Councilman โheartbroken and disappointedโ after vote passes to move forward with San Marco mixed-use storage facility
Plans to build a self-storage facility with affordable housing and retail space in San Marco are moving forward after the Jacksonville city council voted to bring the facility to the corner of Hendricks Avenue and Prudential Drive.
City discussing if changes need to be made to how, when parking garages are inspected following hospital garage collapse
When a portion of the parking garage at Ascension St. Vincentโs collapsed this week in Riverside, it brought to light the lack of inspections required for garages across Jacksonville.
Piers at future site of Shipyards West Park need to be replaced, could cost up to $30M in current design
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.
Increased costs bring more proposed changes for Shipyards project
Some work is underway on the Shipyards project, which involves a new hotel and office building on Jacksonvilleโs Northbank, but costs have gone up, and all indications are the deal that the Jaguars have with the city is about to change again.
DIA votes to approve $114 million in incentives for Shipyards project
The Downtown Investment Authority on Wednesday voted unanimously to approve $114 million in incentives to help bring Jacksonville Jaguars Shad Khanโs vision of a Four Seasons and other amenities along the St. Johns River to life.
Jaguars president addresses Four Seasons hotel, land swap near Metro Park
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ 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. AdโThe real question here is can moving it be better for the public?โ said DIA CEO Lori Boyer.
Plan to develop Jacksonville Shipyards clears DIA hurdle
An artist's rendering of what the Four Seasons hotel could look like in Jacksonville. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ A plan by Jaguars owner Shad Khan to develop the Jacksonville Shipyards is one step closer to materializing, but still far from reality. The original plan to build the hotel on the park site was turned down by the National Park Service in 2020. It has control over a portion of the original park site. The DIA plans to hold a workshop next Tuesday, where it will look over plans to address riverfront development in Downtown Jacksonville.
City agency looking for design firm to turn former Jacksonville Landing site into โRiverfront Plazaโ
We look forward to reviewing the submissions come March and wish all interested parties the best of luck.โThe 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.
Designers, artists asked to submit plans for former home of Jacksonville Landing
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ 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 wonโt happen until late in the year. As for the private development, plans for that wonโt take place until itโs decided what the park space will look like.
Exploring pros and cons of Lot J development with city leaders
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ News4Jax political analyst Rick Mullaney of Jacksonville Universityโs Public Policy Institute joins this edition of โThis Week in Jacksonville,โ which explores the Lot J proposal from multiple angles with Downtown Investment Authority CEO Lori Boyer, Jacksonville Civic Council CEO and President Jeanne Miller, Urban Land Institute Chair Tarik Bateh, Jaguars Senior Vice President and Chief Legal Officer Megha Parekh and Mayor Lenny Curryโs Chief of Staff Jordan Elsbury.
Another tense Jacksonville City Council ends without Lot J vote
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ The proposal to build a $445 million entertainment complex on Lot J of TIAA Bank Field -- the sole topic of another tense Jacksonville City Council meeting Thursday -- will not be voted on until Tuesday at the earliest. The deal calls for the city to invest $233 million in direct spending or loans by the city of Jacksonville to the developer for Jaguars owner Shad Khan, the Cordish Companies. That drew a sharp response from Council President Tommy Hazouri and questioning of the rules before the review of the plan resumed. The DIA, which was asked to review the plan last week, voted Wednesday to recommend City Council approval, but with some modifications. DOCUMENTS: DIA report on Lot J proposal | Council Auditorโs Officeโs things to consider/concernsMark Lamping, the Jaguars president, has asked for a vote by the council by its last scheduled meeting of the year, which is next Tuesday.
DIA passes Lot J recommendations on to Jacksonville City Council
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ Jacksonvilleโs Downtown Investment Authority on Wednesday voted to pass a report on to the City Council, which recommends the Lot J project with changes. It would develop Lot J outside TIAA Bank Field in a deal between the city and the Jaguars owner, using a developer named The Cordish Companies. But if the ask is, we want you to reduce the public investment by $65 million, than the project doesnโt go forward,โ he said. I think for a lot of us guys like myself who take these kind of things very very seriously that they would understand that.โThe DIAโs approval with changes is just a recommendation for City Council about Lot J. All 19 City Council members are scheduled to take part in Thursdayโs meeting where they could decide to put the measure on their agenda Tuesday night.
