Gateway Jax announces plans for ‘boutique’ office building in Pearl Square

[thelakelander]

Appearing at the Cuppa Jax speaker series at Riverplace Tower on the Downtown Southbank, Moll said Gateway Jax was planning 60,000 square feet of office space over 15,000 square feet of ground-floor retail at 331 W. Ashley St. across Ashley Street from the $45 million Block N11 mixed-use building at 515 N. Pearl St.

The warehouse property is identified as Block N9 on site plans for the first five blocks of Gateway Jax’s $419 million Pearl Square project. It was not among the projects on four blocks of the district for which the city of Jacksonville approved $98.58 million in incentives in August 2024.

Full article: https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/news/2025/feb/26/gateway-jaxs-bryan-moll-announces-plans-for-boutique-office-building-in-pearl-square/

[copperfiend]

I must have some serious downtown PTSD. Every time I see a headline like this, my first thought is “yeah sure”.

[Ken_FSU]

^I get it, but Pearl Square is moving along swiftly.

Drove by today:

[heights unknown]

Yep, I drove by there several times about a week ago, and it is in fact "full steam ahead" for (N11?) which is under construction, and, read that the next project/block will start turning dirt and being constructed in April of this year I believe. It's been a long time since we've seen construction, some with cranes in downtown urban core. I love it! Moll is a mole. Gateway Jax is a beast!

[Ken_FSU]

It's been a long time since we've seen construction, some with cranes in downtown urban core.

There is quietly a LOT going on at the moment.

Shipyards office tower topping out.

Four Seasons full steam ahead.

Rise Doro back in full construction.

Riverfront Plaza full speed.

VyStar garage retail going strong.

Two-waying of streets.

U2C concrete box control center nearly complete.

Whole Foods parcel still looks like it's getting ready to hopefully start soon.

Hub Brooklyn finally showing some progress.

Pearl Square full steam ahead.

Emerald Trail progressing nicely.

Artist Walk under construction.

Friendship Fountain/St. Johns Park making lots of progress in the last month.

Infrastructure work looking surprisingly awesome at Rivers Edge.

Next three years are gonna be wild too, with Shipwards West, Riverfront Plaza Phase II, MOSH 2.0, Metro Park, Stadium Renovations, the 22-story Publix-anchored Gateway Jax project, and potentially private development at Riverside Plaza all targeting a 2028 completion. Beyond that, the Emerald Trail is targeting full completion by 2030.

Things won't turn around overnight, but cannot imagine downtown not being a significantly more desirable place for private business and residents to call home over the next 3-5 years.

[acme54321]

, the 22-story Publix-anchored Gateway Jax project

  Is that official?

[Ken_FSU]

, the 22-story Publix-anchored Gateway Jax project

  Is that official?

Official that they’ve secured a grocer? Yes. Officially announced that it’s Publix? No. Can’t see a universe where it’s anything else though. Bryan Moll came in confident that he could secure Publix. They’ve got the preexisting relationship from Tampa. In many way, it feels like the development was designed around the idea of a Publix anchor. And as recently as a couple of weeks ago, several members of the DIA believed it was Publix. Can’t see Whole Foods or Fresh Market cannibalizing their sales a half mile away. Aldi/Winn Dixie doesn’t fit the demo for the development. Trader Joe’s is way too small for the footprint. Given the timeline, chatter around town, project design, and preexisting relationship, would eat my hat if it wasn’t Publix.

No joke, if they can pull it off, it would be genuinely transformational for the Northbank core. Changes the whole landscape and makes it so much easier to start really building the residential base and filling the vacant storefronts. Saw it firsthand in Fort Myers, where I grew up. The entire downtown core was catalyzed by the addition of an urban Publix.

[jaxjags]

Another good thing I see about this would be a pharmacy in DT.

[Jones518]

With all of the activity and investment dt, I think it’s safe to stop betting against downtown Jax…


This list doesn’t include:

Johnson commons progress in LaVilla
LEVS park completion
JU’s new college of Law
Decca Live opening
Hardwick bar
Starbucks returning to downtown
Lofts at Cathedral recently completed construction
Green leaf and Crosby building (former Jacob Jewelers) bringing Oak steakhouse and JWB relocating their headquarters
MOSH experiencing some delays but still moving forward 
The June private club building out in the historic federal Reserve building

Surrounding downtown developments (First and Main, Old Union Terminal Warehouse, Phoenix Arts District, Jax Armada Soccer field, etc.)

It's been a long time since we've seen construction, some with cranes in downtown urban core.

