Legislation to facilitate construction of a new multifamily development on the site of three former office buildings and the closed Jim’s Place restaurant on the south side of the Arlington Expressway is headed to the Jacksonville City Council with unanimous support from the city Planning Commission.
On March 6, the commission voted 6-0 on four ordinances to rezone and change the land use on 16.42 acres to turn the dilapidated property into an apartment development with associated amenities.
The site includes the former FBI Building, which is under renovation, and two former Offshore Power Systems structures vandalized with graffiti and broken windows. It is between Arlington Road North and Century Street.
“This is exactly the right kind of project for these parcels,” Commissioner Charles Garrison said, adding that he drives by the property frequently and is relieved that it is being redeveloped.
No one spoke in opposition to the development.
The commission’s actions came on two sets of companion pieces of legislation, Ordinances 2025-0085 and 0086 and Ordinances 2025-0087 and 0088.
The votes constitute a recommendation for approval to Council.
Ordinance 2025-0088 would rezone 14.38 acres at 7820 and 7960 Arlington Expressway from Commercial Residential and Office, Commercial Community/General-2 and Planned Unit Development into a new PUD to permit multifamily dwellings along with commercial and office uses.
The property is owned by 8000-1 LLC and 8000 Realco LLC of Fort Lauderdale.
The 7820 Arlington Expressway building is the former FBI structure, which was built in 1975. It is under renovation into apartments.
The property at 7960 Arlington Expressway comprises two office buildings developed in 1972 and 1973 for Offshore Power Systems.
Ordinance 2025-0087, which applies to the 7960 Arlington Expressway buildings, would adopt a small-scale amendment to change the future land use designation from Community/General Commercial and Residential-Professional-Institutional to High Density Residential on the 9.56-acre property.
Plans call for the three buildings to be replaced with a development with 659 multifamily units, with maximum density not to exceed 775.
Plans for the entire property, including the Jim’s Place site, call for seven buildings.
Ordinances 0087 and 0088 apply to the first six buildings, along with an amenity center and pool.
Ordinance 2025-0086 would rezone about 2.04 acres at the former Jim’s Place at 7900 Arlington Expressway from Commercial Community/General-2 to Planned Unit Development for the seventh building, comprising 96 multifamily units not to exceed 125, along with a dog walk and pickleball courts.
Companion Ordinance 2025-0085 would adopt a small-scale land-use amendment to accommodate the use as high-density residential.
“This is much-needed infill. It’s a dilapidated site. It’s a great investment for the city of Jacksonville and Arlington,” said Michael Sittner, an attorney in the Driver, McAfee, Hawthorne & Diebenow law firm, the project agent.
The property owner and developer Marc Kozman, through Arlington Florida LP, acquired the four properties in separate deeds totaling $8 million. Arlington Florida LP is affiliated with the 8000 Realco and 8000-1 limited liability companies.
Public hearings on the ordinances are scheduled for March 18 before the City Council Land Use and Zoning Committee, which meets at 5 p.m. at City Hall, 117 W. Duval St.