Demolition looms along East Bay Street for the City Hall Annex and former Duval County Courthouse.
Permit applications were filed Thursday to take down the city-owned structures at a cost of $7.95 million. Interior demolition is underway.
City spokewoman Tia Ford said Friday the annex is scheduled for implosion Jan. 20 and structural demolition at the courthouse will begin by the end of November with completion in April. She said those dates are subject to change.
The permit applications made Friday seek approvals for the full takedown.
The 15-story annex at 220 E. Bay St. will be imploded at a cost of $4.95 million, the application shows. Environmental Holdings Group LLC of Morrisville, North Carolina, is the contractor.
The structure, built in 1960, comprises 200,140 square feet of enclosed space and 28,149 square feet of unenclosed space. It sits on 2.39 acres.
The seven-story courthouse building at 330 E. Bay St. will be demolished at a cost of $3 million. Environmental Holdings Group was chosen as the contractor for that as well.
The structure, built in 1956, comprises 357,757 square feet of enclosed space and 12,632 square feet of unenclosed space. It sits on 5.98 acres.
While the annex will be imploded, the courthouse will be taken down by a conventional demolition.
Environmental Holdings Group has been preparing for the demolition and began work in early August on both the buildings. The city issued a notice to proceed July 26.
Contractors began with interior demolition.
Mayor Lenny Curry earmarked $8 million for the project in the 2017-18 Capital Improvement Program budget.
The city moved most of departments in 1997 to the St. James Building at 117 W. Duval St. Some departments remained for several more years.
Courthouse operations moved in 2012 to the Duval County Courthouse at 501 W. Adams St.
What happens next to the property remains in question.
Curry and the Downtown Investment Authority are reviewing proposals to develop the 8.38-acre property into a convention center complex or other use, such as a proposed mixed-use development.
