Rail Yard District / Durkeeville / Eastside
61. Union Terminal Warehouse Company
After being acquired by Columbia Ventures in December 2018, with plans to utilize historic tax credits and opportunity zone equity as key components of the capital stack, the restoration of the Eastside’s 109-year-old Union Terminal Warehouse is now moving forward.
Covering 330,000 square feet of space, the Union Terminal Warehouse Company was said to be the largest warehouse in Florida when it was completed in 1913 by the Turner Construction Company. Now Columbia Ventures is poised to renovate the Eastside landmark at 700 East Union Street into a mixed-use development featuring 220 workforce and market-rate apartments and 38,000 square feet of commercial, retail and dining space. In addition, the $57.1 million project will include an 80 space indoor parking area and a rooftop amenitized with a rooftop terrace.
62. Debs Store
LIFT JAX is in the process of working to renovate the long closed Debs Store at 1478 Florida Avenue. The plan is to nearly double the store’s size and add additional services. Goodwill Inc. is set to run a new grocery store on the first floor and offer employment services on the second floor. In addition, VyStar Credit Union will provide an ATM and banking services onsite.The project is estimated to be completed in summer 2023.
63. McCoys Creek Greenway
Construction on phase one of the McCoys Creek Restoration Project continues. It is being funded with $105.4 million from the City of Jacksonville to remedy McCoys Creek flooding, create neighborhood-friendly spaces, improve recreational opportunity, and protect the environment. Major components of the 18 month project include the permanent closure of portions of McCoys Creek Boulevard, reconstruction of the Stockton and King Street bridges, creek restoration and Emerald Trail construction.
The restoration of the creek, which was channelized in 1930, will involve restoring the waterway to a meandering natural channel design and expanding the flood plain with the addition of natural water containment features, such as lagoons and tidal pools. The former road bed of McCoys Creek Boulevard will be replaced with a new segment of the Emerald Trail. When complete, the trail component of the project will connect the historic Westside neighborhoods of Lackawanna, Mixon Town, Campbell Hill (Rail Yard District) and Brooklyn to the Northbank Riverwalk.
For more information: McCoys Creek restoration project now underway
64. Edward Waters University
Edward Waters University recently broke ground on a comprehensive campus fencing project. The project is intended to bring a heightened semblance of aesthetic attractiveness and functional safety, security, and solidarity to the collective campus experience at the urban college campus.
65. Emerald Trail - LaVilla Link
Construction on the first segment of Groundwork Jacksonville’s planned 30-mile Emerald Trail system continues. Called the LaVilla Link, the 1.3 mile multiuse path will connect the neighborhoods of Brooklyn, LaVilla and the Rail Yard District with the S-Line Urban Greenway near Durkeeville.
For more information: Ground broken on first link in Jacksonville’s 30-mile urban Emerald Trail
66. 1220 West State Street
The rehabilitation of the former USNR manufacturing complex at 1220 West State Street continues. Dating back to 1913, the nine square block collection of warehouses are being improved and leased to various tenants, including the Thybar Corporation and Workhouse Garage Door Company.
Now, the City of Jacksonville may provide a $100,000 grant for New York-based Ferrosource LLC to open a steel products facility at the complex. Ferrosource intends to invest $10 million and create 50 new jobs within five years at an average annual salary of $58,000.
67. Dennis + Ives
Located just west of Downtown Jacksonville, 95 Arch Partners QOZ Fund LLC have big plans for an 85,000 square foot former cold storage warehouse complex that originated during the late 1890s as the Florida Ice Manufacturing Company. Construction continues on plans to convert the cold storage complex into a mix of uses, possibly including creative office, craft brewery or distillery, café, restaurant and outdoor event space. Recently, Nashville-based Marathon Live announced plans to build a 26,000-square-foot concert hall at the redevelopment project.
For more information: Dennis + Ives proposed for Rail Yard District
68. Bellingham Marine Industries
Bellingham Marine Industries Inc. at 2014 Dennis Street is in the process of constructing a new $1.4 million, 25,000 square foot casting facility in the Rail Yard District.
69. Myrtle Avenue Brewing, LLC.
A new brewery called Myrtle Avenue Brewing will be occupying the former Engine 15 brewery facility at 633 Myrtle Avenue. Owner Sean Bielman envisions a communal operation of the 15,000-square-foot space that could potentially include additional tenants that would complement a brewery.
For more information: Long-time Jax brewer plans new operation in Rail Yard District
70. Jacksonville Pavers Holdings
Jacksonville Pavers Holdings, LLC is in the process of retrofitting a closed industrial facility at 1901 McQuade Street in Robinson’s Addition. Renovation efforts include the installation of pit and bins for mixers, conveying equipment and silos.
Article by Ennis Davis, AICP. Davis is a certified senior planner and graduate of Florida A&M University. He is the author of the award winning books “Reclaiming Jacksonville,” “Cohen Brothers: The Big Store” and “Images of Modern America: Jacksonville.” Davis has served with various organizations committed to improving urban communities, including the American Planning Association and the Florida Trust for Historic Preservation. A 2013 Next City Vanguard, Davis is the co-founder of TheJaxsonMag.com and ModernCities.com — two websites dedicated to promoting fiscally sustainable communities — and Transform Jax, a tactical urbanist group. Contact Ennis at edavis@moderncities.com