JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A cornerstone of downtown Jacksonville’s revitalization is set to reopen this week.
The historic Greenleaf & Crosby Building, long a fixture at Laura and Adams streets, is being transformed into a hub of dining, fitness, and entertainment, with some attractions already welcoming visitors and others slated to open in the coming months.
On Monday morning, city leaders held a ceremony to celebrate the completion of the office floors of the historic Greenleaf building, which is considered a key component of the revitalization of downtown Jacksonville and Laura Street Corridor.
The nearly 100-year-old landmark, built in 1926 and listed on the National Register of Historic Places, retains its original 1920s architecture, including steel columns, vintage elevator cabs, and interior details, while accommodating modern amenities.
Developers said the building aims to make downtown a destination for residents and visitors alike.
Jacksonville-based JWB Real Estate Capital purchased the building in June 2022 and led a $17 million renovation supported by a $4.79 million allocation from the Downtown Investment Authority. Construction was completed by Avant Construction of Jacksonville.
“We are going to have this amazing steak house Oak, we are going to have a fitness user here next door, and then the whole third floor is going to have an amenity floor, a gym, some common space,” said Alex Sifakis, president of JWB Real Estate Capital. “All the tenants get to use all of those amenities, and it’s in the heart of downtown. A couple of blocks from the river, a couple of blocks from City Hall.”
Currently, the HiReformance Institute Pilates studio is open, welcoming downtown residents and workers. Other businesses, including the Oak Steakhouse, are still under construction, and a speakeasy-style lounge in the basement is planned for a future opening. The project also includes a rooftop deck and a third-floor amenity level with a gym and shared community spaces.
Developers and city leaders say the Greenleaf is part of a broader effort to revitalize downtown Jacksonville, which has experienced underuse in certain areas. The renovation is intended to attract foot traffic, provide entertainment and dining options, and make downtown a destination for residents and visitors.
The building’s historic architecture, designed by local architects Marsh & Saxelbye after the Great Fire of 1901, showcases early 20th-century craftsmanship. Original features such as horsehair plaster, steel columns, and the vintage elevator cabs were preserved and integrated with modern finishes.
The Greenleaf project is part of JWB Real Estate Capital’s larger portfolio of downtown work, which includes the restoration of the Federal Reserve Building, the Porter House mansion, Sweet Pete’s Candy at the Downtown Seminole building, and the $2 billion Gateway Jax Pearl Street redevelopment project.
With its reopening, the Greenleaf joins a growing list of downtown projects aimed at revitalizing the city center and creating a hub for dining, fitness, and entertainment, while preserving the city’s architectural heritage.