Jacksonville Development News

[Captain Obvious]

This thread has been updated as of 08/01/2005, courtesy of Lakelander
[edited by Jasonhouse 9/27/05]




*Development Map courtesy of Captain Obvious (one day I'll add numbers to this development map)


Green = Under construction or very recently completed.
Blue = Proposed
Red = Proposals that are on hold / delayed / tied up in something



DOWNTOWN - SOUTHBANK


1. The Peninsula (St. Johns Center - Phase II)
37 story/ 234 unit condo tower - Under Construction
American Land Ventures
www.thepeninsulacondos.com



2. The Strand (St. Johns Center - Phase I)
28 story/ 295 unit apartment tower - Under Construction
American Land Ventures


3. St. Johns Center - Phase III
13 story residential tower - proposed
American Land Ventures



4. San Marco Place
21 story/141 unit condo tower - Under Construction
Riverplace Properties Development LLC.
www.sanmarcoplace.com



5. San Marco Village
(3) - 35 story condo towers - 1,025 units
(1) - 30 story condo tower - 300 units
(1) - 28 story condo tower/w grocery market - 275 units
(1) - 9 story/200 unit hotel
Total: 1,500 unit development - proposed - groundbreaking late/early 2005-2006
Riverwalk Hotels, LLC
Estimated costs: $500 million


6. Riverpointe
40 story/300 unit condo tower - approved, ground breaking early 2006
Hines/South Shore Group


7. Riverpointe - Phase II
40 story condo tower - proposed
South Shore Group



8. Kings Avenue Station
8 story office/retail/residential tower w/grocery market - proposed
Kings Avenue Redevelopment, LLC


9. JEA Southside Generation Station
25 acre, possible 2,000 unit urban infill development - proposed
Case Pomeroy Properties
plans to be announced late 2005[/QUOTE]



DOWNTOWN - NORTHBANK


10. Ocean Square
12 story, 70 unit condo tower, movie theater and street retail space - proposed
The Atkins Group


11. The Metropolitan Apartments - 421 W. Church St.
renovation of Jax Telecom Building into 116 unit apartment bldg. - under construction
Jax Telecom Partners, LLC.
Estimated Costs: $14.3 million




12. The Shipyards
redevelopment of former 44 acre shipyards site into 1,000 unit development - proposed
LandMar Group
Estimated costs: $857 million



13. Old JEA Headquarters
31 story condo/office tower & renovation of existing 19 story tower - delayed
Syed S. Hassain and Khalid



14. Berkman Plaza - Phase II
22 story/ 200 unit residential tower - approved, groud breaking late 2005
Harbor Companies
Estimated costs: $36 million



15. Westin Hotel or condo tower
12 story, 197 unit hotel or condo tower - delayed
Capital Partners
Estimated costs: n/a



16. The Lofts at East Union
10 story, 73 unit condominium tower with 8,000sf of retail - proposed
Andre and Carla Bahri
Status: Approved
Estimated costs: n/a



17. Jacksonville Landing Expansion and Redevelopment
25 story office tower
(2) 6 mixed use residential mid-rises
(2) 960 space parking garage
120 slip marina
500,000 sf of retail space
Sleiman Enterprises
Status: proposed
Estimated costs: $250 million



18. Laura Street Trio
restoration of Bisbee, Old Florida Bank & Florida Life Buildings into residential/retail uses - Partial interior demolition underway
The Police and Fire Pension Fund
Estimated costs: n/a



19. The Barnett
restoration of 19 story tower into 125 lofts and street retail - proposed
LB Jax Development
Estimated costs: $25 million[/QUOTE]




20. Greenleaf Building
restoration of 12 story tower into office condominiums - proposed
Addison Commercial Real Estate
Estimated costs: n/a


22. 323 Duval
12 story office condominium building/w 23,000sf street retail - proposed
Easton, Sanderson and Company
Estimated Costs: $40 million
www.escresults.com/323_Duval_St.htm



