Walk through the double doors at 214 North Hogan Street in downtown Jacksonville and you're stepping into a bit of a contradiction. It’s an eleven-story slab of Modernist architecture that looks, well, a bit like a sturdy government office. Which is exactly what it is today. But the Edward Ball Building wasn't born out of a city planner's dream for more paperwork space. It was built by a man who was arguably the most powerful—and definitely the most frugal—person in Florida’s history.
You’ve probably seen it. It’s that 141-foot tall block right in the heart of the urban core. To some, it’s just the place you go to argue about a zoning permit or pay a municipal fine. To others, it’s a monument to "Ed" Ball, the guy who basically treated the entire state of Florida like his personal chess board for half a century.
The Man Who Hated Hot Water
Let’s get the weirdest part out of the way first. When Edward Ball commissioned this building in 1960 for the Florida National Bank, he had some... specific ideas.
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Ed Ball was the brother-in-law of Alfred I. duPont. After duPont died, Ball took over the trust and turned a $33 million estate into a $2 billion empire. He was a titan. He controlled the Florida East Coast Railway and owned over a million acres of land. He was a kingpin.
But he was also legendary for being cheap.
Basically, he didn't believe in "frills." When he sat down with the architects, Saxelbye & Powell, he gave them a list of demands that would make a modern HR department faint. He refused to allow executive washrooms. He thought they were elitist. More importantly, he refused to install hot water faucets in the building. Not for the public, not for the bank tellers, and not for himself.
His logic? Nobody needs hot water to wash their hands. It was a waste of money.
So, for decades, some of the most powerful bankers in the South were scrubbing their hands in freezing cold water because the boss didn't want to pay for a boiler. That’s the kind of energy the Edward Ball Building was built on. It was constructed with marble floors and granite exteriors—materials Ball knew would appreciate in value—but it didn't have a single drop of warm water for its residents until much later.
From Bank Vaults to City Hall
The building officially opened in 1961 as the Florida National Bank building. For years, it was the nerve center of the duPont empire. Ball kept his personal office there, steering the St. Joe Paper Company and his massive railroad interests from the upper floors.
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Fast forward a few decades. The banking world changed. Mergers happened. First Union bought Florida National in the 80s, and eventually, the building sat half-empty.
In 2006, the City of Jacksonville was feeling a bit cramped. The St. James Building (the current City Hall) was gorgeous, but it was too small to hold every department. The city needed an annex. They bought the Edward Ball Building for about $23 million.
It was a smart move, honestly. It’s less than two blocks from the main City Hall, making it the perfect spot for what people now call "Government Square."
What’s actually inside now?
If you're heading there today, you aren't looking for a loan. You're likely dealing with one of these departments:
- The Planning and Development Department: These are the folks who decide how Jacksonville grows.
- Building Inspection Division: If you’re renovating a house, your permits are likely flowing through the 2nd floor here.
- Municipal Code Compliance: This is on the 7th floor. If your neighbor has three broken-down Chevys in their front yard, this is the office that handles it.
- Environmental Quality Division: They monitor the air and water around Jax.
It’s a massive operation. The building covers over 400,000 square feet. Even though it’s "just an annex," it’s where a huge chunk of the actual work of running the city happens.
A Ghost of the 2000 Election
Here’s a fun fact most people forget: the Edward Ball Building is a movie star. Sorta.
In 2008, HBO made a movie called Recount about the 2000 Presidential election (you know, the whole hanging chads situation in Florida). They filmed a lot of it right here in Jacksonville. The Edward Ball Building was used as a filming location, standing in for various government offices.
It’s got that perfect "serious government vibes" look that directors love.
Why It Matters Today
In 2026, downtown Jacksonville is undergoing a massive facelift. You’ve got the Emerald Trail project starting to wrap around the city, and the city is actively trying to make Hogan Street more "alive."
For a long time, the Edward Ball Building was a bit of a "dead zone" for retail. It was just a place where people went to work 9-to-5 and then left. But the Downtown Investment Authority (DIA) is changing that. They’ve been pushing to fill the ground floor with coffee shops and retail to make the area more walkable.
The building is also a lesson in architectural sustainability. While other cities were tearing down mid-century blocks to build glass towers, Jacksonville kept this one. It’s a "U-shaped" structure that reflects a weird mix of Modernism and a tiny bit of Italian Renaissance influence if you look at the limestone arcade at street level.
It’s built like a fortress. Ball wanted it to last, and it has.
Practical Info for Visitors
If you have business at the Edward Ball Building, here is the "real talk" on how to navigate it:
- Parking: Don't try to find street parking on Hogan. It’s a nightmare. Use the Ed Ball Garage right next door at 214 N. Hogan St. It’s managed by the city and usually has plenty of spots.
- Security: It is a government building. You’ll have to go through a metal detector. Don't bring your pocket knife.
- Hours: Most offices are open 8:00 AM to 5:00 PM, but the Building Inspection guys start early—usually around 7:00 AM.
- The "No Hot Water" Myth: Relax. The city eventually modernized the plumbing. You can wash your hands with warm water now. Ed Ball is probably rolling in his grave over the utility bill, but the rest of us are fine with it.
The Edward Ball Building is more than just a place to get a permit. It’s a physical manifestation of a specific era in Florida—a time when a few powerful men in suits made the rules and didn't care if you liked your water cold or your offices plain. It’s a piece of Jacksonville’s DNA that’s successfully transitioned from a private bank to a public service hub.
Next Step: If you need to check the status of a permit or look up a zoning map before heading downtown, you can use the city’s JAXEPICS online portal. It saves you the trip to the 2nd floor and the hassle of downtown parking.