JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Since Duval County School Board members opted out of a proposal that would have sold the district’s riverfront headquarters, questions loom about the site’s future.
The original plans would have turned the site into a retirement community, but concerns from residents and some school board members caused the board to question whether the $20 million offer from nonprofit Fleet Landing was the best option.
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Superintendent Dr. Cristopher Bernier said in an interview on Thursday that the district did not make any decisions on whether it would return to the bidding process.
“Our real estate agent, TCG, will work with both the buyers and the person who is selling to try to find, based upon the board vote, where we are, and then we will be making some recommendations next week to the board,” he told News4JAX.
Fleet Landing was selected as the top bidder earlier this year, beating out nine other proposals for the 1701 Prudential Dr. site — a prime piece of real estate steps from the St. Johns River and the Southbank Riverwalk.
The district had also been considering purchasing a $14 million building on Prominence Parkway in Baymeadows to serve as its new administrative headquarters.
Both the sale and purchase proposals failed on Tuesday night.
Board members said the deal lacked public buy-in and raised too many unanswered questions about long-term value, taxes, and timing.
Bernier has made it clear, though, that the door is not closed on relocating the School Board headquarters.
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