JACKSONVILLE, N.C. (WITN) – A USO building that served Marines in Jacksonville since 1942 is set to be demolished following structural concerns identified after Hurricane Florence damaged the site in 2018.<\/p>\n
The building closed in 2021. A study conducted by the U.S. Navy at the request of the Marine Corps found serious structural problems with the footings, according to Jacksonville Deputy City Manager Ron Massey.<\/p>\n
In 2022, city officials were given the option to renovate the building. Massey said the cost estimate at the time was $8 million and has likely grown since.<\/p>\n
\u201cOne would be a complete renovation of the building, which when the study was completed in 2022 was estimated to be $8 million and that was before we started seeing all the price increases,\u201d Massey said.<\/p>\n
A new USO has since opened on base. Massey said the on-base location has proven more effective for service members. \u201cWhen they last operated downtown, they served about 1,200 a year. In the last year at Lejeune, about 45,000 customers visited the USO. So, they\u2019re more successful where they are,\u201d Massey said.<\/p>\n
Retired Marine Sgt. Maj. Joe Houle said he first visited the USO as a young Marine in 1964 and later returned with his family.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt was a place to come and relax. Young Marines that don\u2019t have any money after four days after payday would come here,\u201d Houle said. \u201cWe used to come here with my wife and my boys and watch them shoot pool and play foosball. I\u2019ll never forget that.\u201d<\/p>\n
Houle said he initially did not support tearing down the building because he considered it a landmark, but said he now understands the decision.<\/p>\n
The timeline for demolition and plans for the land have not been determined.<\/p>\n
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