23. Ambassador Hotel
50 unit apartment bldg. - adaptive use project - proposed
Easton, Sanderson and Company
Estimated Costs: $10 million



24. 20 West Adams
Adaptive reuse of old Lerner Bldg into 20 loft apartments/street retail - Under Construction
The Kimmick Corporation
Estimated Costs: $6.7 million


25. Churchwell Lofts @ East Bay
Adaptive re-use of Churchwell Bldg into 21 lofts/w street retail - proposed
Robert Pavelka
Estimated costs: $8.6 million



26. Hudson Book Company
restoration of old Furchgott’s building into book store - Under Construction
Hudson Books
Estimated costs: n/a


27. FCCJ Skyway retail center
7,000 sf retail center @ FCCJ skyway station - proposed
Renaissance Design-Build Group
Estimated costs: n/a


28. Duval County Courthouse
900,000 sf courthouse project - delayed
City of Jacksonville
Estimated costs: $198 million



29. New Downtown Library
-new main library including a bookstore and Shelby's Coffee Shop - under construction
City of Jacksonville
Estimated costs: $95 million


30. Ed Ball Building
renovation of 11 story, 400,000 sf building into new city hall annex - proposed
City of Jacksonville
Estimated costs: $23 million


31. YMCA Building
renovation of 5 story historic Klutho building into city hall annex - planned
Estimated costs: n/a


32. Courthouse Parking Garage

1,375 courthouse parking garage/w street level retail - proposed
City of Jacksonville



33. Sports District Parking Garages
1,000 & 480 space parking garages with future street retail - Under Construction
City of Jacksonville
Estimated costs: $53 million


DOWNTOWN - RIVERSIDE AVENUE


34. Riverside Avenue Office Tower
13 story; 200,000 SF office tower - approved
Riverside Avenue Partners LLC
Estimated costs: n/a




35. Fidelity National Financial
8 story, 280,000 sf office building - under construction
Fidelity National Financial
Estimated costs: $53 million


36. St. Joe Condominium Tower
16 to 17 story condo tower on Riverside YMCA site - delayed
St. Joe Company
Estimated costs: n/a



37. Marks Gray
58,275 sq. ft. 6 story office building - proposed, delayed
Marks Gray
Estimated costs: $7.25 million



URBAN AREAS OUTSIDE OF DOWNTOWN



JTA Bus Rapid Transit System (future light rail system)
Project Summary:
- 4 phase, 29 mile system with 27 stations
Status: Purchasing right-of-way


Riverside


1. Villa Riva
12 story, 70 unit condo tower & townhomes - Under Construction
FlagVenture Riverside, Ltd
Estimated costs: n/a
www.villariva.com



2. 1661 Riverside
90 condo units & 45,000 sf office/retail space - Under Construction
Midland Development
Estimated costs: n/a
www.1661Riverside.com



3. Five Points Theater renovaton
14 lofts and street level retail
Mike Shad
Status: Under Construction
Estimated costs: $4.5 million




4. St. Vincent Cancer Center
7 story cancer center - Under Construction
St. Vincent's Medical Center
Estimated costs: $60 million


5. Oak Street Lofts
8 unit condo/retail loft complex - proposed
1534 Oak Street LLC
Estimated Costs: $2 million


6. Goodwin Condos
20 unit condo development on Herschel/Goodwin Streets - proposed
BB Riverside Development LLC
Estimated costs: $6 million


7. Riviera Parkway
(2) 4 story and (1) 6 story condo building on Riverside Avenue - proposed
Midland Development
Estimated costs: n/a



8. Ortega Yacht Club
Project summary:
- 20 story condo tower
- 80 units
Developer: Ortega Yacht Club Condominiums LLC, O.Y.C.
Status: proposed
Estimated costs: n/a



