Ashco Centers shared its plan for a hotel, condos, waterfront dining and retail where the DCPS headquarters stands on the Southbank.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Another new addition to the Jacksonville skyline is in the works on the site of the Duval County Schools headquarters.
Ashco Centers shared plans for The Seaport at St. Johns with a hotel, condos and waterfront dining on the Southbank.
“Wanted to go for a walk,” said Josalyn Brinson while on the Southbank Riverwalk. “It’s beautiful out here and very peaceful, so that’s what I was doing.”
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Brinson said she finds herself walking along the Riverwalk on a weekly basis.
Those walks take her right past the DCPS headquarters building.
“I’ve been in Jacksonville my whole life, so I’m used to it, but it is a little bit of sore eyes,” Brinson said. “Having something new, bringing the community together, bringing new life downtown, I’m here for it.”
Her wish could be granted soon as school board leaders agreed to sell the HQ to Ashco for about $15 million.
Ashco Centers shared its vision for the Seaport at St. Johns with a mix of condos, a hotel, shopping, waterfront dining and a marina.
“I feel that this is going to be an outdoor living room for Jacksonville people to enjoy,” said Ashco Centers VP of Leasing and Acquisitions Tiffany Ashurian. “We’re all about community. We’re all about engagement. This project is just that.”
There is a catch – DCPS gets up to three years to find a new location before Ashco Centers can start development.
“We’re in close communication with them to make sure their operation is able to continue without any interruptions, all the while, they’re working with us to make sure the development plans can proceed according to schedule,” said Ashco Centers Director of Community Engagement Litsa Dawkins.
DCPS had two other potential deals to sell not come to fruition in the past year, one with Fleet Landing and the other with Chase Properties, but Ashurian is confident their deal will stick.
“It’s all about activation,” Ashurian said. “It’s all about creating a space the community can enjoy. What’s most exciting to me is I’m from Jacksonville, and I believe this is going to absolutely transform our city.”
Brinson will follow along with the progress on her weekly walks.
“Jacksonville, just finish what you start,” Brinson said.
The timeline for the Seaport at St. Johns development depends on DCPS landing a new home.
With Election Day coming up in a few weeks, that could be one of the first big decisions facing a new group of board members.