About 50 cars were trapped earlier this year after a fire damaged the hourly parking garage at Jacksonville International Airport.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Earlier this year, a fire damaged about 50 cars inside the hourly garage at Jacksonville International Airport, leaving many drivers in limbo.
The Jacksonville Aviation Authority is asking for $38 million to investigate the cause of the fire, assess the damage, and repair the garage.
First Coast News received the following statement from the JAA:
“The $38 million amendment to the budget provides JAA the budget authority to cover the entirety of the project, from assessment to reconstruction. While there is no set timeline for project completion, we expect the garage to be fully back in service within two years.”
Jacksonville City Council Member Matt Carlucci fully supports the project and knows the impact first-hand.
“My car, my wife’s car were in the garage where the fire happened. Luckily, we were just far enough away that we didn’t incur any smoke damage or fire damage,” said Carlucci. “We didn’t know what was going on,” said Carlucci.
Other drivers told First Coast News the city should take this seriously. Carlucci says the council should make this project a priority.
“We don’t need to point any fingers, we just need to repair what needs to be repaired and put any risk management measures that need to be put there that may maybe we weren’t there before but we’ve got a great airport. I have great confidence in the leadership one of the bright spots in Jacksonville.”
Funding and Next Steps
The city says the funding won’t fall on taxpayers.
It’s unclear whether insurance will reimburse JAA for the cost of the project.
The $38 million proposal was presented to the City Council; however, no vote has been scheduled yet.