While firefighters continue to spray water on the smoldering Rise Doro apartments under construction in Downtown, Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan said Jan. 29 the project “looks like a total loss.”
A fire struck the building at 960 E. Adams St. south of VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena over the weekend. The Jacksonville Fire Rescue Department firefighters worked over the night Jan. 28 to bring it under control.
Many questions remain about the cause of this, but “I’m just grateful nobody was hurt,” Deegan said at a news conference in front of the smoking building broadcast on Jacksonville Daily Record news partner WJXT Channel 4.
The apartments, which have been in development since at least 2020, were planned to have the first units available for rent in March, according to News4Jax, the WJXT news site.
“It’s heartbreaking. It’s heartbreaking to see because we were so close,” Deegan said.
Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department Chief Keith Powers said there is a threat of the building collapsing.
“That is a big concern of ours right now, keeping our men and women safe, because as that roof burns off, you lose structural integrity and the walls can pull in or fall out,” he said.
Powers said that after the fire is out, engineers will determine if the building is salvageable.
Asked by reporters about the cause of the blaze, Powers said the state of Florida was investigating.
“They’re here, and they’re working on that,” he said.
A $65.54 million project
The apartments were being developed by Jacksonville-based Rise: A Real Estate Company and Deegan said she talked with the company president, Greg Blais.
“He did express that they would like to be able to put this back up when they can,” she said.
“Obviously, we’re a long way from that at this point.”
The project is on 1.77 acres where the George Doro Fixture Co. fabricated architectural woodwork, casework and millwork.
The Doro building was demolished and the city issued a construction permit in December 2020 for what was planned to be a $65.64 million apartment project.
“A lot of us grew up with the Doro building right there, and it was a fixture in Jacksonville for so long, Deegan said.
“It was something, we were all very much looking forward to a lot of pride in that. Truly this is heartbreaking.”
Through Jacksonville Properties I LLC, Rise was developing the 247-unit, five-story wood-frame project. There also was a seven-level, 284-space parking garage with rooftop amenities.
The Downtown Investment Authority board authorized a 15-year, 65% Recapture Enhanced Value Grant in 2020 for Rise, which anticipated a total project investment of $65.64 million.
Rise was to receive up to a $5.75 million tax incentive for the project.
“There must be insurance involved with it, but I don’t know at this point where it goes from here,” Deegan said when asked about the incentives.
Deegan called the fire a setback for Downtown development.
“It’s extraordinarily disappointing,” she said.
Deegan said she thought about was the Berkman Plaza II, the Downtown condominium that was unfinished for more than a decade after construction was halted after a fatal construction accident. The riverfront building was imploded in 2022.
“It was one of the first things that I thought about, once I learned everybody was safe,” she said. “We don’t want to see this sit here for a long time and have it not developed.
“They are hopeful that they can, they can continue along with a process of building it back up. But right now it sure looks like this, this building at least is going to be a loss.”
Fire starts over weekend
News4Jax reported that about 11 p.m. Jan. 28, JFRD said the fire was under control. Around midnight Jan. 29, the fire appeared to reignite.
Crews initially went inside the building to put the flames out floor by floor, but the building was still under construction, which caused obstacles like the stairwells not being finished.
The fire caused at least one wall to blow out, with debris landing on a nearby fire truck and just missing firefighters.
JFRD Fire Capt. Eric Prosswimmer told News4JAX that no one was inside the building, as far as they knew.
At least seven JFRD ladder trucks poured up to 5,000 gallons of water per minute on the flames throughout the night and morning.
According to Apartments.com, studio, one- and two-bedroom units at the Doro were shown for lease for $1,475-$3,200 per month.
“Live where the excitement is. Thrive where the opportunity awaits. Find your new apartment home in Downtown Jacksonville next to the most energetic venues and entertainment the city has to offer. RISE Doro is where you want to be,” reads the Rise website describing the community.
That has been updated to a new message:
“Thank You Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department & First Responders. Our thoughts and prayers are with the firefighters, first responders, and their families who have been committed to the safety of our community. We are thankful for their quick and ongoing response to the situation.”
Vic Micolucci and Brianna Andrews of News4Jax.com contributed to this report.