9. Ortega Landing - 4228 Lakeside Dr.
74 unit condo/ 205 slip marina development - proposed
MLG Capital/Ortega LLC


Springfield


10. Liberty Lofts
renovation of the Chevy Parts Warehouse into 29 loft apartments - proposed
Urban Spaces
Estimated costs: n/a
www.urbanspaces.cc



11. 8th & Pearl
80,000 sf of condominiums & retail space - land clearing
Symbiosis Investments
Estimated costs: $17 million



12. The Lofts at 3rd & Main
40 loft condos, 7,500sf retail space, 70 parking spaces - proposed
Cesery Companies
Estimated costs: $8 million


13. 201 11th Street
6 unit loft townhome restoration - Under Construction
Symbiosis Investments
Estimated costs: n/a



14. Goffin Building - 1702 Main Street
Conversion of building into 4 apartments and street retail space
Jacksonville Downtown Development, LLC
Estimated costs: n/a
www.goffinbuilding.com



15. Hogan's Corner
new 7 single family homes and retail space at 8th & Perry - proposed
Kodatt Group
www.hoganscorner.net


16. 15 West Sixth (just West of 6th & Main)
new construction, 4 unit contemporary live/work loft - proposed
Urban South Investments, LLC.
Estimated costs: n/a
http://urbanjacksonville.blogspot.com/


San Marco

17. LaSalle & Hendricks
4,600sf retail/resturant building next to Panera Bread - proposed
Mark Rubin
Estimated costs: n/a

18. Atlantic @ Hendricks
Potential multi-block development featuring an urban Publix - proposed
Wachovia, St. Joe & Regency Centers
Estimated costs: n/a


Arlington

19. Dolphin Reef
900 unit mixed use development, just north of JU - proposed
Hudson Capital, LLC
Estimated costs: n/a[/QUOTE]

[Captain Obvious]

Archived information... May be outdated or changed. The above post is the most recent list [edited by Jasonhouse 9/27/05]




Riverpointe
Project Summary:
- (2) 750ft - 48 story towers
- 550 residential units
- 10 story parking garage
- commerical space
Developer: Krook Douglas Development
Status: preliminary approved, const. scheduled for mid 2005
Estimated costs: $100 million


The Peninsula
Project Summary: 36 story condo tower;
Developer: American Land Ventures
Status: approved, const. scheduled to begin Jan. 2005
website: www.thepeninsulacondos.com


The Strand
Project Summary:
- 28 story apartment tower
- 298 units
Developer: American Land Ventures
Status: under construction


San Marco Place
Project Summary:
- 21 story condo tower
- 140 condos
- 5,200 sf retail space
Developer: Riverplace Properties Development LLC.
Status: const. to begin Nov. 2004
Estimated costs: $46.9 million
website: www.sanmarcoplace.com


San Marco Riverwalk
Project Summary:
- (3) 35 story residential towers - 1,025 units
- (2) 28 story residential towers - 575 units
- (1) 9 story four star hotel - 200 units
- 28,000 sf grocery store
Developer: Riverwalk Hotels, LLC
Status: proposed, hotel groundbreaking: mid 2005



Old JEA Headquarters
Project Summary: 31 story condo and office complex
Developer: Syed S. Hussain and Khalid
Status: proposed


323 Duval
Project Type:
-(2) 10 story office condominium buildings
- 15,000 sf retail
- 331 space parking garage
Estimated costs: $40 million


Park Avenue Towers
Project summary:
- 25 story apartment tower
Developer: n/a
Status: proposed (delayed due to environmental concerns)


Westin Hotel/condo tower
Project Type:
-12 story, 197 unit hotel or condo tower
Developer: Capital Partners
Status: proposed


Jacksonville Landing
Project Summary:
- 25 story office tower
- (2) 6 mixed use residential mid-rises
- (2) 960 space parking garage
- 120 slip marina
-500,000 sf of retail space
Developer: Sleiman Enterprises
Status: proposed
Estimated costs: $250 million

Berkman Plaza Phase II
Project Summary:
- 22 story residential tower
- 206 apartment units, 7 townhomes
Developer: Harbor Companies
Status: proposed
Estimated costs: $36 million

