" term when discussing the recent events.
"My thing is … the gun was shot five months ago," she said. "It's already out of the blocks, running the race and it's too late to get in."
Council member Johnny Gaffney said he still thinks there's time. His district includes the armory and he supports the arts group.
"When they told me what it was about, I was extremely impressed," he said.
He said Sunday that his goal is to have legislation for the group introduced Dec. 10, the last full council meeting of the year.
Daniels was unavailable for comment Friday and Monday morning.
She is meeting with council President Bill Gulliford at 2:30 p.m. Tuesday to discuss the issue.
The bill in support of the Sons of Confederate Veterans could be pulled for a Tuesday vote, should Gulliford seek to do so and the council approves with a supermajority vote.
There's also community support lining up on each side.
Local Initiatives Support Corp. has signed a letter of support for the arts group and could lend up to $5 million toward the group's rehabilitation effort.
Currently, the group estimates it needs about $9 million to rehabilitate and renovate the 80,000-square-foot site for its needs.
Hart said letters of support are being lined up this week from the community to support the Sons of Confederate cause.
He chose not to disclose which companies, but did say Cecil W. Powell & Co., an insurance and surety bond firm, was one.
Hart didn't disclose how much his group would need, but said much of the renovation work could be done in-house.
"We fundraise all the time," he said.
Representatives from both groups are expected to be in attendance Tuesday.
McAvoy said the group isn't at odds with the Sons of Confederate Veterans.
Instead, it's about the use of the building that could serve art-based and art-interested organizations.
For the Sons of Confederate, it's the same — almost.
"This is just more of the fight we've been fighting for three years," said Hart. "It's about the building. It's not about us, it's not about the other organization."
Neither organization, though, will make the determination for the building that has suddenly generated a buzz.
Instead, it will be council who determines the spoils.
Plans for site
Sons of Confederate Veterans
• 10-year lease, two additional 5-year renewals, $1 a year
• Military museum, tours, promote Jacksonville military history
• Will perform some restoration
• Legislation in City Council
The Artery at the Armory
• Group of four nonprofits seeks to create art-centric facility
• Education, gallery display, performance center
• Local Initiatives Support Corp. could loan $5 million
• Legislation to be filed within next month
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