DOWNTOWN

DOWNTOWN
Downtown Continued
Riverside/Murray Hill
Springfield
San Marco
Rail Yard District / Durkeeville

1. Interstate 95 and Interstate 10 Operational Improvements

Construction continues on a $126 million expansion of the Fuller Warren Bridge and I-95/I-10 interchange. The project, which was initially expected to be completed in spring 2021, will include the addition of a 12-foot shared use path over the St. Johns River, connecting San Marco and Riverside. Operational improvements and enhancements will be made to the interchange at Interstate 95 and Interstate 10, the Fuller Warren Bridge, and along the east side of U.S.17 north bound between McDuff Avenue and Rosselle Street.

Operational improvements include:

Interstate 95 (Fuller Warren Bridge) improvements:

Widening of the Fuller Warren Bridge expanding northbound and southbound lanes from three lanes to four lanes.
Adding a Shared Use Path (SUP) on the Fuller Warren Bridge for pedestrians and bicyclists connecting San Marco and Riverside neighborhoods.

Interstate 10 Improvements:

Providing a dedicated ramp to Irene and Stockton Street to reduce weaving traffic merging from Interstate 95 southbound to Interstate10 westbound.
Widening of overpass from Interstate 95 northbound to Interstate 10 westbound, allowing for future improvements along Interstate 10 westbound.

Aesthetic enhancements include architecturally decorative lighting features on the shared use path, and new monument signs at Stockton and College Streets.

For more information: FDOT

2. Hart Bridge Expressway Demolition

The $39 million replacement of the Hart Bridge Expressway ramps near TIAA Bank Field continues. Intended to improve accessibility of property around TIAA Bank Field to existing expressway traffic, plans call for an at-grade boulevard and entrance to the stadium, with elevated expressway ramps remaining on either end of the project. The project was once anticipated to be completed by the end of 2021.

3. 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. A summer 2023 completion date is anticipated.

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

4. Ruth Lindsay Memorial Auditorium

The First Baptist Church of Jacksonville continues to make progress on the $1.78 million renovation of the Ruth Lindsay Memorial Auditorium at 125 West Ashley Street. Originally built during the midst of a significant boom in membership, the 3,500 seat auditorium is being modernized as the church’s main sanctuary and worship center.

For more information: First Baptist Church of Jacksonville gets city building permit for $1.78 million project

5. Thomas V. Porter House

The Thomas V. Porter mansion was designed by architect Henry John Klutho as a private residence and completed in 1902. It was acquired by JWB Real Estate Capital in August 2020. JWB is in the process of restoring the building to contain 16,000 square feet of single tenant office space. A 4,300-square-foot basement will be reserved for restaurant space when the market can support it. In addition, an adjacent lot immediately south of the Porter House will be transformed into an outdoor seating area.

For more information: Porter Mansion renovations begin Downtown

6. 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. The project is anticipated to be completed for September 2022.

For more information: JEA Shrinks plan for new downtown headquarters

7. Ashley Square Apartments

Construction continues on a new $15 million affordable housing infill development for residents aged 62 years old and above. A joint venture between Tampa-based Blue Sky Communities, LLC. and Aging True, the six-story Ashley Square Apartments project will contain 120 residential units when completed at the northwest corner of East Ashley and Newnan Streets.

For more information: Ashley Square project getting underway

8. Hogan Creek Towers

The Hogan Creek Towers at 1320 North Broad Street is in the process of being overhauled as a result of the Jacksonville Housing Authority receiving funding through the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development (HUD) Rental Assistance and Demonstration (RAD) Program. The $19 million project is anticipated to be completed by the end of 2022.

For more information: Hogan Creek Towers Start Redevelopment Project

9. RiversEdge

After seven years of planning, 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. The next step in the development of the 32-acre site will be the construction of $58.349 million in site infrastructure improvements, including roadway, water, stormwater, sanitary sewer and electrical connections. Preston Hollow then plans to sell individual property parcels on the site to other developer

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

10. Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. Headquarters

Construction nears completion on a $145 million world headquarters office tower for Jacksonville-based Fortune 500 company Fidelity National Information Services, Inc. Anticipated to be completed by summer 2022, the 12-story, 300,000 square foot tower will overlook the St. Johns River with structured parking along Riverside Avenue. The project is expected to create 500 additional jobs.

For more information: Brooklyn’s proposed FIS World Headquarters

11. Interstate 10 Widening Project

Construction continues on the $176.4 million widening of Interstate 10 from Interstate 295 to Interstate 95. project improvements include:

Widening from six to ten lanes
Construction of noise barrier walls at various locations
Improvements at the Day Avenue Pedestrian Tunnel
Improved drainage
Additional turn lanes and Lane Avenue and Cassat Avenue interchanges
Sidewalk, lighting and signage improvements throughout the project limits

The widening project is expected to be completed in early 2025.

For more information, call 630-CITY (2489) or visit COJ.net

12. Palm Avenue Streetscape

A project to transform Palm Avenue into a into a context sensitive boulevard featuring wide landscaped sidewalks and medians is underway between Gary Street and Prudential Drive.

For more information: Baptist Health Plans Massive Downtown Expansion

13. 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 December 2022. Axis Hotels, LLC is now in the process of a $17.6 million restoration of the Ambassador into a 100-room TRYP by Wyndham hotel, restaurant, lounge, meeting room and fitness center.

For more information: Ambassador Hotel redevelopment plans

14. Independent Life

The adaptive reuse of the Independent Life Building at 233 West Duval Street continues. Proposed by Augustine Development Group, 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/food hall and 10,000 square foot rooftop lounge and restaurant. A 2022 completion date is anticipated.

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

15. Friendship Fountain Renovation

A $6 million project to overhaul Friendship Fountain continues. 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

16. Vagabond Coffee Company

Jacksonville-based Vagabond Coffee Company is planning to open a 150-square-foot coffee shop in the VyStar Tower at 76 S. Laura Street. The $194,000 space will be located on the ground floor of the building and be accessible from the breezeway recently developed by VyStar between the building and an adjacent parking garage.

Urban Construction Update - August 2022

A brief look at the status of various developments under construction in and around Downtown Jacksonville.