Marks Gray
Project summary
- 58,275 sq. ft. 6 story office building



Fidelity National Financial
Project Summary:
- 50 - 80 room luxury hotel
- condo tower
- 280,000 sf office building
Developer: Fidelity National Financial
Status: planned
Estimated costs: n/a

St. Joe Condominium Tower
Project summary:
- 16 to 17 story condo tower on Riverside YMCA site
Developer: St. Joe Company
Status: proposed
Estimated costs: n/a


Adams Street Station
Project summary:
- refurbished rail cars for sale for football tailgating
Developer: JR Evans & Associates LLC
Status: under construction
Estimated costs:


Historic Preservation/Adaptive Re-use


The Barnett
Project summary:
- 125 loft apartments
- five star restuarant
- bank outlet
Developer: LB Jax Development
Status: proposed
Estimated costs: $50 million


The Greenleaf & Crosby Building
Project summary:
- 88,500 sf conversion into office condos
Developer: Allied Capital Corporation
Status: marketing
Estimated costs: n/a

The Carlington








Project Summary:
- 100 loft apartments
- 15,000 sf retail space
- 250 space parking garage
Developer: Vestcor
Status: under construction
Estimated costs: $27 million


Laura Street Trio
Project summary:
- Bisbee & Florida Life Buildings - residential uses
- Old Florida National Bank - commerical use
Developer: The Police and Fire Pension Fund
Status: proposed
Estimated costs: n/a


Ambassador Hotel
Project summary:
- apartments
Developer:
Status: proposed
Estimated costs: n/a


[b]20 West “Lerner Shops Building“[b]
Project Summary: (adaptive re-use)
- 20 lofts
- 1st and 2nd floor retail/office space
Developer: The Kimmick Corporation
Status: under construction
Estimated Costs: $6.7 million


Churchwell Lofts @ East Bay
Project Summary:
- 21 lofts
- street level retail space
Developer: Robert Pavelka
Status: proposed
Estimated costs: $8.6 million


Holmes Block
Project summary:
- first floor retail, dining & entertainment uses
- second floor office space
Developer: n/a
Status: under construction
Estimated costs: $1.1 million

Public Projects


Duval County Courthouse
Project summary: 900,000 sf courthouse project is currently in limbo. The city is currently planning to start the design process over. (Maybe KBJ’s design “the above image” will come out on top this time)
Status: delayed
Estimated costs: $211 million


New Downtown Library
Project summary:
- new main library including a cafe-bookstore
- 600 space parking garage with street retail
Developer: City of Jacksonville
Status: under construction
Estimated costs: $95 million


Bay Street Town Center
Project summary:
- New entertainment district including new streetscape with historic lighting
Developer: City of Jacksonville
Status: under construction
Estimated costs: $1.4 million


courthouse garage


arena garage
Arena/County Courthouse Parking Garages
Project Summary:
- 1,375 courthouse parking garage/w street level retail
- 480 space arena parking garage/w street level retail
Developer: City of Jacksonville
Status: planned
Estimated costs: $53 million

Downtown Bridge Lighting Projects

Fuller Warren Bridge


Main Street Bridge


Hart Bridge

Project Summary:
- the installation of permanent night lighting effects on downtown bridges
Status: under construction

Riverside


Villa Riva
Project Summary:
- 12 story, 70 unit condo tower
Developer:
Status: under construction
Estimated costs:


1661 Riverside
Project summary:
- 90 condo units
- 45,000 sf office/retail space
Developer:
Status: approved


Five Points Theater renovaton
Project summary:
- street level retail, upper level lofts
Developer: Mike Shad
Status: proposed
Estimated costs: $4.5 million

Goodwin Condos
Project summary:
- 20 unit condo development on Herschel/Goodwin Streets
Developer: BB Riverside Development LLC
Status: proposed
Estimated costs: $6 million

