The Jacksonville City Council agreed Sept. 9 to donate eight surplus city parcels to a nonprofit partnership that plans to build affordable housing in the Eastside.
Lift Jax Inc. and the Historic Eastside Community Development Corp. plan to develop the properties in the historic neighborhood north of EverBank Stadium.
The eight parcels and one other previously were donated to the Historic Eastside Community Development Corp. However, the organization only had the funding to develop one property.
Ordinance 2025-0608 passed with a 17-0 vote, with Council member Chris Miller away on a work trip and Council President Kevin Carrico absent.
The partnership, the Eastside Housing Collaborative LLC, will have the funding to develop all eight properties, said Travis Williams, interim CEO of Lift Jax.
The partnership says the single-family homes will be built on the lots but has not determined the size, configuration or costs of the residences. Williams said the homes will conform with city guidelines for development on surplus properties.
The parcels are at 1247 Dyal St.; 1322 Harrison St.; 1305 Bridier St.; 0 13th St. E.; 719 Fifth St. E.; 1130 12th St. E.; 1442 Florida Ave. and 1152 3rd St. E.
“How can we (Lift Jax and Historic Eastside CDC)– two organizations that work in a similar footprint – collaborate our capital to keep up with the market pace on the neighborhood?” said Williams. “They’ll be quality. They’ll be aesthetically pleasing.”
According to the legislation, five parcels are vacant and three are improved. They have a total assessed value of $151,933.
Should Eastside Housing Collaboration LLC fail to convert the properties into affordable housing within two years, they will revert to city ownership.