ARTICLE COMMENTS AND REPLIES

DOWNTOWN

1. Artea

Located on four acres at the intersection of Montana Avenue and Broadcast Place, the $75 million, 340-unit Artea project is a class-A multi-family development under way by Corner Lot Development Group. Adjacent to the Jacksonville Transportation Authority’s Kings Avenue Skyway rail station, this transit oriented development will include a four-level, 425-space parking garage, pool, multiple amenity spaces and a rooftop deck for public and private use.

2. RISE Sports Town

Rise, a Valdosta-based development firm, is in the process of constructing a new eight-story, 247-unit mixed-use apartment development at 960 East Adams Street in the Sports and Entertainment District. Called RISE Sports Town, the $67 million development will include a 284-space parking garage, 4,875 square feet of ground floor retail space and additional roof top amenities. The project should be completed in 2023.

For more information: Doro’s days come to an end as demolition begins

3. Hardwick Bar

Originally built in 1926, a 3,479-square-foot space at 100 East Adams Street is in the process of being renovated into Hardwicks Bar. Owned and operated by business partners Elias Hionides and Tim Hoal, Hardwicks Bar will be the first LGBTQIA+ bar to open in Jacksonville in 20 years. The $500,000 project will include a main bar in the front and a smaller bar in the back.

For more information: https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/article/hardwicks-bar-plans-march-opening

4. Pet Paradise

Pet Paradise will be opening a resort and day spa in a 6,000-square-foot retail space at the Fidelity National Information Services parking garage. Located at Riverside Avenue and Forest Street, the $1.5 million pet care center project will include a rooftop play yard and pool area for the pet resort.

For more information: https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/news/2023/feb/01/fis-seeks-permit-to-add-pet-paradise-to-its-brooklyn-headquarters-garage/

5. JEA Headquarters

Construction is nearing completion on a new 162,000 square foot headquarters building for JEA. The $68 million project at 325 West Adams Street will include a 657-space parking garage with 10,690 square feet of ground level retail space.

For more information: JEA Shrinks plan for new downtown headquarters

6. Setlan Coffee Company

The Setlan Coffee Company will be opening a new brick and mortar location inside MOCA Jax on April 20th.

7. Johnson Commons

Construction on a 91 for-sale townhome residential community continues in LaVilla. A joint project of JWB Real Estate Capital LLC. and the Corner Lot Development Group, each three-story townhouse at Johnson Commons will include a one car garage. A second phase could add retail and additional multifamily at the 3.4 acre site surrounded by Adams, Stuart, Forsyth and Lee streets.

For more information: https://www.breeze-homes.com/johnson-commons/

8. RiversEdge

Infrastructure work at the RiversEdge development continues. The first phase of the project being developed by Dallas-based Preston Hollow Capital LLC, was the construction of a $965,105 surface parking lot for the Duval County School Board. Currently, $58.4 million in infrastructure improvements are under construction. This includes roadway, water, stormwater, sanitary sewer and electrical connections. Preston Hollow then plans to sell individual property parcels on the 32-acre site to other developers. When complete, the development is slated to bring 950 residential units, 147 hotel rooms, 200,000 square feet of office space, 134,000 square feet of retail, a 125-slip marina and more than four acres of public park space to the Downtown Southbank.

For more information: Preston Hollow plans May 25th Groundbreaking at the District

9. Ambassador Hotel

The Ambassador Hotel originally opened in 1924 as 310 West Church Street Apartments, the first upscale apartments in downtown Jacksonville. Rebranded the Ambassador Hotel in 1955, the business survived until 1998 when the entire building was condemned and closed. Vacant for 24 years, the brick and limestone Georgian Revival style building is poised to be completely renovated by the end of 2023. Axis Hotels, LLC is now in the process of a $17.6 million restoration of the Ambassador into a 127-room TRYP by Wyndham hotel, restaurant, lounge, meeting room and fitness center.

For more information: https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/news/2023/mar/16/dia-board-gives-the-hardwick-ambassador-hotel-projects-more-time/

10. Independent Life

The adaptive reuse of the Independent Life Building at 233 West Duval Street by the Augustine Development Group continues. When complete, the 165,000 square foot office tower will be converted into a $30 million mixed-use project that will include 135 market rate apartments, a 21,000 square foot grocery store and 10,000 square foot rooftop lounge and restaurant.

For more information: Independent Life project up for final DDRB approval

11. Friendship Fountain Renovation

A $6 million project to overhaul Friendship Fountain continues to move slowly. Once expected to be completed in 2022, the project will convert the fountain and surrounding park into a state-of-the-art space for water and sound shows.

For more information: One Year Late, Renovation To Begin On Southbank’s Friendship Fountain

12. Project 323

Miami-based 323 E Bay Street RE LLC. is in the process of restoring a historic building at 323 East Bay Street into a $4.8 million live music venue tentatively called Project 323. Designed by JAA Architecture, the three story concert venue will include a new 2,250 square foot rooftop bar. The first floor will include a main floor area with a stage and bar. An area with lounge seating, a smaller bar, exterior patio and restrooms will be located on the second floor. A roof lounge and bar will serve as the third level while the building’s basement will become space for storage, service, electrical and office uses.

For more information: https://www.thejaxsonmag.com/article/live-music-venue-planned-downtown-project-323/

Downtown Continued

Riverside/Murray Hill

Springfield

San Marco

Rail Yard District / Durkeeville