Ortega Yacht Club
Project summary:
- 20 story condo tower
- 80 units
Developer: Ortega Yacht Club Condominiums LLC, O.Y.C.
Status: proposed

Springfield


Liberty Lofts
Project summary:
- renovation of the Chevy Parts Warehouse into 29 loft apartments
Developer: n/a
Status: proposed
Estimated costs: n/a


8th & Pearl
Project summary:
- 80,000 sf of condominiums & retail space
Developer: Symbiosis Investments

Jacksonville Beach


Ocean Pointe A1A Office Condominiums
Project summary:
- 5 story office/retail complex
Developer: n/a
Status: under construction


Costa Vernano
Project summary:
- 15 story, 91 unit condo tower
Developer: n/a
Status: under construction


Surfside Condominiums
Project summary:
- 6 story, 25 unit condominium complex
Developer: n/a
Status: proposed


Avenue Four & Avenue Four South
Project summary:
- twin 4 story condo complex
Developer: n/a
Status: under construction


The Water's Edge Oceanfront
Project summary:
- 7 stories, 17 unit condo complex
Developer: n/a
Status: proposed


Acquilus I Oceanfront Condominiums
Project summary:
- 12 story, 48 unit condo tower
Developer: n/a
Status: under construction


Acquilus II Oceanfront Condominiums
Project summary:
- 12 story, 48 unit condo tower
Developer: n/a
Status: under construction


The Watermark
Project summary:
- 11 story, 25 unit condo tower
Developer: n/a
Status: under construction


The Marabella
Project summary:
- 11 story, 22 unit condo tower
Developer: n/a
Status: under construction


The Beach Terraces
Project summary:
- 7 story, 18 unit condo complex
Developer: n/a
Status: under construction


Marina San Pablo
Project summary:
- twin 11 story condo towers
- 113 units
Developer: Vestcor
Status: approved, building permit granted
website: www.marinasanpablo.net


The Lorelei
Project summary:
- 7 story, 22 unit condo complex
Developer: Lorelei Communities, LLC.
Status: approved, building permit granted
website: www.loreleicommunities.com


Ocean 9 Villas
Project summary:
- 9 story, 15 unit condo complex
Developer: Auchter Company
Status: proposed
website: www.ocean9villas.com


Le Meridien
Project summary:
- 8 story condo complex
Developer: Edgewater Companies, Inc.
Status: proposed
website: www.liveflorida.com


The Metropolitan
Project summary:
- 9 story mixed used building
- 34 residential condos
- 18 office condos
- street level retail
Developer: n/a
Status: under construction
website: www.themetropolitancondo.com

[New Jack City]

Thanks alot for the thread, very informative!

The Ship yards project looks huge but really good.

The circular building in the St. Joes proposal look very interesting too.

Which are you most excited about?

Jacksonville looks like it's developing well, hopefully it continues.

[Style™]

Awsome projects going on! All of those projects look great. The buildings that are going to be built look really cool too. Nice design to all of them.

[Brunswick]

Man Jacksonville is finally going for some true density and Quality development. Great job on the list. I live just over an hour from Jacksonville. I believe it is time for a visit.

[Sunstorm]

I'm really excited to see all of those beautiful old "skyscrapers" from Jax's past, such as the Barnett building and 11E (formally the Lynch Bldg.), finally being brought back to life. And best of all, as residentials!

As incredible as it may seem now, there was talk at one time of tearing down at least a few of those buildings. What a shame that would have been. Jax had already lost many beautiful and historic buildings to the wrecking ball back in the 70's.

[Lakelander]

I just walked around downtown Jax, yesterday afternoon. I must say I was very impressed at the amount of historic architecture remaining and the dense feel of downtown. There's a lot of construction going on (new courthouse complex, library, Roosevelt Hotel for example) that I believe will greatly enhance the vibrancy of downtown fairly quickly before the super bowl comes to town. I have pics, and I plan to post them on this forum by the end of the week.