Downtown Investment Authority recommends approving Lot J โwith some conditionsโ
The Lot J development will send a big message to the team & NFL. Iโm a yes as demonstrated by me introducing Lot J bill to city council. โ Lenny Curry (@lennycurry) December 1, 2020Curry started the thread implying that if Jacksonville residents want to remain an NFL city, the Lot J deal would help. The mayor made it clear he supports the Lot J deal and what it stands for. He said the Lot J Development, Jaguars stadium upgrades and the Jaguarsโ lease should be negotiated as one deal.
More questions than answers after heated meeting over Lot J project
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ Many questions remain about the status of the proposed Lot J project that would build a $445 million entertainment complex outside TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville. A meeting Thursday night that was created to answer some of those questions was derailed as the Jacksonville City Council president, council members and the mayorโs staff traded barbs. RELATED: Special meeting on Lot J project filled with finger-pointing, name-callingThe cost of the project would be split between the city and the Jaguars. When the plan for the Lot J project was announced in October, Jaguars President Mark Lamping said it could be built in three years. One of the main concerns is contamination at Lot J.
Special meeting on Lot J project filled with finger-pointing, name-calling
Instead, nothing happened at a special meeting Thursday night except finger-pointing, name-calling and what some members say was a big embarrassment for government. Those on hand say they were at the meeting to get answers from the City Council auditor about Lot J. No vote was taken by the City Council about that, but apparently, the DIA has already started that process. Instead, he heard the bickering and he also heard that some council members wanted to start the whole process of Lot J negotiators over again. Other council members spoke up, saying they were surprised about what happened and how nothing came out of what was to be an important meeting.
Plan would allow River City Brewing Company to remain open until September 2022
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ The Downtown Investment Authority on Wednesday discussed the redevelopment of the River City Brewing Company site on Jacksonvilleโs Southbank. The land is owned by the city. A South Florida developer is proposing tearing down the landmark restaurant, building apartments and making improvements to the marina on-site. During Wednesdayโs Downtown Investment Authority meeting, an agreement was tweaked. Under the plan, the current restaurant would be allowed to remain open until September 2022.
USS Orleck Naval Museum welcome center gets preliminary OK
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ The Downtown Development Review Board has approved plans to build a temporary welcome center and office space for USS Orleck DD-886 Naval Museum proposed for the city-owned Shipyards property, Jacksonville Daily Record reports. The board voted 8-0 on Thursday to approve a 90-by-50-foot modular building off Pier 1 for the Jacksonville Historic Naval Ship Associationโs warship museum. The vote came after the board added a condition that the nonprofit return to DDRB in three years to extend approval for a temporary building or submit designs for a permanent center. Naval Ship Association plans to tow the USS Orleck from Lake Charles, Louisiana, to Jacksonville. After regulatory approval, the Naval Ship Association has several steps to take before it can tow the USS Orleck from Lake Charles, Louisiana, to Jacksonville.
Khan envisions Four Seasons for Jacksonvilleโs Metro Park site
Khan, who bought the Four Seasons Hotel Toronto in 2016, wants to build the hotel where Metropolitan Park sits along the Northbank. During Thursdayโs DIA meeting, Lamping said the Lot J development would be a catalyst for additional efforts to revitalize the area. RELATED: Curry & Khan unveil plans for Lot J developmentOriginally, Khan mentioned moving the cityโs convention center to the Shipyards site. Meanwhile, the City Council is still debating the merits of the cityโs involvement in the Lot J project. The DIA board is set to discuss incentives for Lot J next week.
Developer & city panel find compromise on fate of River City Brewing Company
Jacksonvilleโs Downtown Investment Authority voted Wednesday afternoon to allow a Miami-based developer to proceed with plans for a $90 million, 335-unit complex next to Friendship Foundation, a project that would involve the demolition of River City Brewing Company. Some background: The city, which owns the land where the restaurant sits, gave a 99-year lease to the owner of River City Brewing Company in 1998. The first plans unveiled by The Related Group included the aforementioned luxury apartment complex, but no restaurant or retail space. Iโm glad thereโs a cap at $500,000.โUnlike River City Brewing Company, the new restaurant would not sit right on the water, representatives for the developers said. For the time being, River City Brewing Company remains open as does the marina.
