Vast majority of voters in new UNF poll favor moving jail out out downtown — despite potential $1B price tag (2024)

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – It’s a staggering number from a new UNF poll about community support for moving the Duval County jail.

The new poll released Tuesday shows 73% of the 667 Duval County registered voters polled support moving the jail which is currently right in the middle of planned developments near the stadium downtown. Respondents were asked whether they would support or oppose spending an estimated $1 billion of public funds on a new Duval County Jail to be built far away from the current location which will include better access to medical and mental health services.

The jail has sat in the prime real estate location since 1991 but now there’s a big push to move the aging building that’s not in great shape and take the connected JSO headquarters with it, the latter of which is already happening.

News4JAX talked to voters who were split on the idea.

“It’s an eyesore and I think it would prevent me from living in that area,” said Chuck Fletcher. “The downtown riverfront has a lot of potential and 3,000 inmates in it is a bad place to have it.”

“I think the taxpayer money could be used on more important things,” another resident said.

City Councilman Michael Boylan led the city committee to research moving the jail and he said it would take a few years and a lot of planning.

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But the question many want to know — especially with the impending deal with the Jaguars that could put $775 million in city money toward a stadium renovation — is could the city afford this plan?

“I think it’s a decision that’s going to be made in a couple of years. Not today or tomorrow. What we did with our report is lay the foundation to understand our existing facilities so far, the assets we have,” Boyland said.

Boylan said when the committee looked at moving similar-sized buildings it usually costs around $800 to $900 million. The hope is the sale of the land and building to a private developer could offset some of that money, he added.

Dr. Michael Binder put the poll together for UNF and thinks the support could drop if the $1-billion price tag also comes with a property tax hike.

“I do suspect that large capital expenditures like this are going to need more aggressive funding streams going forward, and the potential for tax increases could pull down some of this support in the future,” Binder told host Anne Schindler on First Coast Connect on Tuesday morning.

Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters said the location of the potential new jail is still up in the air.

“We got some people that’s going to help us get a spot,” Waters said earlier this month. “I think what’s most important is to decide what we want to build first, and then locate a place that will work we’re fit. Imeson [Park on the Northside] would be a good spot. Cecil [Field area] would be a good spot although, you know, depends on when, we can build a campus-style building. But there’s a couple of different spots. You know, ultimately, I think, where the current P Farm where James I. Montgomery Correctional Center sits but it floods so that’s problematic.”

The committee hopes to streamline the pre-design planning phase of construction so it doesn’t have to rely on costly consultants.

As far as the Police Memorial Building, Boylan said the process of moving JSO administrative staff to the Florida Blue building is already underway.

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The city council will likely hear plans for the jail next year.