[Lakelander]

In addition to the massive courthouse and new arena, downtown will also get a couple of large parking garages with limited street level retail. Even though their garages, they will be built on currently surface parking lots and should help increase the building density feel of downtown.


1,300 space Courthouse Garage (10 stories)


600 space arena parking garage (surface lot just south of arena)

It also looks like construction has started on the sites of the proposed Strand & Peninsula towers and The Shipyards.

[smiley]

It is a truly impressive list and, if it all happens, Jax will rock. The only issue I see is that most of the projects are kind of large. I fear that they will not all be sufficiently supported to allow for financing and some will just wallow and fade away. Hopefully not, but it seems like a distinct possibility.

[Sunstorm]

Originally posted by smiley

It is a truly impressive list and, if it all happens, Jax will rock. The only issue I see is that most of the projects are kind of large. I fear that they will not all be sufficiently supported to allow for financing and some will just wallow and fade away. Hopefully not, but it seems like a distinct possibility.

I think most, or all, of these projects will take place in some form. Jax's downtown is dreadfully underbuilt for a town of its size (except for office space). There seems to be a definate demand for projects such as these.

[Lakelander]

Jacksonville Times-Union
December 25, 2003 - 12:23 AM

City files site plans for courthouse


Preparing to break ground after regulatory approvals, the city and its engineer filed site plans for the Duval County Courthouse with the Jacksonville Planning and Development Department.

Those plans, filed Dec. 19, show a multi-story building totaling 856,572 square feet of enclosed space that shares a 12.25-acre site with the former federal courthouse and a proposed parking garage.

The application and plans show a nine-story building, including a basement and penthouse area. The third, fourth and fifth floors also have mezzanines.

BHR Inc. is the engineer, while Ghiotto and Associates Inc. is the surveyor. Janet Whitmill is the landscape architect.

The site is bordered to the north by Duval Street, to the east by Julia Street, to the south by Adams Street and to the west by Broad Street. Monroe Street feeds into the site.

Cost estimates have varied but settled in at $222 million with a $10 million contingency. The complex, apparently including the former federal courthouse, has been estimated at 1.1 million square feet in size.

The construction manager is Skanska Dynamic Partners. Underground utility work began in June, and the complex is supposed to be completed in the spring of 2007.

The courthouse is the last major downtown project included in The Better Jacksonville Plan. The arena and ballpark are completed and operating, and the library construction is under way.
-----------------------------------------------------------------------------------


Here's another major project getting underway. At this rate there's going to be cranes all over downtown in a couple of months.

[Lakelander]

an update on Fidelity National Financial


(existing building)


(rough massing rendering of the Fidelity complex when completed)

September 20, 2003 - Jacksonville Times-Union

Fidelity National Financial submitted plans this week to build an office building and a 1,700-space parking garage across the street from its Riverside Avenue headquarters, according to city public records.

Developers have discussed their plans in the past, but the plan filings mark the first official action in getting the projects started.

Fidelity National, which moved its corporate headquarters from Santa Barbara, Calif., to Jacksonville last spring after acquiring a division of Alltel Information Services Inc., filed site plans that show a proposed a six-story, 168,000-square-foot office building facing the St. Johns River north of the company's existing 13-story headquarters building.

The company also proposes to build a seven-story, 1,750-space parking garage across Riverside Avenue from the headquarters, on property that's currently a paved parking lot.

Ronald Lloyd, president of Fidelity National's real estate division, said construction on the new building is expected to start by January and be completed in July 2005.

The new office building can be expanded to 19 stories as Fidelity National hires more employees in the future, Lloyd said.

"As people are working," he said, "construction could go on above their heads."

The company also plans to build a six-level parking garage with 982 spaces between the office building and Riverside Avenue when more parking is needed to accommodate additional workers, Lloyd said.
----------------------------------------------------------------------------------

I guess this will be phase 1. Its great to see new office space be a part of the current downtown building boom. As the Fortune 500 company relocates to downtown, here's what we can expect to see go up on their property.


