A major mixed-use development planned for Jacksonville’s Springfield neighborhood aims to bring hundreds of new housing units to the area, including affordable and workforce housing options.

The Jacksonville Transportation Authority is three months into a six-month fare modification pilot — and the early numbers are turning heads.

Entrepreneur Darien “Jack” Jackson returns to This Week in Jacksonville: Business Edition to open his newest downtown venture in the Elbow: Dapper Cheesesteaks downstairs paired with a cigar lounge experience upstairs in the former 11 Ocean space.

Whole Foods Market will open a new 38,432-square-foot store at 1 Riverside Ave. in downtown Jacksonville on Thursday. The store will open at 8 a.m. on opening day; regular hours will be 8 a.m. to 9 p.m. daily.

A stretch of downtown Jacksonville that has long seen empty lots and quiet sidewalks is beginning to change as construction and planning ramp up around the Pearl Square development.

Developers behind the Phoenix Arts & Innovation District announced they secured funding for a planned 80-unit affordable housing community in North Springfield, a project residents and business owners say could help more people stay close to where they work, shop and spend time.

Downtown Jacksonville is seeing billions of dollars in development and millions of visitors each year, but some business owners said the next phase of growth is creating more consistent day-to-day activity outside of major events. Downtown Vision says the shift comes as downtown continues adjusting to changes in office work and visitor trends following the pandemic.

Gateway Jax CEO Bryan Moll said there is momentum building in downtown Jacksonville, where cranes, construction sites and billion-dollar investments are reshaping the city’s skyline.

Downtown Jacksonville continues to see significant growth in residents, development, and visitation, with more than 9,000 people now living downtown and $7 billion in projects planned or underway, according to the 2025 State of Downtown Report from Downtown Vision, Inc.

Jacksonville City Council approved an expansion of the city’s 3 a.m. liquor ordinance to the Brooklyn neighborhood during a council meeting Tuesday.

You have a chance to learn more about all the volunteer opportunities available here in our area. There is a free volunteer fair happening next Wednesday in downtown Jacksonville.

An initiative is in motion to bring a Culinary Institute of America campus to Jacksonville’s Downtown riverfront as part of a proposed hotel, an alumnus of the New York-based private school told the Jacksonville Daily Record on Friday.

The Washington Post Editorial Board used news of the Orlando announcement to highlight what it calls “the ongoing shakedown” of Duval County taxpayers.

Downtown Jacksonville business owners say change is finally reaching a long-quiet stretch of the Core Business District — and the latest development could bring some of the biggest momentum yet.

Downtown Jacksonville’s newest ordinance allowing bars to serve alcohol until 3 a.m. has been in effect for about a month, and early signs point to a boost in business.

The new Jaguars executive office buildings, called One Tower Court, just opened this week, the first multi-story office building constructed downtown in several years.

The Jacksonville Jaguars on Wednesday opened a 75,287-square-foot business operations office at One Tower Court, downtown Jacksonville’s first multi-tenant Class A office building built since 2007. The team occupies the building’s second through fourth floors.

Pearl Square, a nine-block development designed to bring residents, businesses, and community life back to the city’s urban core, is changing the quiet, underused streets and historic buildings of Downtown Jacksonville into a neighborhood that functions morning, noon, and night.

Two well-known restaurants in downtown Jacksonville are preparing to close, renewing concerns about vacancies and foot traffic in the city’s urban core as local leaders push for more downtown development.

Cheya Thousand, founder of CT Wellness Co., is bringing a unique community wellness experience to Jacksonville that invites people to slow down, reconnect, and engage their senses in creative ways. Through her work, Cheya helps individuals and organizations cultivate emotional well-being through experiential events, leadership development, and wellness programming that support healthier communities. In collaboration with Downtown Vision Inc., she will host Reflect Through the Senses, a sensory activation during the Downtown Jacksonville Sip & Stroll presented by PNC Bank on March 19 from 5–8 PM in Downtown Jacksonville,

The Downtown Investment Authority voted 6-2 Wednesday to stop supporting EverBank retention grants intended to help keep the bank’s headquarters downtown.

Downtown Jacksonville is at a crossroads, with historic buildings, corporate offices, and new dining spots all under discussion for potential redevelopment. On Wednesday, the Downtown Investment Authority is expected to explore the future of Snyder Memorial Church, EverBank’s downtown operations, and a proposed waterfront restaurant, all projects that could shape the city’s urban core for years to come.

