As Citizens Property Insurance Corp. considers sites for office space in Jacksonville, the Downtown Investment Authority is proposing a parking deal aimed at making the urban core more attractive.
On Jan. 17, Citizens unsealed seven offers from its invitation to negotiate (ITN) for “turn-key” office space Downtown and elsewhere that is smaller than its current offices in the 30-story 301 West Bay building at 301 W. Bay St.
In its Jan. 31 meeting, the DIA board is scheduled to consider a resolution authorizing CEO Lori Boyer to prepare a lease providing the ITN winner with a discounted rate on 1,107 parking spaces in the Water Street Garage, 541 Water St. In the ITN, Citizens said it needs a minimum of 1,107 parking spaces.
DIA Resolution 2025-01-05 states that city code allows the Office of Public Parking, which is overseen by the DIA, to offer discounted rates to users of more than 500 spaces. It further states that the “DIA strongly supports the efforts of Offerors of Downtown office space to win the ITN and retain Citizens and its employees Downtown.”
The resolution would also allow Boyer to further negotiate the discounted rate with the selected respondent and present it to the City Council for approval.
In August 2024, Citizens launched an ITN seeking a space outside of Downtown in South Jacksonville. The insurer did not act on that invitation, and instead released a new one Dec. 19 seeking space in South Jacksonville or Downtown.
On Jan. 17, Citizens unsealed offers from seven respondents:
Near the Water Street Garage:
• Amkin West Bay LLC, 301 W. Bay St., the current Citizens offices.
• Rosecrans 2004 LLC for 225 Water St.
• The Atlantic Land and Improvement Co., in care of CSX Transportation Inc., 550 Water St.
Downtown, but on the Southbank:
• 841 Prudential MLB LLC for 841 Prudential Drive.
South Jacksonville
• Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Florida Inc. for 4800 Deerwood Campus Parkway.
• Jax LC Owner 2 LLC for 14000 Citicards Way.
• Jacksonville IV FGF LLC, in care of Boyd Watterson Asset Management, 8787 Baypine Road.
In 2015, Citizens signed a 10-year, $41.7 million lease for space at 301 West Bay. At that time, the Daily Record reported the Citizens was consolidating offices and moving 1,038 jobs into about 232,000 square feet of space.
With its lease set to expire in June 2026, Citizens issued an ITN with requirements that included 203,000 to 215,000 square feet of space, a minimum of 1,107 parking spaces, offices either in a single building or within the same campus, and a lease with an initial 10-year term and renewal options.
Citizens says it plans to select the office site Feb. 28. It wants its new offices ready for full occupancy by June 1, 2026.
According to the city website, jacksonville.gov, monthly parking in the Water Street Garage starts at $70 plus tax. Event parking is $5 to $10.
The DIA board meeting initially was scheduled for Jan. 23 but was postponed when City Hall offices were closed due to Winter Storm Enzo.
The Jan. 31 meeting is scheduled for 9 a.m. in the Lynwood Roberts Room at City Hall, 117 W. Duval St.