Riverfront Plaza in Jacksonville, replacing the historic Jacksonville Landing, is set to open, revitalizing the downtown area with green spaces and versatile community amenities.

What was once a parking lot in Jacksonville’s downtown could soon become high-rise condos.

A New Jersey 20-year-old man appeared in court Thursday after he allegedly flew from his home to Florida to assault another gamer.

The Jacksonville City Council will hold a special meeting Monday evening to hear community feedback on the proposed Jaguars stadium renovation deal.

With the stadium agreement announced earlier this week, News4JAX is taking a look at construction happening downtown and along the riverfront.

This is part of a partnership series between News4JAX and Jacksonville Today.

The old Jacksonville Landing site is finally getting a makeover. After more than three years of waiting for development, the city of Jacksonville said construction will begin Monday at Riverfront Plaza.

After years of promises and debate, residents could finally start seeing work begin on the old Jacksonville Landing site. A new park will eventually be built on what is now called Riverfront Plaza.

The Downtown Investment Authority (DIA) met on Thursday to talk about how much more money could be needed for projects on both the Northbank and the Southbank, including the area known as the Shipyards and the former home of the Jacksonville Landing, now called Riverfront Plaza.

The Downtown Investment Authority has agreed to start negotiations with a developer to build a multi-million-dollar high-rise on the site of the former Jacksonville Landing.

Some of the world’s best skateboarders will battle it out for the Super Crown World Champion title at the Riverfront Plaza on Saturday and Sunday.

Love it or hate it, retailers are now getting in on the hype.

News4Jax went to the free vaccine event today at the Landing’s old parking lot hosted by the JAX Chamber.

The future of the former home of the Jacksonville Landing is now more clear after a city committee on Thursday selected a Chicago-based design firm to redevelop the Northbank site.

Supporters gathered Saturday afternoon at the former site of the Jacksonville Landing said they have to keep the fight alive as they continue to call for freedom and better living conditions in Cuba.

A total of 32 lawsuits were filed following the 2018 mass shooting at the now demolished Jacksonville Landing.

The second annual Black Lives Matter 5K drew even more runners than last year to downtown Jacksonville on Saturday as they sought to celebrate and elevate Black lives.

If you have ideas about what to do with the green space that was once the location of the Jacksonville Landing, then a design firm based in Cambridge, Massachusetts, wants to hear from you.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – On Tuesday, Jacksonville residents learned more about possible developments at the shipyard site, a new Four Seasons hotel near Metro Park and what is going to take the place of the Jacksonville Landing and other downtown projects along the St. Johns River. The Downtown Investment Authority (DIA) heard from many of the key players during a meeting, including the Jacksonville Jaguars, about the future of the riverfront projects. AdThe Jaguars plan is to use a portion of Metro Park where Kids Kampus used to be located. But that is creating somewhat of a rift because some are saying no part of Metro Park should be used for private development. Ad“The real question here is can moving it be better for the public?” said DIA CEO Lori Boyer.

We look forward to reviewing the submissions come March and wish all interested parties the best of luck.”The RFP selection process will happen on two parts. Part one includes submission of qualifications, which the city will evaluate, score and select three shortlisted design teams to participate in a design competition. In the second half of the process, the three shortlisted design teams will receive a stipend to complete 50% designs where they will showcase their vision for the plaza, including how their design would interface with the future private development. The selected winner of the design competition for the best-qualified design will be invited to negotiate a full professional services design contract with the city, bringing design of the public space to 100%. As such, the city is taking reservations for use of the park between now and December 2021 and hopes to be under construction on the new public space by January 2022.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – News4Jax is learning more about what could happen to the site of the old Jacksonville Landing. City planners, including the Downtown Investment Authority, are working to turn the site into a new public space and some type of private development at a later date. Right now, the plan is to have designers along with artists submit plans for the public space. Construction on the public site won’t happen until late in the year. As for the private development, plans for that won’t take place until it’s decided what the park space will look like.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Its officially Christmas time in Jacksonville - the switch was flipped on Tuesday night, lighting the tree downtown. At 6:15 p.m., the lights on the tree lit up, showcasing the beautiful blue, red and gold ornaments. This year the tree lighting was virtual, so many people watched at home on their tv screens. “This is a very special time of the year for everyone, and we just love to see the lighting of the Christmas tree, especially in Jacksonville,” Steward said. Last year during the demolition, the ceremony was moved to the park, formerly known as Hemming Park.

