Urban Construction Update: Winter 2025

[thelakelander]

A brief look at the status of various developments under construction in and around Downtown Jacksonville.

Read More: https://www.thejaxsonmag.com/article/urban-construction-update-winter-2025/

[vicupstate]

During fall 2023, the Florida Department of Transportation began work on a $20.78 million project to rehabilitate Main Street (U.S. 17) north of Downtown Jacksonville. Affecting the neighborhoods of Springfield,

This work was done in Springfield YEARS ago. What is changing?  It looks like the median is now just grass, which is a big downgrade IMO.

[Charles Hunter]

As usual, a good overview of what's going on.
A few questions.

#2 RISE Doro - Is there any current activity? Revised plans? Permitting? Anything?

#3 Riverfront Plaza - Perhaps you could update the report to show that the Independent Drive relocation is complete.

#28 Water Street - Nice picture, but what is going to happen here.

#30 The Local - Again, is there any current activity?

[fsu813]

During fall 2023, the Florida Department of Transportation began work on a $20.78 million project to rehabilitate Main Street (U.S. 17) north of Downtown Jacksonville. Affecting the neighborhoods of Springfield,

This work was done in Springfield YEARS ago. What is changing?  It looks like the median is now just grass, which is a big downgrade IMO.

The work is on-going. Landscaping will be installed last.

[fsu813]

A few updates to this -

1637 N. Main Street is a dead project. It's currently for sale in a bundled package with the Drew Mansion, also a dead project.

TerraWise Homes is renovating 36 West 6th Street into their new office, a new model home will be built on the vacant lot next door.

Karpeles Grand (formally Karpeles Manuscript Museum) at 101 West 1st Street is making good progress on its renovation, exterior and interior. It'll be an events space once complete.

No Bird, a new creative co-working space, just completed its renovation of 2078 N. Liberty Street, a former Union Hall. It's open for business.

[thelakelander]

During fall 2023, the Florida Department of Transportation began work on a $20.78 million project to rehabilitate Main Street (U.S. 17) north of Downtown Jacksonville. Affecting the neighborhoods of Springfield,

This work was done in Springfield YEARS ago. What is changing?  It looks like the median is now just grass, which is a big downgrade IMO.

The biggest change visually is the number of marked crosswalks that have been added along the corridor, as well as some extra median openings.

[Captain Zissou]

#2 RISE Doro - Is there any current activity? Revised plans? Permitting? Anything?

Construction is underway.  I saw workers onsite on Monday and received confirmation from someone on the project that financing is in place and work has commenced.

[acme54321]

The Local restaurant on Lomax appears to be dead. It's been over a year since anything has happened there.

[jaxlongtimer]

Seems like a burst of restaurants for Downtown plus the private club.  I wonder if Downtown is ready to support so many additions when so many existing ones seem to be, or have been, struggling lately.  Hope for the best but thinking maybe the cart is coming before the horse.

To add, nationwide, restaurants are, in general, facing significant headwinds with inflationary impacts due to rising labor and food costs - more than most businesses - and consumers becoming more cautious about their spending.  As a risky business in the best of times, it is not for the feint of heart, for sure.

[acme54321]

I have no idea where someone is getting an ROI on spending $6+M to build out a new private club that size downtown.  I hope it succeeds, but wow.

[Zac T]

A few additions in Downtown:

Work is underway on Dorothy's Downtown in the old Burrito Gallery space

Daily work continues on Adams and Forsyth Streets to prepare for 2-waying

A "new" Asian concept will be replacing Super Food. Aiming for a January opening

Facade improvements are currently being conducted at 45 W Bay Street

$40 million exterior renovations at The Peninsula condo building are still ongoing

[jaxlongtimer]

Most visible change to Downtown... CSX changing it's sign to digital (in progress).  LOL.

Wells Fargo lost a lot of profile pulling down its sign.

Not always a big fan of signs on top of buildings (I feel it takes some dignity from the building's architecture) but it does wonders for marketing a company name.  Interesting that most towers in NYC go without names on them (maybe because there are so many skyscrapers it would be hard to see the signs?).  Jax seems to have more than its fair share.

[Ken_FSU]

Interesting that most towers in NYC go without names on them (maybe because there are so many skyscrapers it would be hard to see the signs?).  Jax seems to have more than its fair share.

For NYC, codes are very strict on this. Even moreso when there is residential nearby, which is practically everywhere in the city. MetLife was grandfathered in. Salesforce took advantage of a loophole. And the other most prominent branded skyscraper (H&M) is in Times Square, which is exempt from the signage ordinances, by way of already being a big obnoxious billboard to begin with.

[jcjohnpaint]

Seattle does not allow signage on their buildings, I believe.

[Lostwave]

This is correct.  Only exception I know of is Hotels are allowed to have a small sign.  I agree with the folks above that its better with no signs.