Downtown Development Update: What's rising, what's delayed

[OspreyGrad]

If someone looks at Downtown Jacksonville on Google Maps Terrain View and compare it with the rest of the city, they will see a giant heat island from all of the exposed concrete and asphalt. Even if we make the streets more walkable, it is too damn hot to be out there in the middle of the day for half of the year. The sabal palms are native to north Florida, but it is the wrong choice for street trees here. We need to replace them with native trees that provide adequate shade along the sidewalks and gathering areas. What is needed downtown are more businesses willing to move in and use existing vacant buildings. Provide them with financial incentives. Downtowns need to evolve with changing needs or else it suffers from urban decay.

[Zac T]

On a positive note for Laura Street, Starbucks is actively being built out and just applied for sign permits. Oak Steakhouse is actively being built out and just put up new signage. Permits have been applied for the build out of the stairs leading to the new basement speakeasy under Oak Steakhouse. Avant will start rehabbing Mag's Cafe and the adjacent 2 buildings in the next few months which will yield multiple new restaurant and retail spaces plus residential.

Arriete is still planning to move forward on their fine-dining restaurant concept in the BOA Tower as well as a possible deli concept where Akel's used to be. Becovic Management applied for permits for a coffee concept in The Barnett. They assumed the mortgage for the Laura Trio and are awaiting the outcome of the city's foreclosure suit and have active plans for multiple other prominent buildings in the area. Not sure what's up with Snyder but they were supposed to be moving forward with a pre-disposition phase as of February.

There's no doubt that 2023-2026 will be remembered as really bleak years for Downtown with a plethora of retail/restaurant closures and job losses but I think 2027-2030 will portray a different picture (at least for Laura Street) based on what is actively under construction and permitted right now