DIA wants the Landing to start with a park

[Steve]

Random tactical question about the riverwalk and Phase 2 of this: Once the Music Heritage section and opens and the McCoy's creek section reopens (by like January/February I want to say), the entire riverwalk will be reconnected EXCEPT the Phase 2 area of Riverfront Plaza....which is like 2 years away.

Would it be possible to path a very quick/inexpensive route through the old Landing parking lot as to not just have a complete dead-end on both sides?

[thelakelander]

One would think that an easy temporary solution can be figured out to open the connection. COJ just needs to remember that isn't rocket science.

[tufsu1]

^ from what I have heard, there has been discussion on opening a temporary riverwalk path through the area

[Tacachale]

^ from what I have heard, there has been discussion on opening a temporary riverwalk path through the area

Stay tuned.

[Charles Hunter]

The JTA solution - Strap lots of 'pool floaties' to the NAVI vehicles and go around the gap via the river.

[acme54321]

^ from what I have heard, there has been discussion on opening a temporary riverwalk path through the area

You can already just walk around it by going under the MSB ramp but it's not signed at all.

[Ken_FSU]

Took my daughter a couple of nights ago to check out Phase I. You can argue whether a park is the best use for the space, but you cannot argue with how well it was executed. The playground space is so well done, and nothing about it feels on the cheap. Crazy how many cool features and overlooks the design team was able to include. Pretty brilliant too, the decision to shift the playground to atop the cafe building. When you think of how strong the park space on the river has become with Friendship Park, Riverfont Plaza, and RiversEdge this year, it is legit sick to think that we've still got Phase 2 of Riverfront Plaza, Phase 2 of St. John's Park, Shipyards West, Met Park, Musical Heritage Park, McCoys Creek Park, and greenspace at MOSH and the Four Seasons coming. Mentioned it in another thread, but this could genuinely be Jax's thing that we've needed for well over 50 years to give our downtown an identity and unique value prop.

[Jankelope]

They're doing the right things. They aren't cheaping out. Construction costs will always go up, so the sooner you build all these things, the better.

I think this is going to end up being the identity of the city for tourists, visitors, and locals. Things like Jazz festival become so exciting in this context. I can see many more signature events coming with dozens of boats and taxis taking people between the north and south bank.

Exciting stuff.

[Ken_FSU]

Per the JBJ, it looks like the restaurant parcel may be moving forward after all?

Riverfront Plaza Restaurant
The DIA will consider a resolution on terms, conditions and scoring for a parcel within Riverfront Plaza to be leased and operated by a restaurant. The city's newest park, which opened its first phase in December 2025, spans 7.75 acres and has an approximately 19,000-square-foot parcel set aside for a future food and beverage concept. The building will be an approximately 6,000-square-foot warm shell with about 3,000 square feet of outdoor space. After submission of proposals, which the city will score for up to 100 points, the chosen operator will enter a lease with the city and finish the buildout of the restaurant shell.

Awesome news, assuming the JBJ isn't confusing the cafe shell with the restaurant parcel.

https://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/news/2026/01/16/dia-meeting-preview.html

[Jankelope]

I think some advocacy organizations didn't like the idea of the Riverfront Restaurant because of how it could block potential river views from parts of the park. I think I can see both cases, but am ultimately in favor of the restaurant I think because of how it can complement the future retail, beer garden, public art (please LERP statue!), etc

This is not the park that is going to be a nature oriented experience. I really think Met Park is going for that and is looking like it's going to nail it. This is really a park that needs to be vibrant with many different experiences on offer.

I would love to get an update on how quickly they expect Phase 2 to move. We really need it done in 2026, but I know that is not likely.

