JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Two firms experienced in constructing apartments have proposed plans to acquire the JEA tower in downtown Jacksonville, which has remained vacant since JEA relocated to a new headquarters.

On July 29, JEA reviewed bids from Simple State Inc. and Live Oak Contracting LLC for the 19-story tower erected in the early 1960s on West Church Street.

The Jacksonville Historical Society regards it as “one of the masterpieces” of downtown Jacksonville’s mid-century modern architecture and deems it an at-risk building since its prolonged vacancy increases the likelihood of potential demolition in the future.

Live Oak Contracting, located a few blocks from the tower, has developed several new apartment complexes in Florida and beyond. The firm aims to expand its portfolio by renovating historic buildings and is also interested in acquiring the Laura Street Trio downtown.

Simple State Inc., headquartered in Jacksonville Beach, is led by Marc P. Kozman, who has experience in converting vacant office buildings into apartments, particularly one off the Arlington Expressway. This renovation project involves a building vacated by the FBI in 2009.

JEA did not immediately provide specific information about what’s in the proposals. That information, including the price each bidder is offering, remains confidential for 30 days or until JEA sends an intent to award the winning bidder, whichever comes first.

The next stage will entail an evaluation of each bid and designation of a top-ranked proposal for negotiations on a purchase and sale agreement. The final step will be JEA board approval.

JEA invited proposals in February for developers to explain how they would use the utility’s former headquarters building.

The request said respondents would work with JEA, the city of Jacksonville, the Downtown Investment Authority and other regulatory bodies “to develop the former HQ in a manner that best serves the community’s interests.”

In addition to the 19-story tower on Church Street that still prominently displays JEA’s logo, the utility put up for sale the six-story building that was JEA’s customer service center and the nearby Adair Building that contains 513 parking spaces and some storefront retail space along Laura Street.

The tower and the customer service center share a parking deck with about 190 spaces.

The tower and the customer service center have been vacant for two years since JEA moved to a new headquarters building in April 2023 to 225 N. Pearl St. near the Duval County Courthouse.

Editor’s note: This story was first published by our news partners, The Florida Times-Union.