In an expected but significant decision, the Jacksonville City Council unanimously approved a deal to split the cost of the Jacksonville Jaguars’ new downtown sports performance center. The project is called 1st DownTown, and it’s projected to cost $120 million to construct.
With the plan’s approval, the city and the team will split that cost 50-50. The city will own the facility and lease it to the team on an initial 30-year deal with two 10-year extension options.
After the previous attempt at downtown development, the Lot J project, failed at the city council level, this one moved through the process with relative ease. Once built, the facility will include office space, training rooms and indoor and outdoor practice fields with bleachers.
The 1st DownTown project isn’t the only attempt at developing the downtown area Jags owner Shad Khan is currently undertaking. He has long wanted to revitalize the shipyards district near the stadium, and that project received approval by the Downtown Investment Authority in July. According to First Coast News, full details of the plan are expected to be brought before the city council in September.