<h1>DOWNTOWN</h1>
1. Lexington Hotel & Conference Center Jacksonville Riverwalk
Vantage Hospitality Group continues its $20 million renovation of the Lexington Hotel & Conference Center Jacksonville Riverwalk property.
<div class="quoteheader"><div class="topslice_quote">Quote</div></div><blockquote class="bbc_standard_quote">Rooms will be renovated in phases with new carpeting, windows, balconies, doors and furnishings as well as redesigned bathrooms.
The hotel will remain open during the project.
The work will include an exterior re-facing, roof replacement, new windows, a renovated porte cochere in the front, the addition of a porte cochere at the entrance of the convention center in the back along Prudential Drive, a remodeled pool area, and a redesigned fifth-floor terrace.
In the ground-floor public areas, the lobby, lounge and restaurant will see significant upgrades. Carpeting will be replaced by hard flooring and new furnishings will be added throughout, in addition to the drop ceilings.
The lobby will be redesigned and moved closer to the front, opening up a sight-line to the pool area. It also will have a coffee bar and an art wall and water feature that will front most of the elevators, which now are exposed.
The expanded lobby lounge will be rebuilt with a loggia so that part of the seating area will be outside under cover.
The fitness center will be renovated and the ground-floor restaurant will be renovated with a covered outdoor seating area.</blockquote><div class="quotefooter"><div class="botslice_quote"></div></div></i>
For more information: https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=546154
2.The First Coast Mohs Skin Center
Plans are underway to transform a 1.2-acre site, at Park and Rosselle Streets, into a 2-story 11,516 square foot medical office building and associated retail. The First Coast Mohs Skin Center will occupy the first floor of the proposed Spanish-styled structure. “Mohs” refers to a technique that removes cancerous tissue with minimal effects to healthy tissue. The second floor will be for general offices. The building’s footprint will face Park Street with parking in the rear, along Rosselle and Chelsea Streets. The project was originally anticipated to be completed by November 2016. However, vertical construction has not started as of April 22, 2017.
For more information: https://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2016-mar-medical-office-building-proposed-in-brooklyn
3. Breezy Jazz Club
Tenant improvements continue at 119 West Adams Street for a new restaurant and live entertainment venue called the Breezy Jazz Club. The owners, Thea and Bernett Jeffers, intend to create an atmosphere that embraces the fullness of Jazz and enriches the heart of downtown. Breezy Jazz club anticipates a fall 2017 opening.
For more information: https://breezyjazzclub.com/
4. Bellweather
Jonathan Insetta and Allan DeVault, owners of Orsay, Black Sheep and BLK SHP at Intuition plan to open Bellweather at 100 North Laura Street within the next month. Finishing touches are currently being made on the 4,700-square-foot restaurant that includes 125 seats and a 40 seat private dining room.
For more information: https://jacksonville.com/entertainment/food-and-dining/2017-04-22/dining-notes-bellwether-heading-downtown
5. Jacksonville Regional Transportation Center - Greyhound Intercity Bus Terminal
Construction on the first phase of the Jacksonville Regional Transportation Center (JRTC) is now underway at West Forsyth and Stuart Streets. When complete, the footprint of the $8 million Intercity Bus Terminal will resemble recently built Greyhound stations in Nashville, Baltimore and Sacramento. Those 10,000 square foot facilities include multiple bus bays, a full-service restaurant, ticket counter and automated ticket machines.
Plans also call for wider sidewalks in the vicinity to encourage more pedestrian activity. Construction on phase one of the JRTC is expected to last 12 months. The second phase is scheduled to break ground Fall 2017 and anticipated for completion by September 2019. That phase will include a terminal for local fixed bus routes, a First Coast Flyer Bus Rapid Transit hub, Skyway station and administrative offices.
6. Spliffs Gastropub/1904 Music Hall Renovation
Popular entertainment venues 1904 Music Hall and Spliff’s Gastropub are undergoing renovations to combine both spaces and expanding an outdoor beer garden. The project will increase existing seating counts for lunch patrons and permit regular nighttime entertainment inside and in the new outdoor courtyard/beer garden. Upon completion, the owners will seek licensing to add a full liquor bar and will be open 6 days a week from 11 AM until 2 AM with nightly entertainment bookings.
7. Coastline Drive
The City of Jacksonville is in the beginning stages of a $31 million project to reconstruct the Coastline Drive Bridge, Liberty Street Brige and remove the courthouse parking lot over the St. Johns River. In addition, a new Northbank Riverwalk will be constructed along Coastline Drive, Market Street, Courthouse Drive and Liberty Street. Currently, Coastline Drive and the riverwalk in front of the Hyatt are being redeveloped.
For more information: https://www.moderncities.com/article/2016-sep-massive-northbank-riverfront-redevelopment-underway
8. Lofts of LaVilla
Vertical construction is underway on Vestcor Companies Lofts of Lavilla. The $22-million, 5-story affordable housing project will contain 130 apartment units adjacent to the Skyway at Lee and Bay Streets. Supported by a $270,000 loan from the Downtown Economic Development Fund and $270,000 from the Jacksonville Housing Finance Authority, the project is anticipated for completion by the end of 2017.
For more information: https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/showstory.php?Story_id=547776
9. Laura Apartments
Ron Chamblin, owner of the city’s largest independent bookstore, is in the process of restoring a three story building at 225 North Laura Street. When complete, the 100-year-old building will include six apartments above street level retail.
Full article: https://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2012-may-downtown-residential-project-underway#.U__RV_ldUYk
10. Cowford Chophouse
The restoration of the historic Bostwick Building continues to make progress. Forking Amazing Restaurants intends to convert the structure into an upscale steakhouse restaurant called the Cowford Chophouse. When complete in 2017, the two floor dining establishment will feature a rooftop lounge with spectacular views of the city.
11. Elena Flats
Jack Meeks and his wife, JoAnn Tredennick, continue to move forward on the renovation of the Elena Flats building at 122 E. Duval St. Work is underway to convert the former rooming house into four market-rate apartment units. Barring unforeseen complications, the apartments should be ready for rent in 2017.
