Rail Yard District / Durkeeville / Eastside
55. 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. Interior build-out is underway on a creative office space housed in a former cold storage warehouse called The Workshop. Additional potential uses include a craft brewery or distillery, café, restaurant and outdoor event space. In addition, Nashville-based Marathon Live has announced plans to build a 26,000-square-foot Music Works concert hall at the redevelopment project.
For more information: https://www.dennisandives.com/
56. U-Haul Myrtle Avenue
U-Haul Company of Florida is developing a new LaVilla storage facility at 123 Myrtle Avenue North. Occupying a 0.61 acre L-shaped property bounded by Forsyth Street, Myrtle Avenue, Houston Street and Cleveland Street, the proposed building would cover a base ground floor area of 14,969 square feet. In addition, an 11-space off-street parking lot, underground stormtech chamber system and loading dock would be constructed along Myrtle Avenue.
For more information: https://www.thejaxsonmag.com/article/u-haul-to-expand-in-lavilla/
57. Union Terminal Warehouse Company
At the time of its completion in 1913, the Union Terminal Warehouse Company was the largest commercial building to be constructed in Florida. Intended to be a catalyst for economic development and revitalization in the Eastside, when complete, the adaptive reuse project will include 228 apartment units, 20,233 square feet of community commercial space, 24,607 square feet of maker/artist studio space, and 4,205 square feet of restaurant and coffee shop space. The 330,000-square-foot warehouse was recently listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is Florida’s first Historic Tax Credit project in a Federal Opportunity Zone. In addition, the $72 million historic renovation is the state’s largest Historic Tax Credit project by square footage.
58. The Debs Store
LIFT JAX is in the process of working to renovate the long closed Debs Store at 1478 Florida Avenue. The plan is to nearly double the store’s size and add additional services. Goodwill Inc. is set to run a new grocery store on the first floor and offer employment services on the second floor. In addition, VyStar Credit Union will provide an ATM and banking services onsite.The project is estimated to be completed in 2023.
59. McCoys Creek Greenway
Construction on phase one of the McCoys Creek Restoration Project continues. 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
60. W.W. Gay Mechanical Contractor, Inc.
Construction continues on a two-story 49,665-square-foot office and administrative building for W.W. Gay Mechanical Contractor Inc. in North Riverside. The $15.31 million project is being developed on 3.74 arces at 524 Stockton Street. The corporate headquarters will replace structures that were damaged by fire in August 2020.
61. Emerald Trail Model Project - LaVilla Link
Construction on the first segment of Groundwork Jacksonville’s planned 30-mile Emerald Trail system continues. 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: Ground broken on first link in Jacksonville’s 30-mile urban Emerald Trail
62. Forest Park Center
The former Forest Park community center at 2043 Forest Street, is in the process of being restored. Now a part of the Jacksonville Classical Academy campus, the building was originally constructed in 1940 by the National Youth Administration under the direction of Dr. Mary McLeod Bethune.
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