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DOWNTOWN
Duval County Courthouse
Streetscape improvements surrounding the county courthouse are now underway. The courthouse is expected to be completed in two to three months.
7-Eleven
The buildout of 7-Eleven at Forsyth & Julia Streets is now underway.
JEA Garage Restoration
Facade renovations of the JEA garage on Church & Laura Streets continues.
38 West Monroe Street
Renovations are being made to 38 West Monroe Street and new street level businesses are opening.
Laura Trio
The Bisbee Building's windows have been removed.
BodyJax Fitness
BodyJax Fitness and Midtown Deli are now operating at the Jacksonville Bank Building on Forsyth Street. Midtown Deli's awnings are an affordable addition to the building's facade that have enhanced the structure at the pedestrian scale level.
Everbank Center Food Court
While no work has taken place in this space, once Everbank's operations shift to downtown, it is expected that several new businesses will open up in this space.
Geer Services
Geer Services is in the process of opening in Everbank Center's mall at the Forsyth Street entrance. For more information on Geer Services visit:
http://www.geerservices.com/index.php
http://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/downtowntoday.php?dt_date=2011-12-14
Sweet Lady Blue
Interior construction continues on Sweet Lady Blue. For more information on Sweet Lady Blue: http://www.sweetladyblue.com/
Baptist/Wolfson's Tower
RIVERSIDE/AVONDALE
Jimmy John's Gourmet Sandwiches
Work continues on the site at Park Street and I-95.
Tapa That
Tapa That, at 820 Lomax Street, is expected to open later this month.
Derby on Park
Construction continues on Derby on Park in Five Points. For more information: http://www.facebook.com/DerbyOnPark
1534 Oak Street
Construction on the future location of Chew continues to advance.
Former Jackson's Grill
Park & King's former Jackson's Grill is being converted into a Tex-Mex style restaurant/bar.
Dahlia's Pour House
Dahlia's Pour House, at Post & King Streets, is expected to open later this month. For more information: http://www.dahliaspourhouse.com/
Former Walker's Wine Bar
Park & King's Walker's Wine Bar is being converted into a tapas bar.
Pulp Juice Bar
GinJo Sushi Restaurant
GinJo Sushi Japanese Restaurant at 3620 St. Johns Avenue appears to opening soon. For more information: http://www.ginjosushi.com/index.htm
Beau Outfitter
The space at 3564 St. Johns Avenue will be the location of Beau Outfitters. For more information: http://www.facebook.com/BeauOutfitters
Robert E. Lee High School
The reconstruction of Robert E. Lee High School continues.
SPRINGFIELD
Buzz Restaurant
Construction on the Buzz Restaurant at 6th & Main Streets continues.
Julia's Urban Grocery
This building at 5th & Main Streets will be renovated into an organic grocery market.
Department of Veterans Affairs Outpatient Clinic
Paul Davis Restoration
A new roof has been added to this project since last month's Metro Jacksonville update.
1553 Market Street
This 5,000 square foot former grocery market at 6th & Liberty Street will be renovated for leasing opportunities.
SAN MARCO
San Marco Station
This Hendricks Avenue development will be anchored by a Panera Bread and Boost Mobile.
Aardwolf Brewing Company
Aardwold Brewing Company will be coming to the former South Jacksonville Utilities building on Hendricks Avenue.
Quote
San Marco will be the home of the next great brewery to enter the northeast Florida/Jacksonville market. The long-awaited Aardwolf Brewing Company helmed by Michael Payne has signed a lease for a building on Hendricks Blvd. next to the railroad tracks. The building was previously a tile and granite retailer as well as an icehouse. The location is also across the street from the San Marco Station project and Panera Bread Company.http://sprbrewcrew.wordpress.com/2012/03/07/new-brewery-signs-lease-in-san-marco/
Payne is previously responsible for the brewing program at Brewer’s Pizza in Orange Park. There he established a robust program that has produced favorite brews such Pinglehead Red, Moondance Stout, and Tailhook Brown. He refined his brewing knowledge at the Siebel Institute in Chicago and Doeman’s Academy in Munich. The Siebel Institute was found in 1872 and is the oldest operating school dedicated to beer brewing science in the United State. Doeman’s was founded in 1895 by the pharmacist Dr. Albert Doemens as a training center for the brewing industry. Also Payne’s resume is a stint at Terrapin Beer Company in Athens, Ga., brewers of exceptional beers like Wake n’ Bake, Hopsecutioner, and Rye Pale Ale.
