Jags owner Shad Khan, Iguana Investments share vision for Shipyards

RELATED STORY: Resort-style vision planned for Berkman Plaza II in downtown Jacksonville

Right now, the Jacksonville Shipyards is nothing more than an empty space with grass.

But if it’s up to Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shad Khan and his investment company, that could all change.

On Thursday, they released renderings showing a new convention center and a hotel with a rooftop pool overlooking the St. Johns River.

On Wednesday, three other companies put their bids in to the city to build a new convention center.

Action News Jax reporter Courtney Cole spoke with the councilman of the district and the president of the Jaguars who are both excited about the proposal.

Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shad Khan and his group, Iguana Investments, have a vision to bring the Shipyards back to life.

They want to turn the 70-acre stretch of Riverfront property into a 490,000 square-foot, state-of the-art convention center with a convention hotel.

The 350-key, full-service hotel would also include a 200,000 square-foot multipurpose exhibit hall, a 40,000 square-foot ballroom with elevated views of the river and 45 breakout rooms.

There would also be space for retail on the ground floor, as well as restaurant opportunities along Bay Street.

Mark Lamping, president of the Jacksonville Jaguars team, told Action News Jax this is another example of Khan’s commitment to Jacksonville.

“In terms of cost, estimates are somewhere between 425 and 450 million in terms of this first phase,” Lamping said.

If the proposal is approved, Lamping said it could still be a challenge to nail down a timeline for completion. "Because the elevated lanes of the Hart Expressway need to come down."

Lamping said the Hart Expressway project isn't expected to be done until 2021.

Tia Ford, the spokeswoman for the city of Jacksonville, told Action News Jax they can’t give an exact date until they know more about whether the city will get a federal grant to help pay for the ramps to come down.

Regardless of timing, Lamping said it will be worth the wait.

“The full potential of downtown Jacksonville is nowhere near fully realized. We believe that there is growth available," Lamping said.

While it's still just an idea, people who live here are ready for the transformation of the area.

“Yes, yes, it would be exciting. Because I believe...according to the way it looks around [here], we might need that,” said Edgar Delorentz.

A frequent visitor to the area told Action News Jax she thinks anything that could foster economic growth is always a good idea.

RELATED STORY: Berkman Plaza II sold with plans for entertainment complex

“I think we would enjoy visiting with more variety of hotels and more variety of things to do and activities,” Margaret Sullivan said.

Three other companies have also put a bid in to build a convention center just six blocks away from the Shipyards at the old Duval County Courthouse and City Hall Annex.

Reggie Gaffney, the City Councilman of the area, says regardless of who wins the bid, he thinks it's good for Jacksonville.

“Four years from now you’re going to see either 5,000-10,000 people Downtown and that’s why I’m excited," Gaffney said.

Action News Jax asked the City of Jacksonville about the role they’d play in the new development, but Ford said it’s too early to tell.

Cox Media Group