Southbank Medical Pavilion, a 22-story outpatient tower at 841 Prudential Drive, has been listed for sale in what brokers describe as a rare opportunity: nearly 8 acres directly adjacent to Baptist Medical Center’s Southbank campus, including the last two remaining development parcels next to the hospital.

Firefighters are closely monitoring a fire at a paper recycling plant near Riverside in downtown Jacksonville that sent a large plume of smoke into the air Monday afternoon.

Smoke seen billowing from the Maxwell House plant in Downtown Jacksonville sparked 911 calls around 11:03 a.m. Monday.

Soilful Sis is inviting families across Northeast Florida to gather for High Tea with Family, a distinctive cultural and agricultural experience set in the heart of Downtown Jacksonville. Blending the elegance of high tea with interactive food, wellness, and farming activities, the event celebrates legacy, togetherness, and intergenerational connection.

Gateway Jax broke ground Wednesday on 721 North Pearl Street, launching work to convert an existing parking garage into a retail-oriented anchor that will help form a new pedestrian shopping corridor along Beaver Street in the Pearl Square neighborhood.

Free hip-hop dance classes will be offered at Riverfront Plaza in Downtown Jacksonville on the second Wednesday of each month at 6 p.m.,

The Florida Theatre ranked No. 5 in the most-attended venue worldwide for theaters up to 2,000 seats, according to the 2025 year-end report by trade magazine Pollstar.

New viewing spots along Jacksonville’s Southbank will give residents more options to watch the New Year’s Eve fireworks, but city officials are reminding people that parking and traffic downtown could be challenging.

As we welcome 2026, if you’re considering heading out to see fireworks, here’s a list of local shows Wednesday night to ring in the New Year

Downtown Jacksonville continues strong growth as 2025 ends, says Jake Gordon, CEO of Downtown Vision, Inc., who has been leading the organization for nearly 11 years and joined the next episode of “This Week in Jacksonville: Business Edition.”

The University of Florida’s lead liaison for the university’s planned Downtown Jacksonville graduate campus said Dec. 19 that property transactions for the project have closed, as reported by the Jacksonville Daily Record.

The Jacksonville City Council approved on Tuesday an ordinance to award property tax breaks to the owner of the former Pratt Funeral Home in downtown, according to News4JAX partners at the Jacksonville Daily Record.

Prospector Baseball Group has acquired the Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp, the team announced on Tuesday.

Downtown Vision, Inc. debuted its annual holiday guide last week, inviting residents and visitors to experience Downtown Jacksonville throughout the holiday season.

Downtown Jacksonville is currently experiencing a wave of development, but amid all of it, the city still wants to make sure it shines a spotlight on small businesses.

Beginning on Friday, Nov. 28 and running through Jan. 19, downtown Jacksonville will be host to the city’s first-ever outdoor ice skating rink at the Artist Walk Skatepark near the Riverside Arts Market.

Gateway Jax plans to seek at least $43 million in public incentives for the Publix-anchored mixed-use tower it has proposed on the site of the former First Baptist Church main auditorium.

The Downtown Vision, Inc. tracks that progress and released its 2025 State of Downtown comprehensive report recapping downtown’s development from Jan. 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025.

Downtown Jacksonville is taking steps to become more vibrant, and a new ordinance is helping shape what that future looks like.

In June, Downtown Vision Inc., which organizes the Art Walk, began charging additional fees to some of those looking to sell art at the monthly event. Now, all artists participating in the event pay an annual $45 and another $45 per event.

Music, food and more for the whole family

The Jacksonville Fair, a beloved downtown tradition for decades, is preparing for a major change. After 70 years at its current location, the fair will move to the Westside in 2026, and while the move promises new opportunities, some neighbors are raising concerns about traffic and safety on Normandy Boulevard near the new site.

Food assistance could dry up Saturday for millions of people who need it, a result of the ongoing federal government shutdown. The U.S. Department of Agriculture has told Americans that no benefits will be issued on Nov. 1 under the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program, or SNAP, which provides monthly food benefits to low-income people to help them buy groceries.   Many generous people are now asking how they can help by donating goods to their local food pantry. Here are some options.

Jacksonville’s DOGE Committee met Tuesday to review three city programs as part of its ongoing effort to identify potential waste, inefficiency or abuse in local government.

Downtown Jacksonville is taking steps to become more vibrant, and a new ordinance is helping shape what that future looks like.

