On Saturday, January 22, The Jaxson will host its next guided walking tour of Jacksonville’s Downtown Northbank. With a history dating back even before the founding of the city in 1822, the Northbank has undergone continuous change over the centuries. On this tour, we’ll explore the past, present and future of the heart of the city.
Built in 1902 by Henry John Klutho, the Thomas V. Porter mansion has been purchased by JWB Real Estate Capital, who hope to restore the building for use as office space and a restaurant.
Designed by Henrietta Dozier, Jacksonville’s first female architect, the Old Federal Reserve Bank Building will be redeveloped by JWB Real Estate Capital for restaurants and event space. A parking lot south of the building will be converted into a centralized outdoor courtyard for the Federal Reserve and the nearby Seminole Club and Florida Baptist Convention buildings. Photo by Bullet of Abandoned Florida.
Beyond the headlines focusing on “game changing” proposals that never seem to come together, there’s a burgeoning renaissance of adaptive reuse projects underway within the walkable Northbank core. Our guides will give you an inside look at how local developers are changing the face of Downtown right before our eyes. We’ll share critical insight on how the power of clustering complementary uses within a compact setting will have a dramatic impact on realizing the vibrant Downtown local leaders have long strived to achieve.
The Old Independent Life Building (left) and Ambassador Hotel (right) are two major adaptive reuse projects converting old buildings to new uses. Augustine Development is renovating the Independent Life Building into a mixed-use development with 135 apartments and a 21,000 square-foot grocery store. Meanwhile, Axis Hotels is converting the long abandoned Ambassador Hotel into a TRYP By Wyndam hotel.
Tickets can be purchased through Eventbrite for tours at 9 a.m. and 10 a.m. Saturday, January 22. Kids 12 and under are free. The tour begins and ends at James Weldon Johnson Park. Street parking is free on weekends.
For any questions, contact Bill Delaney at wdelaney@moderncities.com or Ennis Davis at edavis@moderncities.com.