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Rail Yard District / Durkeeville

47. McCoys Creek Greenway

Construction on phase one of the McCoys Creek Restoration Project is now underway. It is being funded with $105.4 million from the City of Jacksonville to remedy McCoys Creek flooding, create neighborhood-friendly spaces, improve recreational opportunity, and protect the environment. Major components of the 18 month project include the permanent closure of portions of McCoys Creek Boulevard, reconstruction of the Stockton and King Street bridges, creek restoration and Emerald Trail construction.

The restoration of the creek, which was channelized in 1930, will involve restoring the waterway to a meandering natural channel design and expanding the flood plain with the addition of natural water containment features, such as lagoons and tidal pools. The former road bed of McCoys Creek Boulevard will be replaced with a new segment of the Emerald Trail. When complete, the trail component of the project will connect the historic Westside neighborhoods of Lackawanna, Mixon Town, Campbell Hill (Rail Yard District) and Brooklyn to the Northbank Riverwalk.

For more information: McCoys Creek restoration project now underway

48. 546 Myrtle Avenue

546 Myrtle Avenue is being converted into an indoor soccer training facility. Originally completed in 1950, the 13,000 square foot building will contain three fields, exercise and locker rooms, and a clubhouse area.

Construction on the first segment of Groundwork Jacksonville’s planned 30-mile Emerald Trail system is now underway. Called the LaVilla Link, the 1.3 mile multiuse path will connect the neighborhoods of Brooklyn, LaVilla and the Rail Yard District with the S-Line Urban Greenway near Durkeeville.

For more information: https://www.jacksonville.com/story/news/local/2021/08/24/jacksonvilles-emerald-trail-begins-ground-broken-first-part-lavilla/8250241002/

50. Dennis + Ives

Located just west of Downtown Jacksonville, 95 Arch Partners QOZ Fund LLC have big plans for an 85,000 square foot former cold storage warehouse complex that originated during the late 1890s as the Florida Ice Manufacturing Company. Construction continues on plans to convert the cold storage complex into a mix of uses, possibly including creative office, craft brewery or distillery, cafe, restaurant and outdoor event space. Named for the cross streets of Dennis and Ives, conceptual plans prepared by Jacksonville-based Design/Cooperative LLC. also include plans for a small food hall.

For more information: Dennis + Ives proposed for Rail Yard District

51. 136 Myrtle Avenue

The Jacksonville Transportation Authority is in the process of making extensive renovations to a warehouse located at 136 Myrtle Avenue.

52. Bellingham Marine Industries

Bellingham Marine Industries Inc. at 2014 Dennis Street is in the process of constructing a new $1.4 million, 25,000 square foot casting facility in the Rail Yard District.

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Article by Ennis Davis, AICP. Davis is a certified senior planner and graduate of Florida A&M University. He is the author of the award winning books “Reclaiming Jacksonville,” “Cohen Brothers: The Big Store” and “Images of Modern America: Jacksonville.” Davis has served with various organizations committed to improving urban communities, including the American Planning Association and the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation. A 2013 Next City Vanguard, Davis is the co-founder of TheJaxsonMag.com and ModernCities.com — two websites dedicated to promoting fiscally sustainable communities — and Transform Jax, a tactical urbanist group. Contact Ennis at edavis@moderncities.com