JEA is working to restore power to traffic lights in the area of Downtown Jacksonville that spans from Beaver Street and Acorn Street to State Street and Jefferson Street.

Before the Jacksonville Jaguars take on the Kansas City Chiefs at EverBank Stadium, there are a few updates fans should know about ahead of the game.

The Main Street Bridge will be closed ahead of the Jaguars game against the Houston Texans on Sunday. Here are some alternate routes to get to EverBank Stadium.

The owner of Breezy Jazz House said the lounge is returning to downtown Jacksonville.

Jacksonville’s Main Street Bridge northbound lanes will remain closed to vehicles until mid-October. The Florida Department of Transportation says the closure is necessary to repair electrical damage caused when a tugboat struck the bridge early on Aug. 19.

The City of Jacksonville is getting ready to unveil the finalized design for the long-anticipated Metropolitan Park revitalization.

The Main Street Bridge won’t be fully operational for maritime traffic until this fall as crews continue repairs following a tugboat crash that happened earlier this month, the Florida Department of Transportation said on Thursday.

The Arlington Expressway, Downtown Jacksonville’s connection to East Arlington, has long been associated with blight due to old, abandoned office buildings. However, recent redevelopment efforts are bringing new hope to the neighborhood.

The Main Street Bridge in Downtown Jacksonville reopened on Tuesday morning after a tugboat crash closed the bridge for hours, according to the Florida Department of Transportation.

The Main Street Bridge will be closed to all vehicles, bicycles, and pedestrians Monday, Aug. 11, through Friday, Aug. 16, for an important bridge inspection and maintenance project.

The owner of the historic Laura Street Trio in Downtown Jacksonville has found a potential new buyer for the long-vacant buildings, Jacksonville City Council President Kevin Carrico said on WJCT’s First Coast Connect on Tuesday.

A major name in hospitality could soon be checking in to downtown Jacksonville. Hard Rock Hotels is reportedly considering the vacant Berkman II site along the riverfront, just down the road from the Four Seasons Hotel and Shipyards projects that are already in the works.

When families separate, children often get caught in the emotional crossfire—and Episode 2 of the sponsored podcast Split Happens is here to change that.

In just one week, Jacksonville’s first professional women’s soccer team will make its debut.

A revamped historic building in downtown Jacksonville is set to have its grand opening on Friday night.

Downtown Jacksonville is buzzing with activity as cranes fill the skyline, and progress continues on some of the city’s most significant construction projects.

Starbucks Coffee Co. is in permitting review for a shop in Bank of America Tower, which would bring the national retailer back to Downtown Jacksonville, according to the Jacksonville Daily Record.

A river taxi went mysteriously missing from Downtown Jacksonville’s South Bank on Monday night, but was found Tuesday morning, according to the city’s dock master.

JWB Real Estate Company purchased and will renovate the Greenleaf and Crosby building in downtown Jacksonville.

Council Member Matt Carlucci is set to file a resolution urging the Duval County School Board to further consider Downtown Jacksonville as the location for its future consolidated administrative headquarters.

It has been a few days since parts of Adams and Forsyth streets in downtown Jacksonville reopened to two-way traffic, marking a significant change in the city’s traffic flow. To get a sense of public reaction, News4JAX walked up and down Adams and Forsyth streets to see how businesses in the area have begun adapting to the change.

If you don’t want to leave your house to watch Fourth of July fireworks, we’re giving you a front-row seat on News4JAX.com and News4JAX+.

The city said it is returning to the way things were before the pandemic and added the change will reduce expenses for taxpayers.

Driving in downtown Jacksonville will be harder before it becomes easier as the city begins work on Forsyth Street, one of the roads that is being returned to two-way traffic.

After holding a ribbon-cutting ceremony Friday to celebrate the launch of the nation’s first public driverless transportation service, the Jacksonville Transportation Authority said people can begin accessing the service on Monday.

Starting June 30, you can catch a ride aboard one of Jacksonville Transportation Authority’s driverless passenger vans in Downtown Jacksonville.

This week, Jacksonville City Council member Mike Gay introduced a resolution to formally request a review by the Florida Commission on Ethics of the decision by General Counsel Michael Fackler to hire the Bedell law firm for representation in the city’s criminal gun registry case. Fackler’s father-in-law, Hank Coxe, has been a partner of the Bedell firm for many years.

