JACKSONVILLE BEACH, Fla. – The Jacksonville Beach Community Redevelopment Agency (CRA) is taking steps to preserve a piece of history.
The CRA is working to add the beach’s historic Lifeguard Station to the Downtown Redevelopment Plan — a move that could help secure long-term funding and support future restoration efforts.
The station, home to the Volunteer Life Saving Corps, has stood along the shoreline for more than 75 years. It’s one of only two buildings in the downtown area with historic designation.
Currently, the city’s Parks and Recreation Department and Public Works crews handle basic maintenance, but there is no funding set aside for major repairs or long-term preservation.
Marissa Mohs, a Jacksonville Beach resident, said the building should reflect the growth happening around it.
“It’s been the same for years now,” Mohs said. “So, I think just like everything in Jax Beach, I feel like everything is kind of building up a little bit. I’ve noticed a lot of changes around it, so I think it might be time for a little upgrade.”
If the station is added to the Downtown Redevelopment Plan, the CRA would take over the project’s funding and management. That would allow the agency to outline the scope of work, estimate costs and develop a restoration timeline.
“The estimates are in the ballpark of $1 million for all the necessary repairs,” said Taylor Mobbs, manager of the Community Redevelopment Agency. “That really does not impact the city’s ability to do other projects outside of the district, because it’s a CRA project.”
If approved, funding for the project would come from tax increment financing (TIF) — a pool of money generated by growth in the downtown district — and not from the city’s general fund.
Residents will have the opportunity to weigh in during public comment at Tuesday’s CRA meeting, which begins at 3 p.m. at Jacksonville Beach City Hall.