Expansion of the initial six-story building into a 19-story, 532,000-square-foot structure.

Replacing three smaller existing structures with a 10-story, 280,000-square-foot building.

The addition of a 47,000-square-foot data center building that also provides 950 parking spaces.

A new seven-story parking garage with 2,850 spaces.

Across Riverside Avenue, Fidelity also might build:

A 10-story, 200,000-square-foot building.

A seven-story, 1,300-space parking garage.

And a pedestrian bridge above Riverside Avenue to link the developments.

[Sunstorm]

Thanks for the updates Lakelander. It's nice to see the courthouse will finally be under construction. I'm also very happy about all of Fidelity's plans for office space construction (esp since office space construction is such a rarity these days).

[Lakelander]

originally posted by Smiley

It is a truly impressive list and, if it all happens, Jax will rock. The only issue I see is that most of the projects are kind of large. I fear that they will not all be sufficiently supported to allow for financing and some will just wallow and fade away. Hopefully not, but it seems like a distinct possibility.

Most of the big projects will be built. The major public projects (County Courthouse, Library, Arena, & Baseball Stadium) are a part of the Better Jax Plan and are finished or already underconstruction. These alone, would be a boon for downtown. So far, like the rest of Florida, urban housing has been a success in J-ville. Some of the larger projects, like the Shipyards,The Landing, & the Southbank Station land, will be built in phases, depending on the success of the market, so hopefully, that will prevent overbuilding. Jax has a goal of having 10,000 new residential units in downtown, within 10 years. So far, roughly 2,000 units (not counting the Southbank Station proposal) have been completed, under construction or proposed. With the success of projects, like 11 East, and transist infrastructure like the skyway already in place, I believe we'll see most of these projects come to life.

[Lakelander]

originally posted by savethewtc

Thanks alot for the thread, very informative!

The Ship yards project looks huge but really good.

The circular building in the St. Joes proposal look very interesting too.

Which are you most excited about?

These are the top 5 projects, I'm mostly excited about.

1. Bay Street Town Center

This project will attempt to turn 4 blocks of Bay Street, between the Landing and the Stadium district into a street with a vibrant mix of unique restaurants, clubs, lofts, & art galleries before the Super bowl in Jan. 2005.


2. County Courthouse project

This massive thing will fill up 7 underutilized dead blocks of downtown and will bring thousands of people daily into an area of that resembles a ghost town.

3. The Landing

Opening the center of this retail center to the streets of downtown will allow the center to blend in with the rest of downtown. The new developer also has a good track record and I believe he will be able to draw big name tenants to this downtown retail center, which will bring more pedestrians to downtown's streets.

4. The new Library

Like the Courthouse this huge state of the art library will help attract people to the historical heart of downtown, which is 5 blocks north of the river.


5. The corner of Laura & Adams Streets

(Laura Place-left, The Barnett-center, The Carlington-right)


(Barnett-left, Laura Place-center, Carlington-background right)
pic by JFDbytheSea on SSP

On this corner 3 large highrises from the 1920's will be renovated , instantly bringing life back to downtown's best corner, IMO. Two projects will be finished in time for the super bowl in 2005.

The Barnett
-The Lion & The Gargoyle (80 room upscale hotel)
-75 loft-styled apartments
-a bank branch
-a 5 star restaurant
-completion date: Jan. 2005

The Carlington
-100 apartments
-street level retail


Laura Place (by Signet Development)
The renovation of the Bisbee, Florida Life and Marble Bank buildings into loft apartments, office condominiums, office space and about 5,000 square feet of retail space, a new 60,000-square-foot office building, a pocket park at Laura and Adams streets and a 278-space parking garage in the new building,

[Sunstorm]

Of the five projects Lakelander listed, I'm most excited about the proposals for Bay Street and the corner of Laura and Adams. Not only are super-cool old buildings with tons of character being given new life, but a long neglected area of town will begin to resurrect itself. This mix of residential and commercial will feed off of each other. If Bay St. were being done w/o the residential components nearby, I would doubt its long-term success. This was the main problem when the Landing was originally built. No residents living nearby, and because Jax isn't a tourist town, no tourists frequented the Landing either.