Jacksonville, which is the largest city by area in the United States, is home to a professional sports team, a plethora of golf courses, and long stretches of beaches. Unfortunately, one study conducted by FinanceBuzz deemed it all irrelevant, listing the 904 as the most boring city in the country based on multiple factors, including population makeup, culinary scene, outdoor activities, nightlife, celebrations, and overall things to do.

The Pop-Out is a concert series throughout the month of June, bringing local and regional Black musical acts to the River City.

An upcoming major court hearing in Jacksonville could affect the longtime debate over Confederate monuments on city property.

The Downtown Investment Authority is redirecting funds to help prepare the long-vacant 1903 church for private redevelopment, aiming to bring new life to the downtown landmark.

The Pop-Out is a concert series throughout the month of June, bringing local and regional Black musical acts to the River City.

Jacksonville Today reader Nancy H. notes that walking Downtown has become difficult because it requires multiple crossings at busy intersections.

In a recent episode of This Week in Jacksonville: Business Edition, I sat down with Daniel Davis, President and CEO of the JAX Chamber. Our conversation took place at Manifest Distilling, one of

Players by the Sea will perform Waitress at the Ritz Theatre from Friday to Sunday after being displaced by a fire.

Jacksonville Today reader Karen F. says people in her office have been discussing the stretch of Interstate 95 in the construction zone. Several co-workers relate that they have had “dangerous close calls at a new ‘unmarked merge” while heading northbound after Emerson Street.

The Jacksonville Transportation Authority is bringing public transportation into a new era with the opening of the Autonomous Innovation Center (AIC) Thursday morning.

Duval County Public Schools celebrated a significant milestone on Monday after it was officially approved to be the first Blue Zones school district.

Jacksonville’s newest music venue is opening later than expected, according to the venue’s management company.

Jacksonville is rapidly gaining recognition as a popular tourist destination, with many visitors expressing a strong desire to return to the River City.

The Union Terminal Warehouse on Jacksonville’s Historic Eastside reopened as a mixed-used development Thursday after a $72 million renovation.

The Trump administration on Tuesday published a list of more than 440 federal properties it had identified to close or sell, including the FBI headquarters and the main Department of Justice building, after deeming them “not core to government operations.”

A shooting outside the Sulzbacher Center in downtown Jacksonville this past January is prompting a big change at the East Adams Street facility. The shooting left a man with critical injuries, and as a result, the Jacksonville city council will now consider a bill that would set aside $100,000 to pay Jacksonville Sheriff’s officers to provide security.

News4JAX will have coverage on air, starting at 7:30 a.m. Saturday. When The Morning Show ends at 10 a.m., we’ll continue with an extended coverage live stream of the finish line.

Around 14,000 runners are getting ready to participate in the Gate River Run this Saturday, and there are some things you need to know ahead of the race – especially if you’ll be around the downtown area.

Downtown Vision, Inc., (DVI) Downtown Jacksonville’s nonprofit Business Improvement District (BID) has announced their 10th annual DTJax Gala: Under Construction on Friday, February 28, 2025 from 6 p.m. - 10 p.m. at 1 Independent Square. Proceeds from the #DTJax Gala benefits the PlacemakingJax initiative to turn passive spaces into active public places. The evening’s highlights include live music by MAG!C RAD!O, captivating art displays by Lana Shuttleworth, a thought-provoking human library experience facilitated by PlacemakingJax, unique fashion elements presented by Pnuema, and delicious bites from Downtown favorites like SoulFULL Eats, Hungry Owl, Happy Grilled Cheese and Lazy Days Hot Dog Cart, accompanied with drinks from Manifest Distilling. Tickets, sponsorship opportunities and more information can be found at www.DTJax.com/gala

Driving in downtown Jacksonville will be harder before it becomes easier as the city begins work on Forsyth Street, one of the roads that is being returned to two-way traffic.

Downtown Jacksonville is coming alive this weekend as the city hosts the World of Nations Celebration and the Jax College Baseball Classic.

Driving in downtown Jacksonville will become easier as the city is reintroducing two-way travel to the area, beginning with Forsyth and Adams streets.

Sometimes called the “City of Renderings,” Jacksonville is working to shed that nickname as officials prepare to give an update on several downtown projects Monday morning.

Sometimes called the “City of Renderings,” Jacksonville is working to shed that nickname as officials prepare to give an update on several downtown projects Monday morning.

One year after the $60 million RISE Doro luxury apartment complex in Jacksonville burned down, its developers remain determined to come back stronger.

The Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office said a man is in critical condition after being shot multiple times in Downtown Jacksonville late Sunday morning.