There is quietly a LOT going on at the moment.

Shipyards office tower topping out.

Four Seasons full steam ahead.

Rise Doro back in full construction.

Riverfront Plaza full speed.

VyStar garage retail going strong.

Two-waying of streets.

U2C concrete box control center nearly complete.

Whole Foods parcel still looks like it's getting ready to hopefully start soon.

Hub Brooklyn finally showing some progress.

Pearl Square full steam ahead.

Emerald Trail progressing nicely.

Artist Walk under construction.

Friendship Fountain/St. Johns Park making lots of progress in the last month.

Infrastructure work looking surprisingly awesome at Rivers Edge.

Next three years are gonna be wild too, with Shipwards West, Riverfront Plaza Phase II, MOSH 2.0, Metro Park, Stadium Renovations, the 22-story Publix-anchored Gateway Jax project, and potentially private development at Riverside Plaza all targeting a 2028 completion. Beyond that, the Emerald Trail is targeting full completion by 2030.

Things won't turn around overnight, but cannot imagine downtown not being a significantly more desirable place for private business and residents to call home over the next 3-5 years.

[jaxlongtimer]

Progress!

But a fly in the ointment is the lack of effective urban mass transit - not U2C or the hub and spoke but buses/street cars circulating through the urban core.

Other to dos:
- While green spaces are improving, I think more large spaces still need to be added to accommodate the goal of adding even more residents downtown and to host significant events to draw more downtown visitors.

- Improve historic preservation efforts.  Still too many buildings with character at risk even with the current restorations underway.

[Jones518]

Yes, I agree!


I honestly wish gateway was swapping the interline building for the land near the old county courthouse and the Hyatt not the old landing site…


It’s not set in stone yet, so plans could shift.


Mass transit is definitely a huge concern of mine for this city too…. I don’t think we missed our chance with U2C just yet even with the JTA autonomous building progressing. I wonder if Desantis is a fan of the project… I could see something oversight getting involved soon…

Progress!

But a fly in the ointment is the lack of effective urban mass transit - not U2C or the hub and spoke but buses/street cars circulating through the urban core.

Other to dos:
- While green spaces are improving, I think more large spaces still need to be added to accommodate the goal of adding even more residents downtown and to host significant events to draw more downtown visitors.

- Improve historic preservation efforts.  Still too many buildings with character at risk even with the current restorations underway.

[Shorey94]

Pour Taproom and Pizza Dynamo have entered the chat 

With all of the activity and investment dt, I think it’s safe to stop betting against downtown Jax…


This list doesn’t include:

Johnson commons progress in LaVilla
LEVS park completion
JU’s new college of Law
Decca Live opening
Hardwick bar
Starbucks returning to downtown
Lofts at Cathedral recently completed construction
Green leaf and Crosby building (former Jacob Jewelers) bringing Oak steakhouse and JWB relocating their headquarters
MOSH experiencing some delays but still moving forward 
The June private club building out in the historic federal Reserve building

Surrounding downtown developments (First and Main, Old Union Terminal Warehouse, Phoenix Arts District, Jax Armada Soccer field, etc.)

It's been a long time since we've seen construction, some with cranes in downtown urban core.

There is quietly a LOT going on at the moment.

Shipyards office tower topping out.

Four Seasons full steam ahead.

Rise Doro back in full construction.

Riverfront Plaza full speed.

VyStar garage retail going strong.

Two-waying of streets.

U2C concrete box control center nearly complete.

Whole Foods parcel still looks like it's getting ready to hopefully start soon.

Hub Brooklyn finally showing some progress.

Pearl Square full steam ahead.

Emerald Trail progressing nicely.

Artist Walk under construction.

Friendship Fountain/St. Johns Park making lots of progress in the last month.

Infrastructure work looking surprisingly awesome at Rivers Edge.

Next three years are gonna be wild too, with Shipwards West, Riverfront Plaza Phase II, MOSH 2.0, Metro Park, Stadium Renovations, the 22-story Publix-anchored Gateway Jax project, and potentially private development at Riverside Plaza all targeting a 2028 completion. Beyond that, the Emerald Trail is targeting full completion by 2030.

Things won't turn around overnight, but cannot imagine downtown not being a significantly more desirable place for private business and residents to call home over the next 3-5 years.

[Captain Zissou]

Pour Taproom and Pizza Dynamo have entered the chat 

Tony?

[Shorey94]

Pour Taproom and Pizza Dynamo have entered the chat 

Tony?

Dad?