JEA and the Downtown Investment Authority are discussing options for the city utility’s aging headquarters building.
“I can acknowledge we have had conversations with the JEA in regard to their existing site,” said DIA CEO Aundra Wallace.
Those discussions included what the JEA plans to do with its property at 21 W. Church St. Downtown “and the need for a potential new headquarters,” he said Tuesday.
Asked where the site would be, Wallace said he couldn’t say. “Not right now, but check back with me in 24-48 hours,” he said.
JEA spokeswoman Gerri Boyce said the topic is supposed to be on the agenda at the utility’s June 20 board meeting.
JEA hired a consultant last year to determine what to do about its half-century-old headquarters, which it has said is in disrepair and inefficient.
The September study suggested that the “highest qualitative score” would be for JEA to demolish the existing 19-story tower and rebuild on the site, although it’s not clear – and Wallace wouldn’t say – where the utility might decide to develop new headquarters Downtown.
JEA bought the tower and the next-door customer service building in 1989 for $8 million. They were built in 1962.
The tower formerly served as headquarters for The Charter Co. and the customer center was a department store.
The consultant’s “Downtown Campus Evaluation” covered options that included renovating the buildings; demolishing and rebuilding on-site; and developing a new headquarters Downtown.
The sites for construction included La Villa, the Shipyards and the city core.
At the time of the study, JEA had 758 employees, 530 parking spaces and 337,600 square feet of space.
It said it needed space for 800 employees and 800 parking spots and would require 220,000 square feet of office and operational space.
A published report in January said the options would cost from $53 million to $78 million.
JEA has said the 55-year-old building’s systems need replacement, including elevators, plumbing, electrical, heating and air conditioning. It said the basement, which contains the backup generator, floods.
JEA’s board will decide the next step. It meets on the top floor of the tower in the former revolving restaurant that was called “The Embers.”
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