By Karen Brune Mathis and Mike Mendenhall • Staff Writers
Municipal utility JEA paid almost $2.45 million March 18 for 2.27 acres in LaVilla targeted for its “hardened” secondary headquarters.
JEA bought the vacant property, among 19 parcels, from LaVilla Partners III LLLP. The sale was recorded March 19 with the Duval County Clerk of Courts.
In January JEA said it would pause plans to build the facility as it reevaluated its post-pandemic workplace.
Despite the uncertainty, JEA leadership said it intended to complete the purchase of the site for the facility.
The proposed 40,000-square-foot facility would house JEA’s emergency operations center and supplement the utility’s eight-story, $64 million to $68 million headquarters under construction at 225 N. Pearl St. Downtown.
The board voted 7-0 in November to allow staff to complete sale negotiations with property owner LaVilla Partners III LLLP.
According to JEA officials, staff intended to close on the land after it completes site due diligence.
JEA CEO Jay Stowe said completing the property purchase will allow utility executives to keep all options on the table until it finishes the workplace analysis.
The property is bounded by Ashley, Johnson, Church and Duval streets.