Carvana, the online used-car retailer, has taken another step toward developing an auction and reconditioning “megasite” in Northwest Jacksonville.
Engineering and construction consultant Atwell LLC of Jacksonville requested an environmental resource permit determination March 2 from the St. Johns River Water Management District. WHN Architects of Charlotte, North Carolina, is the architect.
An executive summary by Atwell said Carvana wants to redevelop its 89.32-acre site at 11700 New Kings Road to included a new 77,000-square-foot inspection and reconditioning facility and 6.9 acres for staging.
Two existing buildings remain for wholesale auction use.
Carvana plans the project at its ADESA wholesale auction property. The site is in the Dinsmore area about 3 miles northwest of Interstate 295.
The application description says a stormwater report will demonstrate the existing pond is sufficient to meet stormwater requirements without modification.
The report says it will provide a stormwater management plan using best management practices and diligent engineering that will meet stormwater management requirements by the city and the Water Management District.
The Water Management District request follows Carvana’s filing of civil engineering plans Jan. 20 with the city.
City power provider JEA issued a service availability letter Sept. 30 for the project, described as development of a Carvana maintenance and storage site. A JEA letter indicates a project is being explored and does not confirm a project will proceed.
Separately, the city received an application for a mobility fee calculation certificate for the project, specifying a more than 77,000-square-foot Carvana inspection and reconditioning facility at the address.
Carvana has declined to comment.
Carvana says ADESA is a leader in the wholesale auto auction industry, serving customers online and at its locations across the country.
Duval County property records show the Jacksonville location comprises three buildings totaling 38,127 square feet of space among an office building and two buildings for service and repairs.
ADESA Florida LLC owns the 89.32-acre site. Adesa Corp. of Indianapolis bought the property in 1994 and developed it in 1996.
State corporate records show ownership was amended in 2022 to that of Carvana. In May 2022, Carvana, then based in Phoenix, announced its $2.2 billion acquisition of ADESA’s U.S. auction business from KAR Global.
The acquisition comprised the 56 ADESA U.S. locations totaling about 6.5 million square feet of buildings on more than 4,000 acres.
What to expect
In August 2024, Carvana announced it would develop its first auction and reconditioning “megasite” in Kansas City, Missouri.
It said Carvana would establish inspection and reconditioning center capabilities at the ADESA Kansas City wholesale auction site while maintaining all digital and in-lane auction operations.
That indicates ADESA continues its regular functions while adding the Carvana capabilities.
“This location will anchor the growth of Carvana’s retail and wholesale operations in the area and enhance the company’s offering for retail and commercial customers,” the company said in a news release.
Carvana said the suburban Kansas City site would be the first of the 56 ADESA wholesale auction locations to become an “auction-IRC Megasite.” IRC is “Inspection and Reconditioning Center.”
It expected the transition to create about 200 entry-level and skilled manufacturing jobs as the site expanded.