A tap room and regional distribution is planned for the brewery when it is up and running. How soon that will be depends on zoning and build out, but Payne already has financing in place so it is just a matter of pushing past those hurdles.
Murphy Anderson Attorneys At Law
Construction on Murphy Anderson's new office on San Marco Boulevard continues. For more information: http://www.murphyandersonlaw.com/
San Marco Boulevard Streetscape
The third phase of the San Marco Boulevard Streetscape project, between Laverne Street and San Marco Square, is underway.
M Shack
San Marco Square's Take Away Gourmet will be converted into the area's second M Shack.
Quote
With M Shack, the Medure brothers — known for their fine dining restaurants Matthew's Restaurant in San Marco and Restaurant Medure in Ponte Vedra Beach, plus Take Away Gourmet in San Marco — enter the fast-casual arena.http://jacksonville.com/opinion/blog/423471/gary-mills/2011-11-25/burger-joint-m-shack-opens-atlantic-beach
No reservations. No jackets necessary.
Upon entering the restaurant, browse the short menu on three large chalkboards on the opposite wall before ordering at the counter. Like Panera or The Loop, meals are picked up at the counter or delivered to table, depending on how busy the restaurant is.
The 50-seat restaurant is a mix of booths and tables, including a 16-person counter-height table in the restaurant's center, suited for dining with friends or making new ones. Outside seating accommodates an additional 10 people, and a bar (beer and wine) seats another five.
Its contemporary, minimalist design features white tabletops, mint green booth seating, painted concrete block and subway-tiled walls and exposed ductwork.
SAINT NICHOLAS
Hamburger Mary's
Hamburger Mary's third Florida location will open soon at 333-1 Beach Boulevard in St. Nicholas Town Center.
Quote
Hamburger Mary's franchises are "open-air bar and grilles for open-minded people," where guests enjoy a flamboyant dining experience. Everyone is welcome at Hamburger Mary's, but our concept is unique in that we are the ONLY national franchise actively marketing to the gay community. The restaurants are open for lunch and dinner, with a full-service bar serving up delicious cocktails and the best Bloody Mary!
For more information: http://www.hamburgermarys.com/
MURRAY HILL
Hollywood Nails
Hollywood Nails has opened at 1200 Edgewood Avenue S. For more information: http://hollywoodnailsjax.com/
Yoga Zensation
Yoga Zensation has opened at 1188 Edgewood Avenue S. For more information: http://yogazensation.com/
Edgewood Avenue South @ Antisdale Street
10 New Storefronts
Update by Ennis Davis
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Noone
March 19, 2012, 04:50:36 AMNot one picture of the super dredge of Hogans Creek or Bay St. Pier Park? Field could you post the pics you took Sat. when we were out there on Hogans Creek? Gary Anderson with the Jacksonville Waterways Commission was there as well. Good or Bad this will have a huge impact as it relates to Public Access and Economic opportunity to our St. Johns River our American Heritage River a Federal Initiative. That is a fact.
thelakelander
March 19, 2012, 05:39:26 AMWhat's going on in Hogans Creek and the Shipyards? I wasn't aware. If you have them, send some images over and I'll add them to the article.
Edit: Now that I think about it, they are extending the riverwalk between the Shipyards and Berkman II to Bay Street. Anything else?
acme54321
March 19, 2012, 07:00:41 AMwhy were the Bisbee's windows removed?
simms3
March 19, 2012, 07:02:02 AMWhat I have noticed with this update and with the last update is not a lot of construction, but a paradigm shift in neighborhood businesses to ones that are useful to residents.
For instance in the Shoppes of Avondale most of what was there was not necessarily useful to your average nearby resident. You had a bunch of shops selling overpriced trinkets. Now you have some regular businesses opening up that more people can utilize. I'll miss have R. Roberts Gallery there on the corner, but Jax is fairly poor and without all of that home equity many people simply can't afford all that expensive art. However, having a Sherwin Williams, which is a store selling a product anyone can afford and use to me is a sign that young people are moving to the area and demanding paint for their home projects. I think it signals something. I can tell you that many a house in the area needs a paint job, and with more people sticking around perhaps these paint jobs are getting done.
