Sept. 23, 2026, 4:01 p.m. ET

A cross from First Baptist Church of Jacksonville looms over the demolition site as construction workers use excavators to remove debris from the teardown of the former main auditorium of downtown church. The building was sold to developer Gateway Jax , which plans to build an apartment tower and a Publix store at the site. | See more demolition photosA cross from First Baptist Church of Jacksonville looms over the demolition site as construction workers use excavators to remove debris from the teardown of the former main auditorium of downtown church. The building was sold to developer Gateway Jax, which plans to build an apartment tower and a Publix store at the site. | See more demolition photosDoug Engle/Florida Times-UnionTraffic makes its way along West Union Street as construction workers use excavators to move debris from the teardown of the First Baptist Church of Jacksonville’s old sanctuary in downtown Jacksonville, Fla., on Wednesday, September 23, 2026.

Traffic makes its way along West Union Street as construction workers use excavators to move debris from the teardown of the First Baptist Church of Jacksonville’s old sanctuary in downtown Jacksonville, Fla., on Wednesday, September 23, 2026.

Doug Engle/Florida Times-UnionAn excavator operator makes piles of debris from the teardown of the First Baptist Church of Jacksonville’s old sanctuary in downtown Jacksonville, Fla., on Wednesday, September 23, 2026.

An excavator operator makes piles of debris from the teardown of the First Baptist Church of Jacksonville’s old sanctuary in downtown Jacksonville, Fla., on Wednesday, September 23, 2026.

Doug Engle/Florida Times-UnionExcavator operators move debris from the teardown of the First Baptist Church of Jacksonville’s old sanctuary in downtown Jacksonville, Fla., on Wednesday, September 23, 2026.

Excavator operators move debris from the teardown of the First Baptist Church of Jacksonville’s old sanctuary in downtown Jacksonville, Fla., on Wednesday, September 23, 2026.

Doug Engle/Florida Times-UnionThe structure is completely down at the site of the old First Baptist Church of Jacksonville’s sanctuary in downtown Jacksonville, Fla. Wednesday, September 23, 2026.

The structure is completely down at the site of the old First Baptist Church of Jacksonville’s sanctuary in downtown Jacksonville, Fla. Wednesday, September 23, 2026.

Doug Engle/Florida Times-UnionAn excavator operator uses a steel girder to move debris from the teardown of First Baptist Church of Jacksonville’s old sanctuary in downtown Jacksonville, Fla., Wednesday, September 23, 2026.

An excavator operator uses a steel girder to move debris from the teardown of First Baptist Church of Jacksonville’s old sanctuary in downtown Jacksonville, Fla., Wednesday, September 23, 2026.

Doug Engle/Florida Times-UnionA cross from First Baptist Church of Jacksonville looms over the demolition site as construction workers used excavators to make piles and remove debris from the tear down of the First Baptist Church of Jacksonville’s old sanctuary in downtown Jacksonville, Fla. Wednesday September 23, 2026.

A cross from First Baptist Church of Jacksonville looms over the demolition site as construction workers used excavators to make piles and remove debris from the tear down of the First Baptist Church of Jacksonville’s old sanctuary in downtown Jacksonville, Fla. Wednesday September 23, 2026.

Doug Engle/Florida Times-UnionExcavator operators made piles of debris from the tear down of the First Baptist Church of Jacksonville’s old sanctuary in downtown Jacksonville, Fla. Wednesday September 23, 2026.

Excavator operators made piles of debris from the tear down of the First Baptist Church of Jacksonville’s old sanctuary in downtown Jacksonville, Fla. Wednesday September 23, 2026.

Doug Engle/Florida Times-UnionAn excavator operator uses a steel girder to move debris from the tear down of the First Baptist Church of Jacksonville’s old sanctuary in downtown Jacksonville, Fla. Wednesday September 23, 2026.

An excavator operator uses a steel girder to move debris from the tear down of the First Baptist Church of Jacksonville’s old sanctuary in downtown Jacksonville, Fla. Wednesday September 23, 2026.

Doug Engle/Florida Times-UnionThe structure is completely down at the site of the old First Baptist Church of Jacksonville’s sanctuary in downtown Jacksonville, Fla., on Wednesday, September 23, 2026.

The structure is completely down at the site of the old First Baptist Church of Jacksonville’s sanctuary in downtown Jacksonville, Fla., on Wednesday, September 23, 2026.

Doug Engle/Florida Times-UnionAn excavator operator uses a steel girder to move debris from the teardown of the First Baptist Church of Jacksonville’s old sanctuary in downtown Jacksonville, Fla. Wednesday, September 23, 2026.

An excavator operator uses a steel girder to move debris from the teardown of the First Baptist Church of Jacksonville’s old sanctuary in downtown Jacksonville, Fla. Wednesday, September 23, 2026.

Doug Engle/Florida Times-UnionAn Excavator operator makes a pile of recyclables while removing debris from the teardown of the First Baptist Church of Jacksonville’s old sanctuary in downtown Jacksonville, Fla. Wednesday, September 23, 2026.

An Excavator operator makes a pile of recyclables while removing debris from the teardown of the First Baptist Church of Jacksonville’s old sanctuary in downtown Jacksonville, Fla. Wednesday, September 23, 2026.

Doug Engle/Florida Times-UnionAn excavator operator makes piles of debris from the teardown of the First Baptist Church of Jacksonville’s old sanctuary in downtown Jacksonville, Fla. Wednesday, September 23, 2026.

An excavator operator makes piles of debris from the teardown of the First Baptist Church of Jacksonville’s old sanctuary in downtown Jacksonville, Fla. Wednesday, September 23, 2026.

Doug Engle/Florida Times-UnionExcavator operators made piles of debris from the teardown of the First Baptist Church of Jacksonville’s old sanctuary in downtown Jacksonville, Fla. Wednesday, September 23, 2026.

Excavator operators made piles of debris from the teardown of the First Baptist Church of Jacksonville’s old sanctuary in downtown Jacksonville, Fla. Wednesday, September 23, 2026.

Doug Engle/Florida Times-Union