Jacksonville Construction Report

Momentum building as 2005 Super Bowl nears

by Debra Wood

Jacksonville contractors are enjoying a healthy increase in new volume, as private and public projects move forward, some in anticipation of next year's Super Bowl.

"We're still in a very good position with the Super Bowl coming here in 2005," said Stevan A. Hall, executive vice president of AGC of Greater Florida. "That has already created some construction opportunities and will continue to create opportunities."

The Haskell Co. of Jacksonville is on target for completing a series of upgrades at the NFL Jacksonville Jaguars' Alltel Stadium in time for the big event. It also will begin work by the end of 2003 on a design-build-operate project for two parking garages, one at the sports complex and another at the nearby sports and entertainment arena. Both parking facilities must be complete before game day.

AMEC Civil of Fort Myers still hopes to complete reconstruction of the $100 million Interstate 295/I-95 interchange for the Florida Department of Transportation by Jan. 15, 2005. If it succeeds, the company will earn a $5 million bonus.

But the complex job generated noise complaints from nearby residents, hampering nighttime progress. Legal action is pending. The multidimensional interchange was half complete in October.

"We're skeptical but hopeful," said Mike Goldman, FDOT spokesperson. "We're still giving them the window of opportunity, and we'll see. They're out there, but it's an extremely difficult job."

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The Big Picture

Not all Jacksonville projects tie into the football hoopla. New industrial, condominium projects and growth in surrounding counties have spawned opportunities.

"The construction market has been fairly good," said Dan Haskell, president of Associated Builders and Contractors, Florida First Coast Chapter in Jacksonville. "There's a general upbeat attitude about everything. Most contractors are feeling there is going to be plenty of work out there."

That supports a report from the Dodge Analytics unit of McGraw-Hill Construction. Nonresidential August contracts in the four-county Jacksonville metropolitan area increased by 47 percent and year-to-date by 21 percent.

"The Jacksonville market has always been a little bit recession proof," said Gordon Steadman, director of development for Elkins Constructors of Jacksonville. "It does not fluctuate as much as some other cities."

Government Upgrades

All major vertical Better Jacksonville Plan projects have been let, Hall said. "They will still be constructing over the next two, two-and-a-half years," he added. "That will keep people busy, but those dollars are spent."

A joint venture of Auchter-Elkins-Lodestar-Paris of Jacksonville serves as construction manager for the BJP's five-story main library. The project was about 25 percent complete in October and should finish in the first quarter of 2005.

Sitework has begun on the Duval County Courthouse, while budget negotiations continue for building the $211 million project. The city selected for construction management a joint venture partnership that includes Skanska USA Building, SL Construction & Remodeling, Hernandez Enterprises and QC Management, all with offices in Jacksonville.

Perry-McCall Construction Co. of Jacksonville has completed about 60 percent of the Cecil Equestrian and Recreation Complex, a $29 million BJP project at Cecil Field, a decommissioned Naval facility.

Numerous smaller BJP projects, including park, roadway and regional library improvements also are under way.

Segment 1 of the Jacksonville Transportation Authority's Wonderwood Connector has experienced some utility delays, but the 2-mi. project should still finish during the third quarter of 2004. Martin K. Eby Construction Co. of Maitland was scheduled to complete Segment 2 by the end of 2003. And JTA plans to pull permits for Segment 3 by the end of 2004 and start construction in 2005.

FDOT expects Superior Construction Co. of Jacksonville to finish this spring a $15.8 million, low-level bridge on Heckscher Drive at the Fort George Inlet.

Jacksonville International Airport began a $25.5 million, 40,000-sq.-ft. terminal expansion in July to consolidate passenger checkpoints. Completion is set for October.

Turner Construction Co. of Orlando will provide construction management services on the University of North Florida's 115,000-sq.-ft. library addition.

Perry-McCall has begun construction on Florida's first proton beam cancer treatment facility at Shands Jacksonville.

And JEA has been weighing two bids for redevelopment of its 40-acre Southside Generating Station site to a mixed-use retail/residential complex. The St. Joe Co. and the Haskell Co. were the two short-listed firms that had submitted proposals for the project.

Private Starts

The combination of baby boomers looking for residences with less upkeep, a lagging stock market and cheap money have resulted in "condo work going through the roof," said Bob Renaud, manager of public affairs for the Haskell Co.

The company is under contract for a two-tower, 110-unit complex south of downtown.

Brasfield & Gorrie of Maitland has received a contract to build the first of three nine-story condominium buildings at Marina San Pablo. It also is building 100 luxury condos at The Shipyards, a mixed-use redevelopment project.

And Deerwood Development, of Coconut Grove, Fla., is building a 440-unit Tuscan-style complex called Il Villagio in Deerwood Park North.

Haskell also has broken ground on Baptist Medical Center South, a $60 million, 92-bed satellite facility in Flagler Center in southeastern Duval County. It also is building a structural-steel clinical-services building for Baptist Health.

Turner was selected to manage construction of the CitiGroup Office Complex. And Hardin Construction Co. of Atlanta will manage sitework, hardscape and building shells at St. John's Town Center, a big-box and lifestyle center southeast of Jacksonville.

Ring Power Corp. of Jacksonville, a Caterpillar dealer, selected Elkins to build its headquarters facility at the World Commerce Center in St. Johns County. The structure will include industrial space and a four-story, class-A office building. The 13-month project will finish in fall 2004.

Brazilian aircraft manufacturer Embraer announced plans to build a 71,000-sq.-ft. aircraft assembly facility at Cecil Commerce Center. It has a contract pending with military aerospace contractor Lockheed Martin Corp. of Bethesda, Md.

Industry leaders seem more upbeat this year. Pricing remains aggressive, but with Jacksonville and the surrounding counties growing, there will likely be plenty of work.

"Overall, the national economy is picking up," AGC's Hall said. "I think Florida, through this economic downturn, has remained relatively strong. Contractors seem to be pretty comfortable with what they're doing and have some good things lining up."

Useful Sources:

More information about construction activity in the greater Jacksonville area can be found at the following:

• www.betterjax.com
• www.agcgf.org