JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The move of Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office to the Florida Blue building could begin in a few months. It still needs approval but some JSO detectives have been seen moving to the building on Riverside Avenue.
Our news partner, the Jacksonville Daily Record, says permits have been pulled and the city is reviewing the plans to make changes to the Riverside high rise.
It was 46 years ago in 1977 that the Sheriff’s Office moved into the police memorial building on Bay Street. Now, time is almost up as the city is more than likely going to move all of the Sheriff’s administrative offices to the Florida Blue building.
The city has been looking at alternatives for the sheriff’s office and the jail because the buildings upkeep have become too expensive. City Council Michael Boylan is heading up a group which is looking at alternatives.
“In the short term, it just makes a lot of good sense to me,” Boylan said.
That’s because a new building would take years to plan and over $470 million to build. The plan now being considered is to lease several floors of the Florida Blue building. The entire plan still needs city council approval. No legislation has been drafted but it’s expected to happen probably within the next budget year. Work for the move has already started.
The city has just issued a permit and the owner is expected to make the majority of $5 million improvements in order to house JSO.
The rent could cost about $5.6 million a year. Other offices and businesses including Baptist Health are also at the site.
As for the old police memorial building, it could become part of the current jail complex. Councilman Boylan is hoping it would house an infirmary of sorts for the inmates until a new jail can be built.
The site and scope of that is still being discussed by the city.