JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The pace of new housing and other development is picking up in LaVilla, near the Prime Osborn Convention Center.
Across the street from where The Lofts at LaVilla are going up, the Jacksonville Transportation Authority will break ground Tuesday for its new, $57 million transportation center, adjacent to the Skyway station, which will serve the Skyway, bus and Greyhound intercity passengers.
"This is very important," said JTA spokeswoman Leigh Ann Rassler. "It's been in the planning stages for decades. We are finally breaking ground on this historic center."
The JEA has proposed building its new headquarters near the Duval County Courthouse, only blocks away, and TVC Development Inc., the same company that's building the 130-unit Lofts, already has plans for a second apartment building for LaVilla.
The buildings receive some tax breaks and funding from the city. Because of that, the majority of apartments are for those who make less than $28,500 a year.
Greyhound hopes to move to the LaVilla JTA center in January.
Those who use public transportation see a big benefit in the new transportation hub.
"I think anything that could unify transportation for the public is it very positive," said JTA customer Charles Dupree Russell. "It will bring a safer environment; more organized; more structure."
The JEA staff has worked out a land swap with the city, and if it is approved by the JEA's board of directors on Tuesday, its new $50 million tower could attract more people and development to this last due west of downtown.