Organizers said they hadn’t been able to host an event like this since March because of the COVID-19 pandemic. “Downtown Dwellers -- we were doing some cleanup’s periodically before that because we’re much smaller groups, so it’s nice to be collaborating with all these other organizations doing a much bigger event,” said Trish Bradshaw with the Downtown Dwellers group. I just moved into town and wanted to help out in the community,” said downtown resident Ricardo Robalino. This was all a community effort between 904 Happy Hour, Downtown Vision, the Downtown Investment Authority, Downtown Dwellers and the city of Jacksonville. Volunteer hours will be recorded and counted toward fulfillment of the “match” required for a city of Jacksonville grant to support a new mural and future public art projects along the Downtown Riverwalk.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville police are investigating an incident in which someone vandalized the park at the site of the former Jacksonville Landing. During the overnight hours, someone drove a vehicle onto the grass and did doughnuts on the lawn before driving off. For many, the lawn at the Landing is a nice place to visit, particularly with a good friend. It appears the driver jumped a curb, entered the lawn, leaving a set of tracks, and exited the lawn just feet away. (WJXT)It appears the driver jumped a curb, entered the lawn, leaving a set of tracks, and exited the lawn just feet away.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Say what you want about Jake Godbold, but no one ever accused him of being timid. As mayor of Jacksonville, Godbold wasn’t shy about his ambitions of putting the city on the map. “He physically had slowed a little bit, but mentally he was sharp as a tack,” former Mayor John Delaney said of Godbold. But where Godbold’s plea over the Landing fell on deaf ears, his opposition to a sale of JEA found an audience that listened. “I like you and believe that you have generally done a good job as mayor,” Godbold wrote.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – There’s now just one large structure left at the Jacksonville Landing as demolition crews keep taking down the iconic riverfront mall. The one large building left is the one closest to the Main Street Bridge, which housed Koja Sushi and other restaurants. The building like it on the other side, which housed Hooters and The American Grill, is now gone, reduced to rubble. “Something we could come down here every day, like The Landing used to be,” Rogers said. Some of the outer walls facing Independent Drive are still standing as well.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A judge said the City of Jacksonville must pay the owners of the former Jacksonville Landing $3.7 million to resolve a lawsuit from 2015. In 2007, Jacksonville Landing Investments, the company owned by Toney Sleiman, paid the City $4.3 million to buy the land where the Landing parking garage sits, between the Landing and the Main Street Bridge. In 2014, the Landing’s owners told the City they wanted to end their arrangement over the land sale and wanted the money back. The City then sued the Landing’s owners in 2015 and the Landing’s owners counter-sued. After taking into account how much money the City made from the property over the years, and how much the Landing made from using the property, the judge found the City still owes Jacksonville Landing Investments $3,717,876.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The News4Jax Sky 4 drone flew over what’s left of the downtown Jacksonville Landing on Thursday. The view from above captures just how much progress crews have made since they began demolishing the riverfront mall in October. Aerial video shows that nearly half of the Landing has now been torn down to the ground. The former American Grill can be seen standing amid a pile of rubble as several backhoes are being used. Though it’s still unclear what the property will become next, the entire demolition project should be completed by May or June next year.

Jacksonville Landing demolition continuesPublished: November 29, 2019, 6:35 pmThere hasn't been an announcement of what is going to be done at the landing.

From the News4Jax Vault: Coverage of the first Florida-Georgia weekend celebrations at the Jacksonville Landing in November 1987.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – While crews took a break Sunday from demolishing the Jacksonville Landing, people out and about took the time to pause to look at the transformation. The riverfront mall in downtown Jacksonville has become, partly, a pile of mangled metal. “I think the Landing was a corner of Jacksonville pretty much since I was a kid. “I think this should be more for the people to come down here,” Jacksonville resident Robert Deveau said. “This should bring attraction to Jacksonville because downtown is not where’s it’s at.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – As demolition crews continue to tear down The Jacksonville Landing, vivid memories remain in the minds of many of the frightening day a lone gunman opened fire during a video game tournament at Chicago Pizza. Sky 4 flew over the area on Thursday to see what remained of the shopping mall. On Aug. 26, 2018, the gunman opened fire during a Madden video game tournament. The shooter was among three people who died in the mass shooting, which left another 12 people injured. A demolition crew began to tear down The Landing in October.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - A permit has been issued that clears the Jacksonville Landing for demolition. James Croft, the assistant director of public affairs, told the Jacksonville Daily Record the demolition is scheduled to be completed by June. The permit was issued Monday. The deadline set by the city gives D.H. Griffin until May 28, 2020 to destroy the 32-year-old shopping center that sits along the Northbank. Jacksonville's big tree -- and its tens of thousands of lights -- will be on display in Hemming Park in 2019.

