New AC unit placed on historic downtown Jacksonville building

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — RELATED: Resort-style vision planned for Berkman Plaza II in downtown Jacksonville

Major changes are happening in downtown Jacksonville.

Wednesday, a massive 450-ton crane lifted a 13,000 pound air conditioning unit on top of the historic Barnett Bank Building off Laura and Adams Streets.

It’s a welcome sight for both the developers, and the historic building's business neighbors.

“You see these buildings that are run down and nothing is happening its discouraging, but seeing this it gets us excited,” David Robinson said as he watched the crane lift the heavy machinery 18 floors up with his son. Robinson owns a local gym next door to the $49,000,000 project.

“We’re going to execute a mixed-use facility, banking, corporate offices, higher education with UNF and residential apartments,” developer Steve Atkins said.

Atkins said in a couple of months work will also begin on the vacant building across the street from the Barnett, to turn it into a hotel with shops, a restaurant and grocery store. A parking garage is also being added.

The projects will be done by 2020 if everything goes to plan according to project officials, with a combined cost of $100,000,000.

Cox Media Group