Development Updates

Current Status: Proposed

Ron Chamblin’s next chapter Downtown is developing the building at 225 N. Laura St., next to his bookstore, into apartments and a restaurant. “It’s going to be another building that will be occupied and renovated and used,” said Chamblin. Chamblin proposes to convert the three-story, 6,500-square-foot building into four apartments on the upper two floors and a restaurant on the first floor.

Current Status: Approved

Augustine Development Group plans to renovate this building, originally built in 1927, at 404 North Julia Street and construct a new, eight-story apartment building with an attached eight-story parking deck. Plans call for the renovation of the former bank into the main lobby of the complex to include an additional 36 residential apartments within the historic structure and add a projected 5,769 square-feet of commercial/retail space on the ground floor, including 3,240 square-feet of leasable space projected to be occupied by a fitness center. The new construction proposes an eight-story residential apartment complex that will provide 103 apartments along with an eight-story parking deck which will provide an estimated 450 parking spaces. Investment: $52.5 million (renovation and new construction) 

Current Status: Recently Completed

The St. Elmo W. Acosta Bridge spans the St. Johns River in Jacksonville, Florida on a fixed span. LED lights that can be programmed in any color (with the option for multiple color combinations) were recently installed on the Acosta Bridge, replacing neon tubes installed 20-plus years ago. The new LED lights can be changed for special events, like holidays and Jaguar games! The new LED system cost $2.6 million and was installed by Miller Electric.

Current Status: Under Construction

Augustine Development Group purchased five lots totaling 1.5 acres for $5.4 million in July 2018. The group has begun work to convert the long-vacant, historic Ambassador Hotel into a 120-room hotel property with a nationally recognized flag. The phases following include plans for a 200-unit apartment building (known as the Central National Bank building) and parking garage to further benefit the needs of the Independent Life Insurance Building renovation, also underway on the same street. Investment: $18.5 million (hotel only)

Current Status: In Review

This proposed riverfront development includes 332 multi-family units, a sky garden terrace with retail and park access (including a 7,500 square-foot restaurant and amenities such as a daycare), publicly-accessed food and beverage venue on the 44th floor with park and river views, a 1,500 square-foot Civic Stairs Cafe with indoor and outdoor seating, and a parking garage. Investment: $176 Million

Current Status: Approved

This project includes the construction of a 4-story, 340 multi-family development near the RiversEdge development on Downtown's Southbank with an attached 4-level, 425-space parking garage.

Current Status: Under Construction

Ashley Square will be a six-story senior housing community in Downtown’s Cathedral District. Tampa-based Blue Sky Communities LLC and nonprofit Aging True Community Senior Services are converting a 1.03-acre parking lot into 96 one-bedroom, 650-square-foot units and 24 two-bedroom, 900-square-foot units. The lot is bordered by Beaver, Ashley and Newnan streets, west of the Stevens Duval Apartments. The site plan also calls for a 160-space, ground-level parking garage with the apartments built above it. Investment: $15 Million

Current Status: Recently Completed

The $1.2 million JWB Real Estate Capital project brings 18 multifamily units to the 0.13-acre lot located at 412 E. Ashley St. in the Cathedral District. Rents for the roughly 320-square-foot studio apartments will start at $550. Each shipping container costs between $60,000 and $70,000.

Current Status: Under Construction

The Baptist Convention building was constructed in 1924, by Jacksonville famed Architect Henry John Klutho, and is a National Historic Landmark Building. The building has been abandoned for approximately 40+ years and will follow NPS guidelines for historic renovations. JWB Real Estate Companies will convert the Baptist Convention Building to a mixed-use facility, comprised of two future mercantile suites, future restaurant spaces, and 24 studio and 1-bedroom apartments. 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: $10.8 Million

Current Status: Approved

This collaboration with the Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA), City, North Florida TPO, JEA and JAX Chamber will create a national model for the deployment of autonomous vehicles. The existing Skyway will be converted and smart technologies such as dynamic signals, connected intersections, integrated data exchange, pedestrian sensors, flood warning sensors and power consumption reduction will be installed. In August 2021, JTA selected Balfour Beatty Vision 2 Reality (V2R) team to deliver the Bay Street Innovation Corridor project on behalf of the JTA. Investment: $350 Million