Development Updates

Current Status: In Review

Jacksonville-founded Pearl Hospitality Group is in talks to redevelop the 927 Events building into a Japanese listening bar named Koto. The concept is still being finalized, but as of summer 2025, Koto would span two stories with a live vinyl listening bar on the second floor and an izakaya — basically a pub — on the first floor. The first floor would have a more casual dining experience with a 1960s- to 1980s-inspired feel and offer drinks with small bites. Listening bars have been popular in Japan since the 1950s, generally described as cafes with high-quality stereo equipment where customers listen to records from a library behind the bar. In the past decade, the concept made its way to America — sometimes called a hi-fi bar — and several have emerged in New York, Los Angeles, and other cities.

Current Status: Proposed

SouthEast Development Group is planning the adaptive reuse of three historic buildings for a 143-room Marriott Bonvoy – Autograph Collection Hotel and 29,000 SF of retail to include a high-end “Sophisticated Southern” restaurant, a 4,400 SF bodega, a rooftop bar, plus a parking garage. A second phase will construct 169 apartments and 6,550 SF of retail space. Investment: $178,865,000 Status: In review

Current Status: Under Construction

Silver Street Management's development team intends to convert the former funeral home into 13 apartments and a retail space that could potentially become a restaurant, coffee shop, or wine bar. The developer also plans to add a courtyard, swimming pool, and parking lot just west of the building. Total Development Cost: $4.98 million

Current Status: Approved

Columbia Ventures is planning a five-story, 342 unit apartment building with 8,338 SF of restaurant and retail space, and 450 parking spaces on a vacant Brooklyn parcel. Investment: $100 million Status: In review

Current Status: Recently Completed

Lettuce Eat is slated to serve up healthy lunches and late night grub by mid-July at 333 Bay St. It will be a salad bar restaurant founded by a contractor aimed at construction crews, offering a healthy alternative for fast-casual lunch. The concept fills a 2,900-square-foot space with about 50 seats to accommodate lunch patrons who can pay by the pound from a “big boy” salad bar. For late night visitors, Lettuce Eat will offer hot, quick food like ramen noodles and hot dogs. Company logos adorn the interior wall space, sponsorships from trade schools and construction vendors that represent the restaurant's target market and aspiration to serve as a hub for homeowners to access vetted contractors while driving business blue collar businesses. Lettuce Eat will be open daily from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. and from 4 to 8 p.m. On weekends, Lettuce Eat will also open for late night bites from 11 p.m. to 2 a.m.

Current Status: Recently Completed

Lift Ev'ry Voice and Sing Park is a City of Jacksonville public park honoring brothers James Weldon Johnson and J. Rosamond Johnson, two of Jacksonville's most influential and internationally renowned cultural icons, who wrote the hymn “Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing” in the early 1900s at their home in Jacksonville. Called the “Black National Anthem” by the NAACP, the Johnson Brothers’ powerful hymn has been sung and performed across generations throughout the past 125 years. Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing Park was designed by world-renowned MacArthur Foundation “Genius Grant” recipient Walter Hood to incorporate elements of the Johnson brothers’ and LaVilla’s cultural and built history while making space for a more inclusive future.

Current Status: Recently Completed

Come explore Lofts at Cathedral, a new affordable community in the heart of Downtown Jacksonville. A wide array of studio, one-, and two-bedroom apartments are offered, equipped with amenities like contemporary kitchens, stylish appliances, impressive floor plans, and spectacular views. The buildings also offer a fitness center and beautiful historic resident lounge for relaxing. Controlled access entry, superb on-site maintenance, and an accommodating animal-friendly policy ensure residents' comfort. Vestcor has added 120 workforce housing apartments to the Cathedral District through the renovation of the former YWCA building and construction of a new, adjacent structure. Investment: $39 million Status: Leasing

Current Status: Approved

The Lofts at Southbank is a 10-story mixed-use building with ground floor retail, office, restaurant, or other commercial programming; personal property self-storage uses on floors three through six; and about 100 multi-family residential units on floors seven through 10. The $38.8 million project, led by Jacksonville-based Vestcor, is located at Prudential Drive and Hendricks Avenue at the site of a closed restaurant at 1004 Hendricks Ave.

Current Status: Under Construction

A companion to the adjacent Four Seasons development, the development includes a mixed-use marina support building with a dockmaster office, restrooms, storage, retail space, a laundry room, a manager’s office, other office area, and a restaurant. It will be a roughly 6,000-square-foot building that included a 1,847-square-foot restaurant space with 72 indoor seats and 40 outdoor seats. An event lawn, located in between the office tower and support building, and adjacent Riverwalk improvements are also included. Access to the marina will be via the Riverwalk, hotel, event lawn, and office tower.

Current Status: Approved

Situated in the heart of Downtown, the luxury hotel connects you with Jacksonville’s most popular cultural and business districts. Relax poolside with dramatic views of the river and skyline or at the J Bar and Juliette’s. With convenient access to EverBank Field, Times Union Center, VyStar Veteran’s Memorial Arena and other popular attractions, the Jacksonville River City Downtown Hotel puts you in the midst of the excitement of the River City. Announced January 2025: Marriott Jacksonville Downtown received permitting approval for a $6 million facelift for guest rooms and corridors on floors four through 16. Plans show about 154,000 square feet of the 287,000-square-foot hotel will be renovated.