JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Protesters took to the streets Saturday against the city building a five-county morgue and medical examiner’s office in the Brentwood neighborhood. 

Despite construction being nearly completed, Lydia Bell, the president of Metro Gardens Neighborhood Association, and other residents aren’t backing down in their fight against the new development off of I-95 and Golfair Boulevard.

“We are demanding answers for all these violations, we are demanding accountability and we want penalties,” said Bell. “We need an urgent care center, all of the pharmacies out here are close, we can turn it into assisted living, a nursery, anything that will bring life in our community and progress.” 

In June last year, Brentwood residents sued the city for violating the neighborhood bill of rights.

In the lawsuit, the Metro Gardens Neighborhood Association claims they were not informed about an application submitted for the medical examination office to be built in their neighborhood.

Anthony Brown is the co-founder of the Red Alliance for Justice, a local organization that advocates against redlining. He attended the protest and told First Coast News that building the morgue would hurt the community. 

“When you think about Brentwood, they have all the characteristics of a red-line community, you have an interstate that goes through it, there is a lack of resources,” said Brown.

He believes the project would lower property values in the area.

“Why would you put a morgue or a liquor store or anything else that brings the property value and the value of the community down as opposed to having a town hall meeting and being transparent with the residents that live here?” said Brown.

Moving forward, Bell said she will continue to hold demonstrations despite construction being nearly completed.

First Coast News reached out to the City of Jacksonville for comment regarding the demonstration and is waiting to hear back.