I'm also equally excited about the shipyards project. For ever since I can remember, the city has wanted to do something meaningful with that land. This project, I'm sure, will be a major catalyst for the surrounding area.

Also, Lakelander, is that "secret" highrise residential project planned to go up near Confederate Park still moving along? Thanks for any info you can provide!

[Lakelander]

Also, Lakelander, is that "secret" highrise residential project planned to go up near Confederate Park still moving along? Thanks for any info you can provide!

There was an article on it, two weeks ago, in a local newspaper, called "entertaining you" magazine. It's still planned, but we had to delay our work on it until January, because of a deadline on another project.

[Lakelander]

12/31/03


existing buildings


proposed rendering

Jacksonville Daily Record
by J. Brooks Terry
Staff Writer

Redevelopment legislation for Laura Place could be put in the City Council hot seat by early January.
One of several projects gunning for a low interest City loan and a hefty grant from the Historic Trust Fund, the development plan for the Marble Bank, Bisbee and Florida Life buildings has already been given the thumbs up by the Downtown Development Authority, the Jacksonville Historic Preservation Society and the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission.
“The important thing to realize is that the City is finally taking a much needed interest in restoring those buildings,” said Michael Munz, a representative for the project. “They really are three of the most historically significant buildings in Jacksonville, and right now they are literally crumbling to the ground.”
According to Munz, the refurbished buildings bordering West Adams and Laura streets would meet historic guidelines, a major factor in securing a grant, including window, door and facade standards representative of the original architecture of Henry J. Klutho.
“We have dealt with all of the historic issues,” he said.
Billed as a mixed-use historic preservation project, retail, residential and parking components have been incorporated into the approximately $35 million design plans.
Developers Signet Developers Ltd. have requested a “gap financing,” low-interest $11 million City loan, and a $3 million grant from the Historic Trust Fund.
“If things go well, we would like to have something introduced by late January or early February,” said Munz. “From there it will just have to go through the usual Council process.”
Council member Suzanne Jenkins said she looks forward to looking at bill and said it would likely have the interest of several other Council members.
“Definitely,” she said. “I think this is when we’re going to start looking at how we should be investing City dollars. We should be making smart investments so we can make a profit if a development does well. If we can do that, I’m all for it.”
Jenkins said the bill may move relatively slowly through the committee process while new Council members become more familiar with its history.
“We have nine new members who may not know all of the back story of what we have looked at in the past regarding historic redevelopments,” she said. “But I’m sure it will take some time for all of us while we look at all the rewards and benefits of assisting with this project.”
Providing the Council green lights the project, Munz declined to put a time table on construction efforts.
“It will be hard to say until we can really get in there to see what we have to do to,” he said. “We’re still in the ‘building rescue phase’ and we wouldn’t want to put a false time table on this. They really are in bad shape, though the Bisbee is in slightly better condition.”
Munz added there would be a push to move as quickly as possible while tenant agreements continue to be sought and finalized.
“Optimistically, we can get moving by March,” he said.

link: http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showst...Story_id=40069

[Sunstorm]

I sincerely hope they move fast on this one. I really would love to see those old buildings restored and fully utilized.

[SkyDiveJunkee]

I love the new courthouse, does anyone have pics? Is it already under construction? It's a very classic design, evokes in my mind DC and Athens...go JAx! I'm actually impressed with all of FLs new courthouses, the federal in Miami and the county courthouse in Sarasota are especially nice. Orlando's new federal courthouse (not yet built) is not as nice as these IMO, but its still an evolving design. We will see. Once again, I'm impressed with this, and the library expansion. I'd like to see pictures of both if anyone has any.