November 05, 2019
The Jacksonville Landing has received approval for its demolition. The Building Inspection Division of the city issued a permit on Monday to D.H. Griffin Wrecking Co. Inc. for the removal of the closed retail marketplace located in Downtown. The demolition is estimated to cost $1,074,002.
D.H. Griffin will dismantle the two-story structure, which spans 178,838 square feet and was constructed 32 years ago at 2 Independent Drive W. on the Northbank of the St. Johns River. According to James Croft, the city's assistant director of public affairs, interior demolition has been in progress for over a month, and exterior demolition is scheduled to commence by mid-November.
The initial structure to be taken down will be Building B, which once housed the Chicago Pizza and Hooters restaurants. The entire demolition project is expected to be completed by June, covering an area of 34,107 square feet of exterior space.
The Jacksonville Landing was originally built as a landmark structure to aid in the revitalization of Downtown Jacksonville. However, these efforts proved unsustainable, especially as the population and retail centers expanded into the suburbs and neighboring counties.
Property records indicate that The Landing is comprised of three buildings. D.H. Griffin has proposed a demolition plan in three distinct phases. The initial phase involves the demolition of buildings situated on the south side of the property, closest to the St. Johns River.
The second phase is focused on the removal of pavers and pavement within The Landing's courtyard area. The third and final phase of the demolition plan is centered around the main building. It was initially intended to allow the last tenant, BBVA Bank, to continue operations until its departure on or before October 28, although the bank vacated the premises earlier than anticipated.
The consulting engineer for this project is Kimley-Horn and Associates Inc. Demolition has been anticipated for several months, although proponents of the structure had urged the city to explore options for reusing the property rather than its complete removal.
In February, the city assumed control of The Landing following a $15 million settlement with Sleiman Enterprises Inc. While the city had ownership of the property, Sleiman Enterprises possessed ownership of the building itself.
The agreement received approval from the City Council. The legislation included $1.5 million designated for tenant lease terminations and various associated expenses.
The cost of $1.074 million for demolishing The Landing aligns with the bid that the city awarded on June 20. D.H. Griffin is required to complete the demolition of the two-story, 56-foot-tall structure by May 28, adhering to the city's established deadline.
Site preparation commenced on August 8 when D.H. Griffin installed fencing around the job site. Subcontractor Eco Relics initiated the removal of items from The Landing for resale on August 26.
In September, the City Council approved $225,000 as part of Mayor Lenny Curry's 2019-20 Capital Improvement Plan to fund a marketing analysis for the property. Furthermore, the administration is seeking to allocate an additional $2 million by the fiscal year 2021-22 to cover pre-engineering, engineering, and landscaping work for The Landing's public space.
Original Article & Photo source: https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/news/2019/nov/05/demolition-approved-for-the-jacksonville-landing/