The Jacksonville Transportation Authority is overhauling a Northside property to help develop the agency’s automated transportation capabilities.

The site at 3191 N. Armsdale Road used to be a park-and-ride location for suburban commuters taking buses into the city and includes a former vacant building. Jacksonville building inspectors approved permits this month for the work.

JTA spokesman David Cawton II said the agency will spend $1 million to renovate portions of the existing 16,608-square-foot building to include an information technology area with electrical, low-voltage and air conditioning capabilities. The improvements are designed to improve autonomous vehicle capacity.

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“These improvements will further enhance our main facility for the JTA’s Autonomous Shuttle Test & Learn Program," Cawton said. "That work is critical as we begin work on phase one of the U2C, the Bay Street Innovation Corridor."

Balfour Beatty Construction LLC will handle the project which is expected to be complete in August.

Arc secures permit for new group home

The Arc Jacksonville is about to build its latest group home for those the nonprofit serves and is billed as the first of its kind in Florida.

The Arc, which is an advocacy organization for people with intellectual developmental challenges, is moving forward with a dwelling that will house six occupants. The permit for the multi-unit house was approved this month by city building officials.

Called The Lodge, it will have in-home mental-health services, according The Arc.

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The structure will cover 5,600 square feet at 3695 Kirbo Way off Hodges Boulevard. That’s also the location of the existing Arc Jacksonville Village designed for residents who need specialized help. It’s been operational for about a decade.

Harrell Construction Co. Inc. is the building contractor for the $1.7 million project.

Additional building permits

• 4840 Big Island Drive, interior remodeling for new tenant Ballard Designs in the St. Johns Town Center, $2.3 million. U.S. Construction Group.

• 11025 eTown Parkway, Unit 300, shell building and dumpster enclosure for Heartland Dental, $2 million combined. The Angelo Group Inc.

• 11458 Apex Trail, plant drain pump station and reject water return pump station at the Greenland Water Reclamation facility for JEA, $1.6 million combined. The Haskell Co.

• 4791 River City Drive, Unit 113, remodeling of existing vacant tenant space for Bath & Body Works store, $906,088. Horizon Retail Construction.

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• 3566 Blanding Blvd., Unit 3, interior alteration consisting of partitions, new finishes and fixtures for Planet Fitness, $850,000. Skyline Construction Inc.

• 8050 Philips Highway, Unit 1, interior remodeling for Liberty Health Sciences, $498,021. Primetime Construction LLC.

• 12525 Philips Highway, Unit 105, buildout of existing building for Toll Brothers Design Center, $350,000. Moducomm Development Inc.

• 1511 Zoo Parkway, Unit 100, pump house for Imeson 200, $265,000. Evans General Contractors.

• 7790 Gate Parkway, construction of new gasoline canopy and dumpster enclosure for Wawa gas station and convenience store, $207,400 combined. M.E. Construction Inc.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: JTA and Arc Jacksonville proceed with renovations, new group home