The Auchter Co., which has developed a good portion of Jacksonville's
downtown skyline, is in the driver's seat for another riverfront project that is
designed to change the face of the Talleyrand area.
Spokesman Marc Little of Marc Little Public Relations said McNamara
Associates has chosen Jacksonville-based Auchter to renovate and rebuild the
proposed Assembly Lofts at Commodore Point. Atlanta-based McNamara wants to buy
the former Ford Motor Co. plant on Hill Street, near Alltel Stadium, for
conversion into loft apartments, commercial space, condominiums and a marina.
The 23-acre site is owned by Rowe Corp. of North Carolina and now encompasses
the Wood-Hopkins Contracting Co., which has planned a move to a riverfront Dames
Point site. Wood-Hopkins has been using the large, airy Ford plant, which
includes an office rumored to have been used by Henry Ford, for storage.
Little said decisions are pending about the project's construction timetable.
McNamara Associates must apply for permits and also wants to arrange for
historic tax credits to restore the structure, and we understand that Auchter
has provided extensive historical research about the site.
"They're putting their heads together now," Little said.
McNamara has estimated the project will cost $35 million. The site, at 1901
Hill St., sits below the Mathews Bridge in a largely industrial area not far
from downtown's commercial core.
The group wants to convert the 160,000-square-foot plant, which operated from
1924 to 1932, into about 150 lofts and "live-work" units. It also proposes a
110-slip marina and possibly will build condominiums on the property later.
Developers said in recent months that they expect to complete the property
purchase in February. Pending that and regulatory approvals, development could
start in the spring and construction could take two years.
As we've reported for more than a year, McNamara intends to convert the
plant, built about 1924, into loft-style apartments and other residential and
commercial space. It's apparent that the structure has fallen into disrepair
although intriguing signs of its former use are apparent.
A railroad track threads through a side of the building for loading the
vehicles; the showroom ceiling retains signs of a former elegance; and machinery
apparatus indicates how the factory must have operated. The vast number of
windows shows that Ford took advantage of natural light.
Principals Jim McNamara, president of McNamara Associates, and Marc Corbet
have been in town frequently to make arrangements.
While the number of units can vary depending on the size needed by the user,
Corbet expects up to 150 lofts could be accommodated. The building is 160,000
square feet in size, but Corbet said the addition of second or even third floors
within the existing structure could increase, and possibly double, the overall
available square footage. About 55,000 square feet will be designated for
commercial use, such as offices and retail stores to serve residents.
Corbet also anticipates a restaurant on the site.
Of the residential space, there will be units strictly for housing and some
for "live-work" arrangements. Corbet has said that he anticipates up to 120
specifically residential units ranging from 800 to 2,000 square feet, with a few
in the 3,000- to 3,500-square-foot range. The remaining units would be arranged
as "live-work" units among 15,000 square feet and would vary in size depending
on the use.
He said no prices had been determined. Condominiums on the property might be
built in a future phase.
When asked what kind of city or government assistance might be requested or
available, Corbet said recently that historic restoration wouldup the
availability of designated tax credits, but any specific city assistance was
unclear.
He also credited the district's City Council member, Pat Lockett-Felder, for
her interest. Paul Krutko, director of the Downtown Development Authority and
director of development services for the Jacksonville Economic Development
Commission, has called the Ford project "something that would be worthy of
evaluating."
Corbet and McNamara will be principals of the ownership group, Commodore
Point of Northeast Florida LP. The group has been working with Rink Reynolds
Diamond Fisher Architects, Larry Wilson Design Associates, the Walters Law Firm,
Aerostar Environmental Co. and Historic Property Associates.
McNamara Associates had narrowed its choice for a general contractor to two
Jacksonville companies, Auchter and Elkins Constructors. Corbet stressed that
"it is our intent to use local talent."
The group will be completing its designs and will have to submit more plans
to the city, resolve other issues and talk with the economic development
commission.
Corbet said he and McNamara were made aware of the plant by an Atlanta
architect who is a Jacksonville native.
"Seventy-five years ago, when this building was built, it had to be a very
important moment for this community because of what it represented," Corbet
said.
THE DAILY SCOOP: Unless a special meeting is needed beforehand, the
Jacksonville Economic Development Commission is looking at February for its next
general meeting. . . . You may already have heard, but in case you haven't,
Walter Dickinson Inc. completed a list of transactions including a warehouse
sale to Easton, Sanderson and Co. and a Southside land sale to Atlantic States
Bank. Dickinson senior vice president Paul Scull represented WRH Properties in
selling the 54,200-square-foot warehouse and about 3.3 acres at 924 Lane Ave. N.
for $915,000 to Easton, Sanderson. Dickinson Associate Vice President Fran Pepis
represented Atlantic States Bank, a subsidiary of First Citizens Bank of
Raleigh, N.C., in buying 2.2 acres at San Pablo Road and Davis Parkway. DDI Inc.
sold the land for about $1.2 million.
Auchter Vice President Brad Glass said the contracting company was formed in
1929, the same year Henry Ford paid a visit to the Jacksonville plant. Glass
said Auchter has experience with riverfront and with residential development,
making the Assembly project a good fit.
"We are very pleased to have been selected as construction managers for the
project," Glass said. "I understand it was a very difficult decision for them to
make, and that speaks very loudly to both of our abilities and talents," he
said, referring to Elkins and to Auchter.
Glass also pointed out the history of the plant spoke well for the city.
"The very fact that Henry Ford chose Jacksonville was a coup."
HAPPY NEW YEAR: Here's wishing you a great 2001. Now get busy.
Karen Brune Mathis can be reached at 359-4305, by fax at 359-4090 or by
e-mail at kmathis