I also think this organic re-adaption of the intown neighborhoods of Avondale, Riverside and San Marco works well with the density and the fundamentals already in place. I still believe downtown needs something more than just a piecemeal improvement. It needs the organic bit by bit growth as well as a major catalyst or two as well as policy changes.
jcjohnpaint
March 19, 2012, 07:20:10 AMThe Bisbee Building's windows have been removed?
fsujax
March 19, 2012, 08:26:14 AMthey were falling out, a few Saturdays ago when it was super windy, one fell out onto the sidewalk. Not sure how much longer the buildings will make it and yes, us po folk here in Jacksonville can't afford expensive art work!
fieldafm
March 19, 2012, 08:36:13 AMThe Riverwalk is being extended to connect to the sidewalk on the Berkman II property(not the Shipyards property. Seems like a waste as that money could be spent at a later time to fill in the bulkhead work on the pier/Shipyards future Riverwalk instead of putting down a concrete path near a building that is starting to show bad damage to the rebar/concrete work closest to the new 'Riverwalk path'. Especially considering that the Riverwalk ALREADY connects to the Bay Street sidewalk by way of the Berkman Plaza(there's even a water fountain feature there.
The overland bridge has been removed and the mouth of Hogans Creek is being expanded as part of a flood mitigation plan. Again, the work is not being coordinated with the remediation efforts or future Hogans Creek Greenway upstream... once again proving that a clearing house that can coordinate a holistic approach to Hogans is sorely needed. Things continue to be piecemealed... and that leads to waste.
Furthermore, the removal of the bridge is curious as it completly seperates the two land masses of the Shipyards property... yet the parcels aren't legally seperated. Makes you wonder what the plan is there?
On a bright note, the boons at the mouth of Hogans have kept some debris from floating upstream. Over the last two weeks, you can start to better understand how much trash is being left from the homeless camps, versus what floats into Hogans from tidal currents. The downside is the construction site is full of more trash than you would like... especially on a site in an environmentally sensitive area of the river, where very little wind resistance measures have also not been employed(meaning more silt and debris can fall into the river_you would think the City learned its lesson on the I-95 Overland Bridge projects near McCoys Creek... or the debris issues during the removal of the Fuller Warren Bridge).
Might want to check your demographics
BTW, R Roberts (smartly) now curates private shows instead of maintaining an expensive gallery.
fieldafm
March 19, 2012, 08:41:49 AMAlso, M Shack isn't a rumor. They are indeed converting TAG into an M Shack.
The Panera bread development on Hendricks signed a second tenant a few weeks ago (ATT&T or Metro PCS, can't remember-it's some kind of cell phone company).
The sushi place in Avondale opens this week(Thursday I believe).
pwhitford
March 19, 2012, 09:05:54 AMThe sign at the site advertising Panera bread's arrival also notes Boost Mobile as a new tenant.
ben says
March 19, 2012, 09:18:12 AMAnyone know if Murphy/Anderson is taking up both floors of the new building? Would be interesting if they used the second floor but rented out the first for mixed use or retail.
thelakelander
March 19, 2012, 09:22:01 AMThanks for the updates to M Shack and Boost Mobile. The article has been modified to reflect this information.
finehoe
March 19, 2012, 09:51:02 AMWhen is the San Marco streetscape project scheduled to be completed?
ubben
March 19, 2012, 11:40:07 AMI see that one zillion palm trees have been just planted around the I-295/Butler Blvd interchange. I can't say they did a great job placing them (unnatural rigid straight lines on the tip tops of the ramps--looks awkward) but was glad to see something. Any word on the 95-I-10 interchange? It looks really bare. It'd be nice to have a natural, local forest feel in the spaces that are large enough to accomodate them.
thelakelander
March 19, 2012, 11:46:21 AMWere those palm trees at the JTB/295 interchange worth $2 million spent to purchase and plant them?
Heynorm
March 19, 2012, 11:50:45 AMWhat is going on with the MLK expressway area between phoenix and Buckman?
Captain Zissou
March 19, 2012, 12:40:27 PMMy thoughts exactly. I personally think they look awful, but I'm sure there are some that enjoy them. Who approved that expenditure and where did the money come from. That money could be much better spent somewhere (almost anywhere) else.
thelakelander
March 19, 2012, 01:18:49 PMA new interchange with 21st Street.
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2012-mar-major-urban-interchange-project-underway
tufsu1
March 19, 2012, 01:25:36 PMFDOT...the new Secretary (with the blessing of our Governor) announced last year that they would be "enhancing" the landscaping at many key gateways.....the landscaping budget for the 95/10 interchange got beefed up as a result and installation should be happening soon.
fsujax
March 19, 2012, 02:08:13 PMthey might not be finished with the landscaping project, planting the palms is the first thing they will do.
