The city seeks a demolition permit for a 121-year-old “dilapidated” building it owns Downtown at 324 N. Broad St., while it hopes to preserve and stabilize the facade of the structure.
Michael Lloyd Hauling Inc. is the contractor for the project to demolish the 3,674-square-foot, two-story building at an estimated project cost of $6,500.
A site plan shows that the contractor will access the site from Broad Street, blocking off sidewalks at Duval and Broad streets. It would use a track-mounted excavator with a hydraulic grapple and haul the debris to a landfill or concrete recycling facility, after which it would level the site. Demolition would take place 8 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Friday.
Duval County property records show owners deeded the 0.084-acre property to the city in 1994.
Records show the building, listed at 4,084 square feet, was developed in 1904.
The structure is flanked by two privately owned buildings.
The Downtown Investment Authority approved a resolution Sept. 1, 2024, transferring $195,000 for a capital project called “324 North Broad Street Facade Stabilization and Building Demolition.”
The resolution instructed the DIA CEO to make the budget transfer. The authority also is the community redevelopment agency for the Combined Northbank Community Redevelopment Area.
The resolution said that as part of that redevelopment area’s budget, City Council appropriated $436,746 to unallocated plan authorized expenditures.
“In its inventory of City owned properties assigned to DIA is a dilapidated structure in such disrepair that it requires immediate partial demolition and facade stabilization,” the resolution said.
The structure at 324 N. Broad St. is part of three zero-lot-line buildings that, combined, contribute to the historic facade along Broad Street, it said.
“The DIA desires to preserve and stabilize the building’s facade and demolish the remaining structure.”
It said the DIA had a $177,232 cost proposal to make partial demolition and to stabilize the facade.
It sought a 10% contingency, bringing the total to $195,000, for unforeseen additional costs associated with the work.
Steve Kelley, DIA director of Downtown real estate and development, said April 1 that the city hopes to preserve the facade, but that doesn’t guarantee it can be saved.
“The entire roof has collapsed,” Kelley said. “It is unsafe.”
Kelley said the demolition permit is sought now because of the condition of the building.
“It is a need we are aware of and we are being as responsive as we can to that need,” Kelley said.
“The building is in really tough shape and we are doing everything we can to preserve the facade, but it will be up to the demo crew and engineers to see what we may be able to do in that regard.”
He did not know what the support process would be for the stabilization, but referred to the stilts and structures that kept the facade in place for the Cowford Chophouse Downtown as it was restored.
The property to the south, at 318 N. Broad St., is owned by The New LaVilla LLC, led by Valecia Dunbar, who also leads The Center for Confidence LLC. That two-story, 6,288-square-foot building was built in 1909.
The property to the north, at 326 N. Broad St., is owned by Broadal LLC, which Kelley said is affiliated with Gateway Jax. That 7,010-square-foot, two-story building was built in 1939. NAI Hallmark is marketing it for lease as the Broad Street Professional Center.
Kelley said DIA does not have a disposition of the property but said the neighboring owners would be the potential acquirers of the site.
“We don’t have anything at this time,” he said.
DIA Strategic Initiatives Coordinator Ina Mezini said April 1 by email that the “goal has and continues to be saving the façade, as stated in the resolution.”
“We have a structural engineer engaged to determine the feasibility and engineering on how the façade may be preserved. As it stands today, we have secured the building awaiting the engineering report. Once we have that report we’ll know (the) next steps.”
City Chief Communications Officer Phil Perry said April 2 that no demolition will occur before the engineer’s report and recommendations.