For many Gators and Bulldogs fans, the place to party before, during and after the game used to be the downtown Jacksonville Landing. But since the longtime landmark along the St. Johns River is being demolished, the sports complex area, which includes RV City, will be hosting all the action. "We enjoyed going down there," Bulldogs fan Randy Stone, who came into town from Tifton, Georgia, told News4Jax on Monday. RV City will open Tuesday, but recreational vehicles were already lined up Monday, eager to get in. The first campers there will be the first to pick out their parking spot Tuesday morning when the RV City gates open.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The portion of the Riverwalk near the Jacksonville Landing has reopened, the city announced Friday. "The Riverwalk in front of the Jacksonville Landing is back open. As a demolition crew began to tear down the downtown Jacksonville Landing, News4Jax reported Tuesday that bricks along the Riverwalk had started to crumble, leaving holes in the walkway. Staff members with Jacksonville City Councilman Reggie Gaffney's office came out to the Riverwalk, which is in Gaffney's district. By Tuesday evening, a fence, blocking off a part of the Riverwalk near the Landing, had been set up to ensure safety.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The demolition of the downtown Jacksonville Landing means that the longtime landmark will soon be history. Some of the mementos for sale include doors and light fixtures that were once in the Landing. There are ornaments that were all over the Landing during the holidays for a more reasonable price. IMAGES: Demolition underway at the Jacksonville Landing |WATCH: What will replace the Landing? Repair work along Coastline Drive by the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront hotel to Berkman Plaza continues.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - As a demolition crew begins to tear down the downtown Jacksonville Landing, there are still many who love to use the nearby Riverwalk along the St. Johns River. But some bricks along the Riverwalk have started to crumble, leaving holes in the walkway. To ensure safety, a fence has been set up, blocking off a part of the Riverwalk near the Landing until the cause of the crumbling can be determined, News4Jax has learned. By Tuesday evening, there was a fence up near the Landing for everyone's safety. Our cameras were there as staff members with Jacksonville City Councilman Reggie Gaffney's office were there to look at the crumbling Riverwalk, which is in Gaffney's district.

As a demolition crew begins to tear down the downtown Jacksonville Landing, there are still many who love to use the nearby Riverwalk along the St. Johns River. Copyright 2019 by WJXT News4Jax - All rights reserved.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - There are big changes downtown, as a demolition crew has started to tear down the Jacksonville Landing. Were hoping that something better will come, but its mostly sad stories.IMAGES: Demolition underway at Jacksonville LandingCity records show its a $1.074 million job that taxpayers will foot the bill for. D.H. Griffin Wrecking Company, which demolished the Jacksonville Coliseum, will take down the 32-year-old waterfront mall. Currently, the demolition team is working on ripping out the interior sections of the buildings. James Croft, a city spokesman, said the team will tear down the outside of the structures likely at the end of October or beginning of November.

A photo taken Monday, Oct. 7, shows that work has been done near the Hooters Restaurant at the Jacksonville Landing. Hide Caption

The Jacksonville Landing already passes all seven, meaning that in 18 years, it will be an important historic landmark. The Jacksonville Historic Preservation Commission follows a set of seven criteria to determine whether buildings that are older than 50 years should be landmarked as historic. The list is useful not only to those trying to preserve historic buildings but to those who wish to determine which newer buildings will have the significance to save in the future. The Jacksonville Landing, which opened in 1987, is such an example. If the Jacksonville Landing were to last 18 more years, it would pass every one of the Historic Preservation Commission's criteria with flying colors.