[Charles Hunter]

Coincidentally, the same DIA Board meeting discussing the old MOSH building and the old Courthouse site, will also consider authorizing staff to request proposals for the Riverfront Restaurant lease.
Begins on page 53 of the agenda: https://dia.jacksonville.gov/cms/getattachment/4846c520-07fe-41a3-a8f3-fc6b027066c2/20260121_DIA-Board-Meeting-Agenda-Packet

[/quote]
XHIBIT 1
ERIVERFRONT PLAZA RESTAURANT OPERATOR
Detailed Proposal Submission Requirements
Introduction
The Downtown Investment Authority ("DIA") seeks proposals from qualified, experienced, and well-capitalized food and beverage operators to dispose of a leasehold interest and operate a destination restaurant at Riverfront Plaza in Downtown Jacksonville. The building will be approximately 6,000 square feet of first floor conditioned space, approximately 3,000 square feet of outdoor patio space and will consider a rooftop bar and/or seating area.
The DIA will build and deliver a warm dark shell and own the restaurant facility and intends to enter into a long-term lease with a third-party operator capable of delivering a high-quality, financially sustainable, and publicly engaging riverfront dining experience. The chosen operator will be responsible for contributing input to the design of the building and interior as well as providing all furniture, fixtures and equipment.
[/quote]

None of the agenda materials provide a schedule for the proposed solicitation.

[Ken_FSU]

I think some advocacy organizations didn't like the idea of the Riverfront Restaurant because of how it could block potential river views from parts of the park.

What's a bit odd to me, though I love the new space, is that the elevated central lawn does a pretty good by itself blocking river views from certain angles. After a decade or two of discussions about the need to open up the Landing in the center to allow river views from Laura Street, it's quite hard to even see the river from Laura Street because the central lawn is elevated. You just kind of see a grass mound. Was kind of surprised when the construction fencing came down that the river view was so obstructed.

[fieldafm]

After a decade or two of discussions about the need to open up the Landing in the center to allow river views from Laura Street, it's quite hard to even see the river from Laura Street because the central lawn is elevated. You just kind of see a grass mound. Was kind of surprised when the construction fencing came down that the river view was so obstructed.

That's because it was never about opening up Laura Street to a river view... it was always about settling a political grudge and getting Tony Sleiman out of the Landing. Period. End Of Sentence.

If anyone cannot admit that now, they are simply lying to themselves.

Going on seven years now, COJ has spent somewhere approaching $80MM now to acquire the Landing, evict tenants, tear down the Landing, prep the site, reconstruct a bulkhead that was less than 10 years old, tear down bridge ramps, reconstruct docks that were destroyed NINE years ago by a hurricane, redirect a street. build HALF of a park with an empty cafe space and still has an undeveloped parcel that was given to a developer for free because COJ didn't have the foresight to acquire a building (Interline Brands) from THEIR OWN Lessee once they vacated the building from a previously failed economic development agreement that tore down an entire Downtown neighborhood (LaVilla) 30 years ago.. and that aforementioned undeveloped riverfront parcel will require even more cash grants, property tax breaks, and the like to get built sometime in the next 5-10 years (fully supportive of the conceptual proposed use, FWIW).

Now DIA wants to spend BAGS of cash (that they dont have) to build another restaurant space where 7 riverfront restaurant spaces once stood as of six years ago. All but one of those 'nonviable' restaurant operators that were evicted (to quote a former City 'official') have opened new locations in North Florida after leaving the Landing (one even had the courage to open Downtown again). 

I've learned three unmistakable truths about Downtown:
1-Using taxpayer funds to tear down buildings for potential future 'uses' due to 'interest' has NEVER worked in DT Jax (yet even this week, DIA is still INSANELY choosing to do so).
2-DT suffers not because of lack of investment, but because decisions are made solely by and for the benefit of a group of connected people that simply use Downtown as an ATM machine
3-The City of Jacksonville (DIA, DDA, EDC, whatever the rebrand of the organization is) is Downtown's biggest slumlord and should be out of the business of being a landlord.

All three of those truths are front and center about Lenny's Lawn.

Its never, ever, ever been about a 'view corridor'.

The latest version of the DIA board, and the latest head of the DIA sure sounds a lot like every other version we've had.

[Ken_FSU]

Re: Sightlines.

Was just walking down Laura Street, and this is what I noted a few days back as being a little strange/unfortunate for an otherwise beautifully designed park.

The elevated central green pretty much destroys any view of the river from Laura Street. You honestly wouldn't even know the river was there. It's not an overly inviting view that pulls pedestrians in, IMO.

[Charles Hunter]

Is the 'mound' due to flooding concerns?