In a recent decision, the Duval County School Board voted to sell its current headquarters on Prudential Drive for $17.2 million. The board also approved the acquisition of a new facility on Prominence Parkway in the Baymeadows area.
The district will soon bid farewell to its Southbank headquarters following a close 4-3 vote on Tuesday night. This decision marks a significant shift as the board moves to relocate its central operations.
The new location, situated near I-95 and Baymeadows, was selected after the board had initially rejected both the sale and purchase just a month prior. However, fresh negotiations and revised deals swayed the board members this time around.
The Southbank property will be sold to Chase Properties, Inc. for $17.2 million. Alongside this, the board gave the green light to acquire a new central office at 8928 Prominence Parkway, which boasts the capacity to accommodate over 900 district staff members.
This time, the board approved the sale of the Southbank location for $17.2 million to Chase Properties, Inc.
Then they went on to approve the purchase of a new central office at 8928 Prominence Parkway, a site that can hold over 900 district staff members.
Both items were discussed by school leaders for nearly an hour. The four board members who voted in favor said this is necessary, both financially and strategically.
“It is my fear that if we do not start disposing of property, we’re not going to have any leverage with the legislature,” said Vice Chair April Carney.
“I feel like we have landed in a really good spot. I’m very happy with the offer from Chase. I am very happy with the location of Prominence,” said Board Chair Charlotte Joyce.
“I’m very supportive of this deal on both sides,” said Board Member Melody Bolduc.
The other three board members not on board raised concerns about accessibility.
“If we were to move our administration building out to 95 and Baymeadows, we would be in an ‘out of sight, out of mind’ situation,” said Board Member Cindy Pearson.
“Prominence is a beautiful building, don’t get me wrong, and I just wish it was a little closer,” said Board Member Tony Ricardo.
“The distance away from where we are at right now causes constraints for access for us as public officials, that’s what we’re supposed to be,” said Board Member Darryl Willie, “We’re supposed to be accessible to the people, and it does not allow us to do that.
According to DCPS, they are, “actively developing implementation plans and will release additional details as they become available.”