Three people including the gunman were killed and nine other people shot at a Madden NFL tournament at Jacksonville Landing on August 26, 2018. At 1:34 p.m., Katz fired 12 shots in the crowded game room as the tournament was being livestreamed on Twitch. After the mass shooting, Katz took his own life. But Katz, a Baltimore, Maryland, resident, didn't mention he was going to Jacksonville for the Madden tournament. Before every other tournament Katz had participated in, he told someone he was going.

Jacksonville sheriff's boats secure the docks in front of Jacksonville Landing on Aug. 26, 2018, in Jacksonville, Florida. A shooting rampage during a Madden 19 video game tournament at the site claimed two lives, with several others wounded,JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Monday will mark a year since the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department responded to the mass shooting at the Jacksonville Landing. Firefighters from Station 1 were training near The Jacksonville Landing on Aug. 26, 2018 when a lone gunman opened fire during a video game tournament at Chicago Pizza inside The Landing. Evan Werthman owns a video game-themed food truck in Jacksonville and also frequented Chicago Pizza before the mass shooting. One year after the mass shooting made headlines on the news networks and national newspapers for 24 hours and kept the riverfront shopping center for closed for nearly a week, The Jacksonville Landing has closed for good.

One year ago a gunman opened fire during a video game tournament at the Jacksonville Landing. With the Landing due for demolition, this year's gaming tournament was instead held at Aardwolf Brewing... Copyright 2019 by WJXT News4Jax - All rights reserved.

One year since the deadly Jacksonville Landing shooting, the local gaming community says they're working to bring positive change. Copyright 2019 by WJXT News4Jax - All rights reserved.

VIDEO: Jennifer Ready reports on the prep work that will begin ahead of the demolition of the Jacksonville Landing.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - Prep work for the Jacksonville Landing demolition will start in the next two weeks, according to the Jacksonville Daily Record. The Daily Record reported Plant City-based contractor D.H. Griffin Wrecking Co. Inc. has received notice to start site work within the next 10 days. According to the Jacksonville Daily Record, fencing will start to go up around the Landing on August fifth. Several things need to be taken care of before demolition can start, the Daily Record reported. Currently, there is not an exact timeline for when demolition will officially start but the work will take several months.

PONTE VEDRA BEACH, Fla. - Sleiman Enterprises, the company that previously owned the Jacksonville Landing, is behind plans for a new commercial development in Ponte Vedra Beach. The proposed development comes as growth in St. Johns County continues to boom. "You could ride down that street and there was nothing," said Bob Mako, who lives in Ponte Vedra Beach. Right there is congested already, so you were just adding more misery to it," said Mike Dubberly, who lives in Ponte Vedra Beach. Sleiman Enterprises said it does not plan to stretch the limits of the commercial zoning, rather support and serve what continues to be a growing community.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - As the city gets ready to celebrate the Fourth of July, much of the attention will be on downtown Jacksonville. But some longtime city landmarks have lost their luster. The Jacksonville Landing is now closed and Friendship Fountain on the Southbank needs work. When Friendship Fountain opened in 1965, it was reported to be one of the tallest and largest in the country. "You dont want to bring people here anymore because it doesnt work properly.In 2011, the city spent close to $3 million upgrading the fountain and adding the high-tech light fixtures.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - As the city gets ready to celebrate the Fourth of July, much of the attention will be on downtown Jacksonville. But some longtime city landmarks have lost their luster. The Jacksonville Landing is now closed and Friendship Fountain on the Southbank needs work. When Friendship Fountain opened in 1965, it was reported to be one of the tallest and largest in the country. "You dont want to bring people here anymore because it doesnt work properly.In 2011, the city spent close to $3 million upgrading the fountain and adding the high-tech light fixtures.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Hundreds of people who planned to spend the weekend sheltering in the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront downtown are having to make other plans after management began evacuating the hotel on Friday. The hotel had waived it's 50-pound limit on pets for those evacuating the storm, and several planned to stay. The Dalton Agency released a statement from Luis Aloma, general manager, Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront:The safety and security of guests and associates is a top priority at Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront. At this time, due to a mandatory evacuation, the hotel is assisting with guest evacuation and has ceased normal hotel operations. The Jacksonville Landing, which is next to the Hyatt on the Northbank, has canceled all outdoor activities for Saturday and will close completely on Sunday and Monday.