LUZ committee withdraws N.E.R. Morgan landmark bill after heated public testimony and legal concerns

The Jacksonville Land Use & Zoning Committee on Sept. 3 withdrew an ordinance that would have designated N.E.R. Morgan Elementary School (964 Saint Clair Street) as a local historic landmark after prolonged public comment and a staff legal analysis citing state law risks.

Planning staff told the committee the bill (Ordinance 2025-464) met several local historic-criteria findings but that Senate Bill 180 “restricts more burdensome land-development regulations” and that the department’s position was that the ordinance should be withdrawn. The bill had been initiated by Councilmember Clark Murray and forwarded to the Historic Preservation Commission, which found it met 5 of 7 criteria.

The issue drew a large public turnout. Residents and community leaders who said they grew up at N.E.R. Morgan urged preservation and said landmark status would open grant opportunities and help keep the building available as a community asset. Speakers included alum Johnny Thomas, who described notable alumni and said landmarking would preserve a rare neighborhood asset; and several longtime Woodstock-area residents who said the building anchors a low‑income area and could support neighborhood services.

Opponents — including a Duval County School Board representative — said landmarking would make the property harder for the school board to sell or transfer and could discourage potential buyers who would otherwise reuse the site for active educational or community uses. Reginald Blunt, representing School Board District 5, told the committee that landmark restrictions could impede renovation or sale and complicate the board’s property management duties.

Councilmember Rory Diamond moved to amend the ordinance to deny landmark designation; the motion received a second and was put to a vote. The committee then considered and approved a motion to withdraw the bill from further consideration so the councilmember and stakeholders could continue discussions. Committee members discussed the school board’s internal timeline: planning staff and the sponsor said the Castaldi report for the school board had not yet resulted in a surplus declaration and that the board is scheduled to consider those internal steps in October.

Planning and legal staff emphasized that the City faced litigation risk if it adopted a “more burdensome” local regulation on private school property in conflict with state statute. Staff also supplied the committee with an analysis showing demolition would cost the school board an estimated more than $500,000, and that closure of the property has saved roughly $700,000 in operating costs while the board studies options.

The committee action: a motion to amend to deny passed in committee (discussion and hand vote recorded during the meeting), and following further discussion the sponsor asked for withdrawal; the committee voted to withdraw the item, removing it from immediate consideration and allowing the sponsor to refile in the future if circumstances change.

The chair and planning staff advised that withdrawal preserves the sponsor’s ability to reintroduce the measure later (withdrawal does not impose the 12‑month reintroduction bar that follows a denial). Councilmember Clark Murray said she sought landmark status to preserve the building as a community heart for Woodstock and pointed to the facility’s architectural and cultural associations; opponents cited potential constraints on the school board and the property’s future use.

What’s next: Committee members and staff encouraged continued outreach among the school board, the sponsor and community groups; the sponsor indicated she would consider withdrawing so the matter could be revisited after the school board completes its surplus/demolition analysis.