A campus of closed buildings on the south side of the Arlington Expressway is poised for transformation into an office-to-residential project and new multifamily construction after action March 25 by the Jacksonville City Council.
Council approved two sets of companion ordinances to redevelop the 16.42-acre site in the 7800 and 7900 blocks of the expressway, which includes the former FBI Building, two vacant Offshore Power Systems office buildings and the closed Jim’s Place restaurant.
Plans call for the six-floor FBI and Offshore Power Systems buildings to be converted into apartments, with construction of four new six-story buildings.
According to staff reports from the city Planning and Development Department, the land that includes the FBI and Offshore Power Systems buildings would comprise six multifamily buildings totaling 659 multifamily units, plus an amenities area.
The restaurant property would be redeveloped with a seventh building along with a dog walk and pickleball courts.
Work on the former FBI Building is underway.
The Council approvals came on:
• Ordinance 2025-0088, which rezones 14.38 acres at 7820 and 7960 Arlington Expressway from Commercial Residential and Office, Commercial Community/General-2 and Planned Unit Development into a new PUD to permit multifamily dwellings along with commercial and office uses.
The property is owned by 8000-1 LLC and 8000 Realco LLC of Fort Lauderdale.
The 7820 Arlington Expressway building is the former FBI structure, which was built in 1975. It is under renovation into apartments.
The property at 7960 Arlington Expressway comprises two office buildings developed in 1972 and 1973 for Offshore Power Systems.
Council voted 16-1 on the ordinance, with member Matt Carlucci voting no and members Reggie Gaffney Jr. and Jimmy Peluso not present. Carlucci, a supporter of Citizens Planning Advisory Committees, did not explain his vote but may have noted that the Greater Arlington/Beaches CPAC recommended denial of the rezoning.
• Ordinance 2025-0087, which applies to the 7960 Arlington Expressway buildings, adopts a small-scale amendment to change the future land use designation from Community/General Commercial and Residential-Professional-Institutional to High Density Residential on the 9.56-acre property.
The vote was 17-0.
• Ordinance 2025-0086, which rezones about 2.04 acres at the former Jim’s Place at 7900 Arlington Expressway from Commercial Community/General-2 to Planned Unit Development for the seventh building.
The vote was 16-1, with Carlucci again casting the no vote. The Greater Arlington/Beaches CPAC also recommended denial of the rezoning.
• Companion Ordinance 2025-0085 adopts a small-scale land-use amendment to accommodate the use as high-density residential. The vote was 17-0.
During hearings before Council committees and the Jacksonville Planning Commission, the project drew praise as an infill development that would address an eyesore along the expressway. The two former Offshore Power Systems structures are vandalized with graffiti and broken windows.
The Jacksonville Planning Commission and city Planning and Development Department staff recommended approvals.
Property owner and developer Marc Kozman, through Arlington Florida LP, acquired the four properties in separate deeds totaling $8 million. Arlington Florida LP is affiliated with the 8000 Realco and 8000-1 limited liability companies.