Riverfront Plaza, formerly the site of the Jacksonville Landing, is an open green space on the bank of the St. Johns River in the heart of Downtown. This space is managed by Jax Parks, the City of Jacksonville’s Parks and Recreation branch and is available for event permitting for large and small events.
The Future of Riverfront Plaza:
On January 20, 2021, the DIA released a Request for Proposal for the selection of qualified design firms and their consultants, who would participate in a design competition for the development of a vibrant and iconic public space on the premier waterfront site in Downtown Jacksonville now dubbed Riverfront Plaza, formerly The Jacksonville Landing. After a seven-month process, a tremendous amount of public engagement and three outstanding designs, the Perkins&Will design team was named winner of the Riverfront Plaza (FKA The Landing) Design Competition. Perkins&Will scored the highest among the final three teams, followed closely by Agency Landscape + Planning and OLIN, respectfully.
To learn more about the Perkins&Will design, visit: https://dia.coj.net/News/Perkins-Will-Wins-Riverfront-Plaza-(FKA-The-Landin.
The USS Orleck (DD 886) museum ship will feature a US Navy Cold War experience managed and programmed by the Jacksonville Historic Naval Ship Association (JHNSA).
Programming may include general museum visits/tours, scout troops/youth group sleepovers, conventions/reunions, school groups, etc. Project includes a temporary and mobile upland building which will house gift shop, admin offices and restrooms.
Investment: $2.8 Million
This project includes the development of a 325-unit, multi-family property located on the riverfront of Downtown’s Southbank. The development will boast multiple amenities and mixed-use components including two rooftop lounges for residents, a restaurant open to the public and a ship’s store to serve the boat ramp and marina. 20 out of 29 the marina slips will be made available for public transient use, with ten limited to four-hour use and ten made available for 48-hour use. The nine remaining slips will be used at the discretion of marina management, and the option to rebuild additional dockage will remain open.
The project is designed on 3.4 acres at Adams, Johnson, Lee and Forsyth streets in the historic Downtown neighborhood.
Johnson Commons, LLC has committed to the construction of a for-sale townhome residential community consisting of a minimum of 91 townhomes in Phase 1. All units will be offered as individual for sale product, adding to the diversity of residential options in the community. The Townhome units proposed by Johnson Commons will be three story (approximately 1400 square feet average) each with a one car garage. All 91 townhome units will be developed in single phase.
Phase 2 of the development will consist of a minimum of 10,000 square feet of stand-alone retail or a mixed-use product of multi-family residential and retail that includes a minimum of 10,000 square feet of retail on first floor. Vertical construction on Phase 2 will be commenced within 7 years of closing or property will revert. In the interim, this portion of the site will be developed as green space accessible to the adjacent Emerald Trail and maintained by the Developer. Future retail and or mixed use will face trail.
The Developer to has offered to make cash contribution to be used toward development of Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing park in the amount of $150,000, payable at closing.
In October of 2021, the Jacksonville City Council approved plans for a 176-room Four Seasons hotel with 25 residences, a 157,027 square-foot class A office tower and a City-owned marina. The five-star hotel will include resort amenities such as a spa, pool and meeting spaces.
Plans include a $4 million investment to Metropolitan Park.
Investment $301.2 Million
Previously envisioned by the City of Jacksonville within the proposal for the 2019 Community Development Block Grant (CDBG), the Hogan Street Cycle Track provides a missing connection between the Hogan Creek Greenway trail and the Northbank Riverwalk. The proposed trail begins on the northern end at Hogans Creek and interacts with the Florida State College at Jacksonville (FSCJ) campus as a shared-use street. The Hogan Street segment within Downtown will become cycle track along the west side of Hogan Street adjacent to the pedestrian sidewalk. The one-way roadway of Hogan Street will be modified to remove one of the two travel lanes. This proposed roadway modification and cycle track design is proposed from W. State Street south to Bay Street. The suggested design standard of the cycle track is to create a safe and inviting pedestrian and bicycle dominated corridor.
The final block from Water Street to the Northbank Riverwalk will have the cycle track and pedestrian area transition into a shared-use side path.
This Emerald Trail segment is the Artist Walk linear park space under the Fuller Warren Bridge from the St. Johns River across Riverside Avenue, Park Street, and College Street, ending at Riverside Park. The Artist Walk will include a public skate park, a multi-use trail connection, parking, pedestrian corridors, landscaping and other park amenities. It will support the Riverside Arts Market, which has been open between the river and Riverside Avenue since 2009, and a much needed public space for the COJ.
In 2015, the City of Jacksonville adopted a revised Community Redevelopment Area (CRA) plan for the Northbank of Downtown, which includes a specific project for the reintroduction of two-way street systems within the Northbank. Subsequent Mobility Plan Updates and other transportation projects have consistently carried forward this directive and funds have been set aside within the CRA to begin implementation.
The return to two way streets and resulting slower speeds are shown to stimulate economic growth and increase property values; facilitate more efficient use of on-street parking and ride share; enhance retail visibility and promote retail occupancy rates and success; improve walkability and increase pedestrian safety and pedestrian activity on the sidewalk; and increase residential demand and perceived quality of life for residents.
Forsyth Street and Adams Street are both identified as streets prioritized within the CRA Plan for two-way conversion. Segments of both streets lie within DIA’s targeted dining districts and their conversion to two-way streets complements other public and private redevelopment efforts.
The design phase of this project is underway.
This project provides modifications to existing roadway infrastructure within the Brooklyn Neighborhood to enhance pedestrian and bicycle connectivity and improve vehicular safety. Improvements include adding a cycle track (2-way bicycle traffic), on street parking, expanded sidewalk areas, reduced roadway widths for safer pedestrian crossings and the addition of street trees. The design intent for Park Street will provide a more multi-modal street within the urban core linking LaVilla and the Regional Transportation Center with the Five Points and Riverside neighborhoods. Enhanced pedestrian experiences will also promote economic development along the corridor. This project will connect Park Street to the Emerald Trail Model Project as well as McCoys Creek Greenway.
The Trio comprises of the 108-year-old Florida Life Building, the 111-year-old Bisbee Building and the 118-year-old Florida National Bank. Renovation will begin on the Laura Street Trio buildings adding a 140-room Marriott Bonvoy-Autograph Collection Hotel (including 86 hotel rooms in the historic buildings), a high-end “Sophisticated Southern” restaurant, a rooftop bar and parking garage.
This historic redevelopment project is a recipient of the DIA’s Downtown Preservation and Revitalization Program (DPRP). Learn more about the program here: http://dia.coj.net/DPRP.
Investment: $70.4 Million
