JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — It's been more than a year since Jaguars owner Shad Khan unveiled his big vision for the dilapidated downtown riverfront known as the Shipyards.
It may be a while before anyone sees any real construction, though. Action News Jax has confirmed the project is on hold and it’s not clear for how long or why.
But there may be some factors that are playing a role in the delay.
According to District 13 City Councilman Bill Gulliford, he’s not sure what’s causing the holdup but he does know the city may not have enough money to clean up the contaminated site.
Action News Jax showed you last year how the land is contaminated from the industrial work that used to be done there. The area contains toxins, such as lead and arsenic, which need to be cleaned up before anything else can be done.
Gulliford said he’s seen cleanup estimates as high as $30 million.
“We've set aside about $15 million so we are shy there and, look, and I don't care whether it's the Jaguars or whomever would develop that property, they're going to look to us to cover that cost,” said Gulliford.
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According to Gulliford, they’re waiting to hear back from Khan’s people to see what they want to do.
Gulliford also acknowledged other issues that may be blocking the way, including the eyesore known as the Berkman II, which sits adjacent to the area Khan wants to develop.
Metropolitan Park also raises questions.
“We still got an issue with Metropolitan Park because you know we can't use Metropolitan Park to its fullest because of the arrangement with the federal government and the money that was conveyed initially to buy it,” said Gulliford.
Gulliford said all these factors will take time to sort out but he said it’s not all bad news.
Khan and the city have already agreed to split the $90 million tab to build an amphitheater and flex field and to renovate the club levels at EverBank Field. Gulliford believes the amphitheater will bring in business and visitors to downtown once it's completed.
Cox Media Group