Keith-N-Jax
March 19, 2012, 06:58:01 PMI see a Mary's is being built here. I have heard alot of good things about the one in Tampa's Ybor city. Good to see some good things happenings. Hope they do well here.
halimeade
March 19, 2012, 10:25:23 PMI have seen the architect's renderings for the Julia's organic grocery, and they have some really interesting ideas for the building. I hope the project moves forward in a timely manner!
iloveionia
March 19, 2012, 10:40:23 PMWhat more information can you share about the former store at 1553 Market (corner of 6th/Market)? Gots any?
Overstreet
March 20, 2012, 08:14:42 AMI haven't seen those particular palms. They are likely Pheonix palms brought over from Saudi. So much for landscaping with native plants.
kells904
March 20, 2012, 11:01:49 AMLake,
you wrote something awhile back about improving the exposure of the AT&T(EverBank) Building to street-level. While that's certainly something they NEED to do to help draw business, is that something EverBank could do on its own, or does the City have to be involved?
thelakelander
March 20, 2012, 12:16:12 PMIt's something the property owner of the building would have to allow. At a minimum, better signage would be a huge improvement at an affordable cost. If they wanted to toss some money into the concept, then better exposure at the pedestrian level by modifying some of the facade (ex. transparent windows, awnings, etc. were feasible) to indicate that there are businesses there can be considered. From a city standpoint, it would help if there were encouragement from the public sector to better integrate private properties at the pedestrian scale.
aclchampion
March 20, 2012, 02:13:59 PMSince you mentioned Murray Hill, what in the world is going on with Roosevelt Bv between McDuff Ave and the Roosevelt expressway. Parallel with the CSX railroad. And parellel with the JEA substation. Its totally torn up and has been that way for almost a month.
Captain Zissou
March 22, 2012, 04:13:28 PMAnyone know when Jersey Mikes will open?? It looks like it could be any day now. I live about a half mile from there now and I'd love to add it to my list of dinner options.
fieldafm
March 22, 2012, 04:14:44 PMNext week.
mtraininjax
March 22, 2012, 04:51:14 PMThat stretch of Roosevelt Blvd was part of the reconstruction of the road. There are also parts around the Edgewood Avenue ramp that will be torn up and rebuilt, as they are showing severe cracks in the roadway. The area torn up was a really rough road and needed to be rebuilt.
Nice to see that the contractor has smoothed out the US 17 roadway as well. It really is a comfortable road to travel now.
Noone
March 22, 2012, 04:54:46 PMLake,
I'll do you one better. Low tides all next week in the am. Bring your camera. Sit in the front and we can do a wirlwind paddle of the Northbank and you can post the super dredge of Hogans Creek next to Bay St. We can capture a sunrise from under the Hyatt parking lot and emerge next to Khan's yacht.
Will put in at the only kayak launch on the Northbank and I'll bring a fishing pole and fish under the brand new no fishing signs. We'll paddle by the Historic Promised 680' Downtown Public Pier Shipyards/Landmar 2010-604, 2011-560 and you can explain to me what is the plan. Because I'm not seeing it. We can do this in just over an hour and then you can post the pics for all to see.
We both want to say.
Visit Jackonville!
Especially Downtown.
Noone
March 25, 2012, 06:18:21 AMThis is right next to the Maxwell House Plant and the Jacksonville Historical society! Field you took pics! This is a massive, HUGE dredge. They are still digging. Anyone with rising tides want to see this in a kayak? Springfield where are you?
Low tides this week in the am.
City council meeting in two days. Waterways in 3. Redman, Gaffney do something.
The Public Trust just totally destroyed. I'll show you the legislation and then you tell me.
Visit Jacksonville
or
Don't Visit Jacksonville
I am Downtown.
And why you aren't.
Its going to be a beautiful morning on the river who wants to celebrate it?
goldy21
March 29, 2012, 09:58:21 AMIt should be noted that the new restaurant at 1534 Oak Street will not be called Chew. It will be The Black Sheep or something similar.
goldy21
March 29, 2012, 10:06:26 AMJen moved her art gallery over to the Riverplace Tower on the southbank. http://jenjonesart.com/
Jason
March 29, 2012, 10:18:24 AMHonestly, I'm not impresses with Baptist's color scheme and the signage is not what was originally portrayed. The renderings, that were posted a while back, showed much better looking signage along I95 and on the opposite side as well.
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2010-dec-baptist-medical-center-seeks-signage-exception-
The colors of the building do not seems to be as vibrant as portrayed either.
Nonetheless, I've loved watching the building grow!
Captain Zissou
March 29, 2012, 10:56:05 AMI wish the baptist tower would have done more with the crown. Granted, it's a wide building so it won't have a pyramid like BoA, but something a little more ornamental to house the utilities on the top would have been nice. As it is, I think it looks like somebody hacked off the top.