Where Should JEA’s New HQ Building Be Located?

Yesterday afternoon, JEA’s board narrowed down the list of prospective locations for its new headquarters building to three candidates.

The utility company’s procurement committee had previously indicated that there were six bids under consideration.

The three remaining proposals would all keep JEA near the urban core. Here’s a breakdown of the locations and their pros and cons.

KINGS AVENUE STATION

The development company behind Kings Avenue Station proposes a headquarters building next to the Kings Avenue Garage.

The new JEA building would be built at the site of what’s currently a parking lot. It might make for a strange fit within the transit-oriented development, which currently features a Homewood Suites hotel. Then again, prior suggestions for the project’s second phase included a gondola system that would cross the St. Johns River, so JEA’s HQ building may actually be more practical.

EXISTING BUILDING – OR BY THE COURTHOUSE

The Ryan Company proposes to either renovate the company’s existing building at 21 W. Church Street or build a new one in an empty lot next to the Duval County Courthouse.

JEA has previously stated that they don’t think it would be worthwhile to remodel their existing building, which was originally built in the ‘60s. The more likely outcome would be building something new on the Courthouse-adjacent lot.

It’d be a win for the city to get rid of that unsightly slab next door to one of its nicest modern structures, and it would put JEA in the heart of downtown Jax.

LOT J @ TIAA BANK FIELD

The Cordish Companies wants JEA to join the planned Lot J development next to TIAA Bank Field. The development, which is being fast-tracked by Shad Khan and the Jaguars, will feature office, residential, retail, and entertainment space.

It would put JEA along Bay Street, which is in the midst of a rebranding as Jax’s innovation corridor.

JEA’s board is set to make a final decision at the beginning of February. Which option do you think they should choose? Let us know in the comments section or on social media!