The twice-postponed implosion of the unfinished Berkman Plaza II high-rise Downtown now is planned for 10 a.m. Dec. 20.
“Confirmed with city hall a short time ago. Finally!” developer Park Beeler said Nov. 16 in a text message.
Beeler is co-manager of Jacksonville Riverfront Revitalization LLC, the company working to redevelop the 500 E. Bay St. site.
Two previous dates for the implosion, Oct. 17 and Nov. 14, were scrapped because of scheduling conflicts and safety concerns.
Beeler said previously the implosion was complicated because of the Berkman II’s structural instability discovered in August.
Jacksonville Riverfront Revitalization will buy supplemental liability insurance beyond what demolition contractors Pece of Mind Environmental Inc. and Maryland-based Controlled Demolition Inc. hold on the implosion to cover damage that could be caused by dust and debris, he said.
“We’re being extra cautious on all of that,” Beeler said.
According to Beeler, there is no danger of the building collapsing before the implosion.
PB Riverfront Revitalization of Jacksonville LLC, a company controlled by the developer, bought the Berkman II on April 21 for $5.503 million.
The building has been vacant since 2007, following the collapse of a parking garage that killed one and injured others.