Jacksonville is quietly setting the table for one of its biggest real estate and criminal justice decisions in decades, bringing in a consultant to study what it would take to move the Duval County Jail out of downtown and where a new one might go. City officials insist this is only a planning exercise - no site, no design, no construction green light - but they also admit the results will heavily influence what happens to prized land near the riverfront.
According to News4JAX, Councilman Will Lahnen, who is serving as the council liaison on the project, told reporters, “We are very early on in the process.” The city is entering into a contract with consulting firm CGL, and Chief Administrative Officer Mike Weinstein told council members the agreement is expected to cost nearly $750,000 after an RFP that drew seven proposals. Weinstein stressed that the contract is not a commitment to build anything, but is meant to identify needs, possible locations and a rough early price tag.
What the study will produce
The first phase of CGL’s work will deliver a detailed needs assessment for a potential future corrections campus, along with a 30-year inmate population forecast broken into five-year chunks. The projections will be broken down by housing types and program needs, including mental health housing, and will come with a preliminary cost estimate plus a recommendation of three possible sites for City Council to review, according to News4JAX.
Timeline and public input
The Florida Times-Union via Yahoo reports that CGL’s work is scheduled to start in April. An initial list of potential locations could surface within five to seven months, with a short list of three preferred sites expected in roughly a year. The process is set to include public listening sessions as well as meetings with the courts, the State Attorney’s Office, mental health and educational providers, and other stakeholders so the city can collect input before it starts narrowing the options.
Local reaction
Residents in historic Black neighborhoods and other communities are already signaling that they want more than a courtesy heads-up. They are demanding a real voice in the process, warning against dropping a new jail into their backyards without meaningful consultation. “We don’t want what happened in Brentwood, where we woke up one day, and the coroner was there,” a resident told Action News Jax. Council members say formal public hearings will be part of the discussion.
Where the downtown site could lead
Local coverage has highlighted just how high the stakes are for downtown and the riverfront if the jail moves. Some observers are already speculating that the overall project, combined with any redevelopment of the vacated site, could climb into the billions, as noted by the Florida Times-Union via Yahoo. That potential price tag, and whatever vision emerges for the current jail property, is likely to fuel big debates about redevelopment priorities, equity and neighborhood impacts.
How the city got here
This latest move does not come out of nowhere. The city has been laying groundwork for more than a year. Records show that the council previously set aside funding and approved a contract framework to bring in CGL for a population study in late 2024. Those earlier steps are recorded in the City of Jacksonville’s Legistar agenda and resolutions, which cleared the path for the broader search for potential jail sites now underway.
What happens next: CGL is expected to return with a short list of up to three recommended locations for further review. Any decision to design, finance or build a new jail would still need separate approvals, more public debate and additional study. Over the coming year, residents can expect City Council updates and multiple public listening sessions before any final call is made on a site or a price.
