Implosion shatters windows in downtown Jacksonville

Cleanup was underway Sunday after the implosion of the old City Hall annex in downtown Jacksonville.

Action News Jax crews counted close to two dozen windows shattered on neighboring buildings.

“The windows were flexing. I was like, ‘Oh God, this is not a good idea. Maybe I shouldn’t be in here,’” Jud Miller said.

VIDEO: Implosion of Jacksonville old City Hall Annex

STORY: What you need to know: Old Jacksonville City Hall annex building scheduled to be imploded

Miller and his wife own The Justice Pub across the street from the building that was demolished.

They had finished sealing up doors and windows to keep the dust out and were inside the pub when the building came crashing to the ground.

"It was a pretty good shock wave when that first boom went off," he said.

The force of the implosion was so strong it dislodged Action News Jax’s camera inside the Blackstone building.

After the building came down, crews started assessing surrounding businesses for damage.

Close to a dozen windows at the Blackstone building were shattered.

Crews installed new glass at Olio next door. Windows in the condos above the restaurant were also broken.

Miller told Action News Jax that the windows hanging over The Justice Pub are more than 100 years old. Two were damaged in the implosion.

“Two windows this close, those guys did a good job,” he said.

A city spokesperson told Action News Jax that the implosion went according to plan and that any damage would be addressed and promptly repaired by the contractor.

Full statement from the city of Jacksonville:

"The implosion proceeded according to plan. To promote safety and well-being, citizens and business personnel within the exclusion zone were instructed to shelter in place. Any damage to property resulting from the implosion is being addressed by the contractor and repaired promptly."

Cox Media Group