Ambassador Hotel
420 North Julia Street
The Ambassador Hotel originally opened in 1924 as 310 West Church Street Apartments, the first upscale apartments in downtown Jacksonville. In 1943, it was converted into a hotel by Charles Griner, a personal friend of Ed Ball, executor of the DuPont Estate. Following Griner’s death, Ball advised his widow Doris to demolish the building but she objected because she felt Jacksonville had already torn down every other old hotel in downtown. Rebranded the Ambassador Hotel in 1955, the business survived until 1998 when the entire building was condemned and closed.
Vacant for 24 years, the six story brick and limestone Georgian Revival style building is poised to be renovated by December 2022. Recently gaining the Downtown Development Review Board’s (DDRB) Final Approval for the adaptive reuse of the Ambassador, Axis Hotels, LLC intends to convert the structure into a 100-room TRYP by Wyndham hotel, restaurant, lounge, meeting room and fitness center. With the developer recently closing on a construction loan for the $17.6 million project, construction is anticipated to begin by the end of July and be completed by December 2022.
(Augustine Development Group)
(Augustine Development Group)
Old Federal Reserve Bank
424 Hogan Street
Completed in 1922, the Federal Reserve Bank Building is notable for being designed by Henrietta Dozier, Jacksonville’s first woman architect. Vacant for decades, JWB Real Estate Capital LLC. intends to convert the building into a mixed-use development that will include two restaurants in 7,400 square feet of space and 9,000 square feet of event space. A parking just south of the building will be redeveloped into a centralized outdoor courtyard and seating area for the Old Federal Reserve Bank, Seminole Club and Florida Baptist Convention buildings. Civil plans for the project were filed in December 2020. JWB hopes to start the renovation in the third quarter of 2021. Combined, the Old Federal Reserve Bank and Florida Baptist Convention Buildings are estimated to cost $18.55 million to bring back to life.
(JWB Real Estate Capital)
(JWB Real Estate Capital)