12 months of City Infrastructure
Building of the brand new Kings Road bridge over McCoys Creek continues as part of the Emerald Path’s McCoys Creek Greenway phase between Lackawanna and downtown Jacksonville.
Whereas the initiatives might not draw the identical sort of media protection as a brand new NFL stadium or parks alongside the river, a powerful and resilient infrastructure community is critical to help the imaginative and prescient of a vibrant, pedestrian oriented city core. Whereas it could take a while to see a number of new tower cranes rise in downtown, lots of of thousands and thousands will proceed to be invested in “full streets” initiatives all through the city core. In downtown, the lengthy awaited plan to two-way Forsyth and Adams streets ought to decide up steam and the Park Road highway weight loss planought to be accomplished later this 12 months. With its first phase, the LaVilla Hyperlink, accomplished in 2024, two further segments of the Emerald Path, the McCoys Creek Greenway and Hogan Road Cycle Monitor will proceed to progress this 12 months.
The Florida Division of Transportation (FDOT) can be closely investing within the city core’s infrastructure community with the widening of Interstate 10 between Interstates 95 and 295 within the westside and Interstate 95 in Englewood between Atlantic and College Boulevards. FDOT may also full roadway enchancment initiatives at Hendricks Avenue and San Marco Boulevard in San Marco and Essential Road in Springfield. The primary of a collection of pedestrian security enchancment initiatives deliberate for Kings Highway between Edward Waters College and Interstate 95 in Durkeeville may also start.
Meant to facilitate freight motion at riverfront port amenities within the Eastside, building will proceed on a new railroad line in Longbranch that can embrace grade separated crossings at Evergreen Avenue and Wigmore Road.
Adaptive Reuse will nonetheless drive Northbank development
A $9 million allow has been issued to rehabilitate the Jones Furnishings Firm constructing into 28 flats and 1,700-square-feet of co-working house.The mission is being developed by a subsidiary of Nook Lot Improvement Group.
Adaptive reuse is outlined because the observe of repurposing an present constructing for a distinct use than its unique supposed function, primarily giving new life to previous buildings by renovating them to serve a brand new perform whereas preserving their historic and architectural worth, as a substitute of demolishing them; it’s thought-about a sustainable design technique that helps preserve assets and cultural heritage.
As Florida’s oldest giant metropolis, Jacksonville’s assortment of historic buildings are one of many metropolis’s most vital distinctive belongings. In 2025, the adaptive reuse of present buildings and underutilized areas will proceed to drive development and improvement within the Northbank. Main adaptive reuse initiatives that can both be beneath building or accomplished downtown embrace Decca Reside, Jones Brothers Furnishings Firm, the Jacksonville Historical past Middle, LaVilla Place, 1037 Hendricks Avenue, and The June. Main adaptive reuse initiatives simply outdoors of downtown’s limits embrace the Union Terminal Warehouse Firm, Phoenix Arts & Innovation District and Made on the Armory.
Downtown turns into a restaurant magnet
The Co-op Frosé & Eatery will likely be situated within the not too long ago rehabilitated historic Florida Baptist Conference Constructing.
For years, many downtown revitalization advocates have dreamed of streets lined with eating places and sidewalk cafés. Along with the eating places and bars already open downtown, a number of latest eating places will both open or break floor in Jacksonville’s central enterprise district in 2025. New meals and beverage ideas within the Northbank embrace Child Obtained Brunch, The Co-op Frosé & Eatery, Dorothy’s Downtown, The Oak Steakhouse, and Pour Taproom. Downtown ideas headed to Brooklyn and LaVilla embrace Alder & Oak, Blueberry Bakery, Daring Metropolis Brewery, Jersey Mike’s Subs, Gamers Grille Restaurant & Bar , and Southern Grounds & Firm. Anticipate many extra bulletins not talked about right here to happen all through the remainder of the 12 months.
Editorial by Ennis Davis, AICP. Contact Ennis at edavis@moderncities.com