JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Morocco Shrine Center, and the almost 37 acres it sits on, could one day become a major residential, retail and regional commercial development.
People who visit the area frequently, like Kevin Hess, raised concerns about whether nearby roadways would need to be updated.
“I would be concerned about traffic and the amount of congestion we already have,” said Hess.
According to an application for land use amendment submitted to the city of Jacksonville on Nov. 20, 2018, the project is described as “truly walkable intergenerational development with a mix of students,” and perhaps seniors.
“Applicant requests the [regional commercial] land use designation for this unique infill redevelopment project in order to create a truly walkable intergenerational development with a mix of students, conventional apartment/condominium dwellers, and potentially seniors, in one condensed space with shared lifestyle amenities, retail, and entertainment,” the application states. “An adaptive reuse of the Morocco Shrine Building will be the central feature of the project containing a food hall, workspace, and venues for health, art and entertainment.”
Steve Diebenow, the attorney representing a possible buyer of the Shrine Center property, tells Action News Jax they’ve submitted a land use amendment application to the city.
Diebenow says they plan on submitting a zoning amendment application for what’s called a ‘Planned Unit Development,’ or PUD, in about four and a half months.
Legislation for the development is being processed by the Land Use and Zoning Committee.
Ordinance 2020-44, if approved, would revise the city’s 2030 comprehensive plan as it relates to regional commercial land use.
“An ordinance adopting the 2019b series text amendment to the future land use element of the 2030 comprehensive plan of the city of Jacksonville to amend the regional commercial future land use category within the future land use element of the comprehensive plan,” the bill states. “To allow for a creative integration of uses to facilitate innovative site planning, adaptive reuse, infill development and smart growth techniques; providing an effective date.”
Ordinance 2020-45, if approved, would change the property’s land use to regional commercial, from “public buildings and facilities,” and “low density residential.”