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 is now underway. 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.
For more information: https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/article/vagabond-coffee-co-coming-to-vystar-tower
17. Panera Bread
Panera Bread is in the early stages of building out a new location at Brooklyn Place. The 3,780-square-foot build-out is estimated to cost $250,000.
*For more information: https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/article/panera-building-out-in-brooklyn-0
18. Florida Baptist Convention Building
The adaptive reuse of the long abandoned First Baptist Convention Building continues. Completed in 1924, the First Baptist Convention Building is notable for being the last office building in Downtown Jacksonville designed by Henry John Klutho. JWB Real Estate Capital plans to convert the building into a mixed-use project that will include 24 apartments, two 2,000 square foot restaurants and 1,147 square feet of retail space. Combined, the Old Federal Reserve Bank and Florida Baptist Convention Buildings are estimated to cost $18.55 million to bring back to life.
For more information: 8 Major Urban Core Projects now underway
19. Old Federal Reserve Building
The adaptive reuse of the long abandoned Old Federal Reserve Building continues. Completed in 1922, the Federal Reserve Bank Building is notable for being designed by Henrietta Dozier, Jacksonville’s first woman architect. Vacant for decades, the building was acquired for $1.75 million by JWB Real Estate. JWB intends to convert the building into a mixed-use development including restaurant, business and banquet space, along with an exterior courtyard for outdoor dining. Combined, the Old Federal Reserve Bank and Florida Baptist Convention Buildings are estimated to cost $18.55 million to bring back to life.
For more information: 8 Major Urban Core Projects now underway
20. RD River City Brewery Apartments
Construction fencing has been installed at the site of the former River City Brewing Company. Miami-based developer The Related Group plans to raze the former restaurant building and construct an eight-story, 327-unit apartment building and free standing restaurant on the 3.34-acre site. The $99 million project is Related’s first in Jacksonville. An official groundbreaking was expected by the end of 2021.
For more information: River City Brewing Co.’s leasehold sells for $10 million
21. Indulgence Southern Bistro
A new restaurant called Indulgence Southern Bistro will be opening soon at 315 West Forsyth Street.
22. VyStar Credit Union Parking Garage
Site work is underway on the development of a $21 million parking garage for VyStar Credit Union. Located at West Forsyth and Laura Streets, the seven-level, 807-space structure will include 13,169 square feet of ground floor retail space along Laura and Main Streets.
23. New River Docks
The City of Jacksonville is in the process of adding several new docks locations along the St. Johns River throughout the urban core, including San Marco’s Riverfront Park and the Northbank Riverwalk in Brooklyn.
24. Jacksonville Fire Museum
The Jacksonville Fire Museum is in the process of being moved by the City of Jacksonville to allow Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shad Khan to break ground on a proposed Four Seasons hotel project at Metropolitan Park. The $1.6 million city project involves relocating the historic brick structure to the Shipyards West area between March 25th and 29th.
For more information: https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/article/fire-museum-begins-its-move-next-week
25. Jacksonville Jaguars Football Performance Center
Construction is underway on a $120 million proposed practice facility for the Jacksonville Jaguars in the Sports and Entertainment District. The 127,087 square foot structure would be located on a 43.9 acre site bounded by TIAA Bank Field, Beaver, Franklin and Duval streets.
Officially known as a football performance center, the facility will include executive offices, coaches’ offices, football support offices, scouts’ offices, equipment room, meeting rooms, weight training and medical facilities, an indoor practice field, and two outdoor natural grass fields, with approximately 2,298 seat bleachers, a team store, concession facilities and other ancillary improvements. The project is expected to be completed in 2023.
