JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The city of Jacksonville issued an emergency permit on Tuesday for demolition of the RISE Doro apartment building's frame in Downtown Jacksonville, permit records show.
The permit was created for ELEV8 Demolition to complete the demolition of the apartment building's fire-damaged structure. The concrete garage and foundation will remain. The demolition will cost $1.2 million as a contract between RISE and ELEV8.
A spokesperson with the city of Jacksonville tells First Coast News that fencing was installed around the perimeter of the apartment building Tuesday. ELEV8 Demolition will start moving equipment on Wednesday and Thursday.
First Coast News spotted crews moving in demolition equipment Wednesday morning. Crews had fencing installed around the building for safety purposes.
"A safe demolition process will then proceed and move as swiftly as possible," the city of Jacksonville spokesperson said.
The State Fire Mashal's Office has yet to determine the cause of the fire that started Sunday night, lasting through Wednesday morning. The fire is not completely out yet, according to Captain Eric Prosswimmer with the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department, as he says crews are still finding "hot spots." The scene is still considered active -- it has been ongoing since 9:30 p.m. Sunday.
"This is clearly a setback and our hearts are broken about it," Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan said in a press conference Monday evening. "But it's not gonna stop our forward momentum Downtown."
In what was once 115 firefighters on scene at the fire's peak, JFRD's presence has since dwindled down to one ladder, one engine and one fire chief on site.
The $60 million RISE Doro apartment building, in development since 2019, was set to officially open March 1, but eight people were going to move in this upcoming weekend.
Businesses surrounding the apartment building are shut down until the risk of collapse is gone. Intuition Ale Works, Manifest Distilling and the offices on A. Phillip Randolph Boulevard are all in the collapse zone and are closed.
The Jacksonville Icemen are playing twice this week and those games will not be canceled. However, the parking garage near VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena will be closed as it is also in the collapse zone.