Plans for JEAโs new HQ downtown are moving forward
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ Plans for construction of a new headquarters for JEA are moving forward. On Wednesday, the Downtown Investment Authority announced it had finalized the sale of a piece of property in downtown Jacksonville to Ryan Companies, the firm hired to build JEAโs new base of operations. RELATED: Learn more about JEAโs choice for new HQโThis is the second major new office building project to close this year,โ DIA CEO Lori Boyer said. โWe are excited to partner with JEA and the DIA on this exciting project,โ said Mike Harryman, senior project executive for Ryan Companies. JEA told News4Jax the groundwork will begin then, followed by vertical construction as soon as October.
New York-based developer recommended for Jacksonville riverfront site
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ Jacksonville is one step closer to having new homes and businesses along the St. Johns River downtown. Two developers have been bidding to develop East Bay Street, where the old courthouse and City Hall annex once stood. The first bidder, Spandrel Development Partners, specializes in developing โmixed-use, multi-family, hospitality and retail projects in target cities of growth," according to its website. On Monday, members of the Downtown Investment Authority committee for development recommended that Spandrel Development Partners be given the bid for the property. If the full board agrees to have Spandrel Development Partners develop the riverfront site then the group and DIA will agree on the terms of the project.
What could be coming to the old City Hall property along East Bay Street?
The old City Hall Annex and Courthouse once sat on the property along East Bay Street. WATCH: Jacksonvilleโs old City Hall crumbles in secondsThe area could soon look like one of the two plans presented by Spandrel Development Partners and The Related Group. Spandrel Development Partners has completed projects in Savannah, Georgia; Charleston, South Carolina and Brooklyn, New York. They will have hundreds of units as well as thousands of square feet of retail,โ said Emanuel Neuman with Spandrel Development Partners. โI am quite excited about it.โThe Related Group has developed properties throughout the state in cities including Tampa and Miami.
2 companies bid for chance to develop cityโs riverfront property
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ Just a year ago, the old City Hall was imploded and the old Duval County Courthouse was demolished. Today, all thatโs left on the Bay Street site is a field of green grass. The bidding was opened at 2 p.m for the opportunity to build on the prime property on the downtown Jacksonville riverfront, but only two developers expressed interest โ one company out of New York and another based in Miami. Mayor Lenny Curry, who has become known for tearing buildings down in downtown Jacksonville, spoke about the proposals Wednesday. We obviously want to develop the area but we know we have investors with capital that is liquid that are ready to go,โ Curry said.
Downtown Investment Authority wants to redevelop 8 acres of prime real estate
JACKSONVILLE, Fla - There are plans to redevelop some prime real estate in Downtown Jacksonville. The waterfront land where the old courthouse and City Hall once stood measures eight acres. The Downtown Investment Authority wants developers to put their best foot forward in making proposals for what's known as the Courthouse Annex property. It labels the land The Ford on Bay. The DIA points out there are $1 billion dollars in projects under construction and $3.5 billion dollars in proposed projects.
Redevelopment plan to create 500 jobs in Jacksonville
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The Downtown Investment Authority has approved a plan to give an unnamed company millions of dollars in incentives as part of a major redevelopment project that would bring hundreds of high paying jobs to Riverside. The project, codenamed Project Sharp, is projected to create 500 jobs with an average salary of $85,000 a year. However, News4Jax's news partner, the Jacksonville Daily Record, said it's believed to be Fidelity National Financial Services Inc., or FIS. In announcing that deal last week, it was mentioned the WorldPay headquarters would move to Jacksonville. The incentive package will advance to the Jacksonville City Council for approval.
Deal reached on $450 million development near TIAA Bank Field
The mayor said it will result in more than $450 million of investment near the sports complex. Because it calls for incentives and tax breaks, the project must be approved by the Downtown Investment Authority and Jacksonville City Council. The cost of those will be $128 million, $76.5 million and $67 million, respectively. Jaguars President Mark Lamping released a statement calling this "the most significant step in our mission to reinvent how we work, live and gather in Downtown Jacksonville." Most like the idea of an entertainment complex, while others questioned why it can't be built elsewhere.
6 Properties the DIA wants to return to the tax rolls
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. โ The City of Jacksonville may be its own worst enemy when it comes to urban revitalization and redevelopment. Although it serves as the city's development arm for the downtown district, the Downtown Investment Authority (DIA) has no control over what happens or doesn't happen with most of these properties. However, what the DIA does control, it plans to move forward in returning to the tax rolls. Here are six downtown properties the DIA plans to attempt to dispose of over the next few months. The DIA plans to issue an RFP for this building in spring 2018.