Fidelity National Information Services Inc. intends to break ground in May on its $145 million world headquarters in Downtown Jacksonville, Downtown Investment Authority CEO Lori Boyer said during an interview April 8.
The DIA board will vote April 15 on awarding development rights for Phase I of the FIS project.
The resolution included in the agenda packet for the April 15 DIA meeting would allocate 377,000 square feet of office and 6,000 square feet of commercial retail development rights for the project. The 5.71-acre site is at 323 Riverside Ave. in Brooklyn.
Lane Gardner, senior managing director of project management firm Hines, said April 6 that development of the 12-story, 358,092-square-foot FIS office tower and adjacent eight-story parking garage is on schedule.
He expects the project to be completed in June 2022.
The board also will vote on a resolution to sell FIS five stormwater credit acres at $34,948.25 each.
The stormwater credit system is a city program that allows businesses to comply with stormwater runoff requirements through a fee in replacement of on-site stormwater retention infrastructure.
FIS CEO Gary Norcross and Florida Gov. Ron DeSantis announced the headquarters project Nov. 1.
FIS, a Jacksonville-based Fortune 500 company, provides technology for financial institutions. It acquired Cincinnati-based Worldpay in July for $43 billion and needs more space.
The combined company will have more than $12 billion in annual revenue and 55,000 employees worldwide in 40 countries. It has clients in 110 countries.
The majority of the FIS headquarters will be built on a 4½-acre parking lot owned by insurer Florida Blue. FIS intends to buy the land from Florida Blue.
The DIA resolution states the project will bring more than 1,200 jobs to Downtown Jacksonville. In November, Norcross said FIS will create 500 jobs and retain the company’s 1,216 employee workforce.
Three City Council committees unanimously approved funding this week for a city Department of Public Works project to improve traffic flow and road access to the FIS development.
The estimated $3.29 million realignment of Forest Street will improve access to the development from Riverside Avenue and to Sidney J. Gefen Riverwalk Park. It’s also meant to improve drainage in the area.
It’s up for final passage by the full Council on April 14.
DIA and COVID-19
The April 15 DIA agenda is limited to necessary actions, Boyer said.
Mayor Lenny Curry’s office sent a directive to the city’s independent authorities in March that limits the DIA and other city agencies to emergency action while the mayor’s COVID-19 state of emergency is in effect.
For DIA, Boyer said an emergency means meeting the authority’s financial commitments like Recaptured Enhanced Value Grant payments to developers or resolutions that, if postponed, could delay the performance timelines of projects ready for construction.
The DIA canceled its March meeting.
The 2 p.m. April 15 meeting will be held on the videoconferencing platform Zoom.
Boyer said much of the DIA staff is on administrative leave due to the pandemic. She, DIA Operations Manager Guy Parola and Regulatory Compliance Manager John Crescimbeni are working part-time remotely.
The DIA still is processing permits that need the authority’s approval, Boyer said.
