JEA is seeking to acquire 2.02 acres Downtown in Commodores Point to build a water treatment facility – and it might use eminent domain to do so.
The board of the city-owned utility voted 7-0 on Nov. 18 to negotiate an agreement to buy the property, and to use eminent domain to take over the land if negotiations are unsuccessful.
The land JEA is seeking is part of a larger 15.25-acre property owned by Commodores Point Properties Ltd.
JEA wants the eastern 2.02 acres of the property along Beaver Street. The overall property is bordered by St. Johns River to the east, a railroad owned by Seaboard Coastline Railroad to the west, the Mathews Bridge to the north and Beaver Street to the south.
According to a JEA staff memo, an appraisal in May 2025 valued the property at $1,087,300. If JEA uses eminent domain to acquire the land, additional fees and expenses might be incurred.
The memo said the site was chosen because it is next to an existing water main “that will provide continued system reliability and meet growing demand in the area.”
The memo said that while JEA considered other locations, the Beaver Street property was determined to meet its needs.
JEA said it sought approval to potentially proceed via eminent domain to prevent jeopardizing the schedule for building the water treatment facility.
Eminent domain allows the government to take over private property for a public purpose. Florida law allows for utility companies – both public and private – to take over property for the purpose of providing several services, including water treatment.
Eminent domain is invoked when the entity taking over the property cannot negotiate a deal with the property owner. When invoking eminent domain, the entity must provide “just compensation” for the property owner.
Florida law requires that any agency attempting to acquire property through eminent domain must negotiate with the property owner in good faith. It must also provide a written offer of compensation to the fee owner as to the value of the property sought to be appropriated.