ORD Declaring that Certain Parcel of Real Property Located at 851 N Market St, Jax, FL 32202 Known Generally as the Armory Bldg (R.E. # 074384-0100 (Portion)) in Council Dist 7, to Be Surplus to the Needs of the City; Apv & Auth the Mayor or Her Desig & Corp Sec to Execute & Deliver a Purchase & Sale Agrmt btwn the City & Armory Redevelopment Associates, LLC & All Deeds & Closing Docs Relating Thereto, & Otherwise Take All Necessary Action to Effectuate the Purposes of the Agrmt, for the Conveyance of the Property to the Purchaser for a Purchase Price of $2,547,513.60; Waiving Sec 122.424 (Disposition by Direct Sale), Pt 4 (Real Property), Ch 122 (Public Property), Ord Code, to Allow for Conveyance of the Property to the Purchaser; Waiving Sec 122.425 (Disposition by Auction or Sealed Bid), Pt 4 (Real Property), Ch 122 (Public Property), Ord Code, to Allow for Conveyance of the Subj Property to the Purchaser; Waiving Subsec 122.421(I) (General Provisions; Delegation of Authority), Pt 4 (Real Property), Ch 122 (Public Property), Ord Code, to Allow a Portion of the Purchase Price to Be Deposited in the CDBG Fund; Prov for Oversight of the Transfer of the Property to Purchaser by the Real Estate Div of the Public Works Dept in Coordination with the OED; Prov Oversight of the Property Thereafter by the OED (Sawyer) (Req of Mayor) (Co-Sponsor CM Johnson) 11/25/25 CO Introduced: NCSPHS, R, F 12/1/25 NCSPHS Read 2nd & Rerefer 12/2/25 F Read 2nd & Rerefer 12/1/25 R Read 2nd & Rerefer 12/9/25 CO PH Read 2nd & Rerefer 1/5/26 NCSPHS Substitute/Approve 5-1 (Gay) 1/5/26 R Substitute/Approve 7-0 1/6/26 F Substitute/Approve 6-0 1/13/26 CO Substitute/Approve 17-0 Public Hearing Pursuant to Ch 166, F.S. & C.R. 3.601 - 12/9/25

This ordinance declares an approximate 2.49-acre parcel of real property at 851 N Market St, Jacksonville, FL 32202 (known as the Armory Building, R.E. # 074384-0100 (Portion)) as surplus to the City's needs and authorizes its sale to Armory Redevelopment Associates, LLC for a purchase price of $3,044,050.70.

Key Provisions & Waivers:

• The sale price is calculated as $1,023,097.83 per acre for 2.49 acres, plus $496,537.10 to repay previously disbursed Community Development Block Grant (CDBG) funds.
• Waivers: Sections 122.424 (direct sale) and 122.425 (auction/sealed bid) of the Ordinance Code are waived to allow for a direct conveyance to the purchaser, who previously held a redevelopment agreement and lease for the property. Subsection 122.421(I) is also waived to permit the $496,537.10 CDBG repayment portion of the purchase price to be deposited into the CDBG Fund, rather than the Jacksonville Recreational and Environmental Land Acquisition Fund.
• Background: The City and Armory Redevelopment Associates, LLC had prior agreements (Lease and Redevelopment Agreements, authorized by Ordinance 2020-591-E) for renovating the Armory into a mixed-use facility, but these were terminated due to market conditions and financing issues.
• Restrictive Covenant: The property cannot be conveyed or leased to a tax-exempt entity, nor can it be conveyed by the Grantee to any person or entity within three (3) years from the deed's execution date, except to a lender in foreclosure.
• Oversight: The Public Works Department's Real Estate Division, in coordination with the Office of Economic Development (OED), will oversee the property transfer. The OED will provide ongoing oversight of the property thereafter.

City Council approved the substitute ordinance with a 17-0 vote.

This sale facilitates the redevelopment of the historic Armory Building, aiming to eliminate blight and create job opportunities in Council District 7. It also ensures the repayment of $496,537.10 in CDBG funds to the City, which can be reallocated to other community development projects. The property will be privately redeveloped and is not eligible for affordable housing initiatives.

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