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11 East Forsyth
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February 2025
11 East Forsyth 11eforsyth.JPG 30 19 37 N 81 39 27 W inline,title Florida#USA Jacksonville, Florida, USA 1926 Pringle & Smith Chicago school December 23, 2003 less than one acre 64500102 Downtown Jacksonville MPS 0300131003001310 2010a
11 East Forsyth, formerly known as the Lynch Building and the American Heritage Life Building, is a historic structure in Jacksonville, Florida. Originally developed by Stephen Andrew Lynch, as its current name suggests, it is located at 11 East Forsyth Street in Downtown Jacksonville.Witkowski, Rachel: "Costly renovation of historic buildings pays off for city" Jacksonville Business Journal, April 7, 2006 On December 23, 2003, it was added to the U.S. National Register of Historic Places.
Vestcor invested more than $24 million to restore the building's exterior and transform the former offices into loft apartments, which tenants began to occupy during 2003.
Construction
thumb|left|Lynch Building in 1938.
The 17-story, 153000 sqft m2 on building originally contained commercial offices and was opened by entrepreneur and film pioneer Stephen Andrew Lynch. Jacksonville's Architectural Heritage Wood Wayne 1992 University Press of Florida 0-8130-0953-7 http://www.jaxhistory.com/Jax%20Arch%20Herit/D-52.htm September 27, 2011 April 6, 2012 https://web.archive.org/web/20120406104532/http://www.jaxhistory.com/Jax%20Arch%20Herit/D-52.htm dead It was designed by architects Pringle & Smith in 1926 in the Chicago School style. It was constructed with limestone, marble and a facade of brick; the top of the structure contained a capital of terra-cotta."Lynch Building" National Trust for Historic Preservation When it opened in 1926, it was Jacksonville's second tallest building, one floor less than the Barnett National Bank Building.Marbut, Max: "The story behind one of Downtown’s historic buildings: The Carling" Jacksonville Daily Record, December 10, 2009.
The building was renovated in 1962 and renamed the American Heritage Life Building when it was utilized as home office of the American Heritage Life Insurance Company. When the company built a new headquarters and left the downtown during the late 1980s, the structure was unoccupied for many years.
Current use
Jacksonville developer Vestcor began a historic preservation of the building in 2002 after obtaining a $17.8 million, 1.5% interest, 20-year loan from the city of Jacksonville.Hunt, David: "Downtown housing developer asks Jacksonville for help" Florida Times-Union, December 30, 2009 The company restored many architectural features including polychromatic terra-cotta panels, decorative ceilings and steel panels."11 East Forsyth Apartments" https://web.archive.org/web/20090506061916/http://www.vestcor.com/apt-leasing-fl/11-east-forsyth# 2009-05-06 Vestcor Companies Elevators, HVAC, electrical, plumbing and other infrastructure was modernized and a six-story parking garage was constructed adjacent to the building. The second floor was converted into a large community club room, a fitness center and a media room. Modern amenities were added while respecting the historic integrity of the structure. The building was renamed to "11 East Forsyth" and 127 apartments were opened in 2003 after $24 million and a year of construction. A Starbucks coffee bistro opened, but subsequently closed, leaving no tenants in the 4500 sqft m2 on of first-floor commercial space.
left|thumb|Lynch Building & Main Street Bridge
In late December 2009, Vestcor requested a modification to their loan terms, citing three years of operating losses at 11 East and their other renovated building, The Carling. The company asked for three years of interest-only payments plus low interest loans to potential tenants for the empty commercial space at 11 East. Three months later, the city approved the plan for principal deferral but took no action on tenant loans.Bauerlein, David (March 11, 2010) "Jacksonville finds it too costly to pay business’s employee parking as incentive". The Florida Times-Union. Retrieved September 27, 2011
See also
Architecture of Jacksonville
References
External links
Duval County listings at National Register of Historic Places
Downtown Jacksonville - Development
Category:National Register of Historic Places in Jacksonville, Florida
Category:Residential skyscrapers in Jacksonville, Florida
Category:Chicago school architecture in Florida
Category:Northbank, Jacksonville
Category:Architecture in Jacksonville, Florida
Category:Residential buildings completed in 1926
Category:1926 establishments in Florida
Category:Pringle and Smith buildings