JACKSONVILLE, Fla. -- The City of Jacksonville is tightening the purse strings. Property values are down. And Mayor Brown doesn't want to raise taxes or fees. So Action News is asking, how else can the city bring in money?
We found out one idea that's being tossed around City Hall is possibly selling or renting out some of the city's vacant buildings.
Action News has learned the city is sitting on almost $27 million worth of vacant properties, buildings that could be sold or leased.
Here's the list:
- The Armory, North Market Street, Assessed Value $3.7 million
- Public Building, North Liberty Street, Assessed Value $597,845
- The Snyder Memorial Building, North Laura Street, Assessed Value $718,135
- The former Oceanway Health Clinic, Oceanway Avenue, $44,065
- The Early Learning Center, A. Phillip Randolph Blvd., Assessed Value $1.4 million
- Lavilla Restaurant, Union Street, $379,840
- Restaurant at 9th and Main, North Main Street, Assessed Value $325,903
- The old courthouse, Bay Street, Assessed Value $19.5 million
While no decision has been made about what to do about the old courthouse, there's been talk of turning this into the site of a new convention center. As for the rest of the properties, the city's still deciding what to do with them.
A spokesman for the Mayor's office told Action News nothing is for sale just yet. We were told the Brown administration is working on a request for proposals to take inventory of properties, assess them and then determine what is the best way to market them.
