6. Urban neighborhoods with interstate highway access will break ground on major construction projects in 2017
Several urban neighborhoods will take advantage of having direct access to Interstate 95 and break ground on major construction projects during 2017. In Brooklyn, NAI Hallmark will finally break ground on the 10-story mixed-use building 200 Riverside . Regency Centers, developers of the Fresh Market-anchored Brooklyn Station on Riverside shopping center, is expected to bring another national retailer to Brooklyn by redeveloping property in between Brooklyn Station and JTA’s Skyway maintenance facility . But while these large projects have been long expected, what may not be widely known is the quiet emergence of Brooklyn’s Park Street into what could be Jacksonville’s next great commercial corridor. The Downtown Investment Authority has selected a consultant to map out streetscape improvements along Park Street, and are actively working with developers that are eager to reimagine this long dormant thoroughfare linking Riverside to Downtown.
With the expected completion of the Overland Bridge project, North San Marco will become a hot commodity for developers looking to assemble property for infill opportunities featuring national names. Kings Avenue will now have direct access to I-95 to go along with JTA’s BRT service, making this hidden street ripe for redevelopment. The first of these large projects will likely be the redevelopment of the Florida Baptist Convention property although don’t be surprised if the name of at least one national big box retailer emerges in connection with North San Marco.
Towards the tail end of 2016, Councilman Garret Dennis hinted at opportunities we highlighted along the hidden wholesale district known as Honeymoon Yard . A few parties who have successfully redeveloped property downtown have expressed interest in available buildings along Myrtle Avenue, so don’t be surprised if Honeymoon Yard begins to look more like Detroit’s Eastern Market if City Council gets serious about fixing zoning issues affecting the area.
Article by Ennis Davis, AICP. Contact Ennis at edavis@moderncities.com