About seven weeks after the city issued an interior demolition permit for the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office at the Florida Blue building in Brooklyn, one for renovation is in review.
The city issued a permit Aug. 1 for Danis Builders LLC for the interior demolition of almost 57,000 square feet at the 532 Riverside Ave. building at a project cost of $1.66 million.
In September, city staff began reviewing a permit for the interior renovation of the space at what is called the Riverside Office Complex at an estimated project cost of almost $27.5 million.
It is referred to as Phase II of the expected three-phase project.
Plans indicate the work is in the garage and on 11 floors of the 20-story structure.
Meskel & Associates Engineering PLLC is providing private plan review.
Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida Inc. is the property owner.
Moving to Brooklyn
On Feb. 25, City Council gave final approval to a lease for JSO’s new space in the structure on the Downtown Northbank, where the sheriff’s office can move most of its operations.
Council voted unanimously for the lease, which adds 283,893 square feet of space to 62,695 square feet that JSO already leased.
The item was on the Council’s consent agenda, having been unanimously approved in Council committees.
The initial term is for 210 months with two five-year renewal options, according to staff notes on the legislation authorizing the lease, Ordinance 2025-0069.
JSO moved its Homeland Security department and some crime labs into the building after Council approved legislation in 2023 to lease space in the building.
According to staff notes, the base rates will be $20 per square foot for office space, $6 per square foot for garage and warehouse space, and $35 per square foot for retail space. Those rates will increase 3% annually.
Landlord Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida Inc. is providing $24.8 million for tenant improvements. That includes 15 months of rate abatement valued at $8.8 million, which JSO has opted to convert to improvements.
JSO will have access to 1,738 parking spaces at the Florida Blue campus. JSO will be allowed to request up to $20 million in additional tenant improvements in exchange for an incremental increase in monthly rent based on an 8% fixed annual interest rate.
Blue Cross is furnishing the space.
Consolidating staff
During a January 2023 presentation to the Mayor’s Budget Review Committee, JSO Assistant Chief Scott Dingee said the new space would allow the department to consolidate staff from the Police Memorial Building and other rented office space.
Dingee said the department anticipated building-out in three phases, with final employees being moved to the tower near the beginning of 2027.
He said that except for a fueling station, JSO would vacate the Police Memorial Building. Doing so would save $6 million in maintenance and upgrades to the building, he said, such as work on the rooftop helicopter landing pad, air handling units and flooring.
A memo presented to the budget review committee said the Police Memorial Building, at 501 E. Bay St., provides 165,466 square feet of usable office space, with 215 parking spaces for 739 employees.
Dingee said the department has used a grass lot across Bay Street but would lose access to the site under plans by the city to build the Shipyards West park on the property.
Having outgrown the building, JSO stations 184 of its employees in 73,880 square feet of off-site office space.
Dingee said JSO officials scouted more than 25 properties before selecting the Florida Blue building.
The Florida Blue building, built in 1950, is 571,459 square feet, according to the Duval County Property Appraiser. There is a four-level parking garage built in 1973.
With a total of 346,588 square feet of space under lease, JSO would occupy 60.6% of the property.
Florida Blue is based at 4800 Deerwood Campus Parkway in Deerwood Park North.