Citizens Insurance Moving from Downtown Jacksonville
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Citizens Property Insurance Board of Governors voted unanimously to move its downtown Jacksonville office during a Wednesday afternoon meeting. The company, which has had over 800 employees working at the EverBank Tower building for the past decade, cited safety and security as primary reasons for the relocation.
Citizens approved funding for a 10-year lease agreement at a new property on the city’s Southside in the Deerfield Center area. The new office building will be located at 8787 Baypine Road.
Employees shared mixed reactions to the news. “We work for the people of Florida, and we’re taking their calls at the most traumatic time in their lives,” an employee, who wished to remain anonymous, told First Coast News. Some employees expressed relief, with one recounting an unsettling experience, stating, “I’ve had a man follow me from that bus stop. I had to stop, turn around and make eye contact to stop that. It’s not a safe environment.”
However, others voiced concerns about the move. One employee shared, “When I walk, nobody bothers me at all. I don’t think there’s any safety concerns at all.” This individual was more concerned about a potentially longer commute. “Me and a lot of people just felt depressed and started thinking about new jobs or how we’re gonna make more money to pay for the gas,” he added.
For some, the move represents positives. Another employee noted, “We have not been left in the dark. We’ve been communicated with the entire time with what the options and where the solicitation was going, and most are very happy because Bay Meadows is more centrally located for our 650 to 700 employee workforce.”
This relocation means less daily foot traffic in an area that city leaders are actively attempting to revitalize. In a statement released to First Coast News, the company indicated that the new location “best fits the goals and objectives for Citizens’ long-term operations in the City of Jacksonville.” The board had previously released a grading system for its desired headquarters characteristics.
Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan released a statement regarding the move and said that she had spoken with Jacksonville Sheriff T.K. Waters about establishing a substation in the current building to promote retention. Deegan commented, “We respect the decision and are glad these jobs will remain in Jacksonville. Our work to attract more companies never stops. There are several significant projects in the pipeline that could add capital investment and employees to the immense progress being made downtown.”
City Councilmember Rory Diamond criticized the action, referring to it as a reflection of a broader issue. Diamond stated, “This is just more evidence of Mayor Deegan’s inability to lead the city and inability to clean up downtown. I mean, a huge employer, one of the most important players downtown, saying thanks, but no thanks, and it’s just an indictment on the mayor.”
