Gateway Jax announces plans for ‘boutique’ office building in Pearl Square

[thelakelander]

Appearing at the Cuppa Jax speaker series at Riverplace Tower on the Downtown Southbank, Moll said Gateway Jax was planning 60,000 square feet of office space over 15,000 square feet of ground-floor retail at 331 W. Ashley St. across Ashley Street from the $45 million Block N11 mixed-use building at 515 N. Pearl St.

The warehouse property is identified as Block N9 on site plans for the first five blocks of Gateway Jax's $419 million Pearl Square project. It was not among the projects on four blocks of the district for which the city of Jacksonville approved $98.58 million in incentives in August 2024.

Full article: https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/news/2025/feb/26/gateway-jaxs-bryan-moll-announces-plans-for-boutique-office-building-in-pearl-square/

[copperfiend]

I must have some serious downtown PTSD. Every time I see a headline like this, my first thought is "yeah sure".

[Ken_FSU]

^I get it, but Pearl Square is moving along swiftly.

Drove by today:

[heights unknown]

Yep, I drove by there several times about a week ago, and it is in fact "full steam ahead" for (N11?) which is under construction, and, read that the next project/block will start turning dirt and being constructed in April of this year I believe. It's been a long time since we've seen construction, some with cranes in downtown urban core. I love it! Moll is a mole. Gateway Jax is a beast!

[Ken_FSU]

It's been a long time since we've seen construction, some with cranes in downtown urban core.

There is quietly a LOT going on at the moment.

Shipyards office tower topping out.

Four Seasons full steam ahead.

Rise Doro back in full construction.

Riverfront Plaza full speed.

VyStar garage retail going strong.

Two-waying of streets.

U2C concrete box control center nearly complete.

Whole Foods parcel still looks like it's getting ready to hopefully start soon.

Hub Brooklyn finally showing some progress.

Pearl Square full steam ahead.

Emerald Trail progressing nicely.

Artist Walk under construction.

Friendship Fountain/St. Johns Park making lots of progress in the last month.

Infrastructure work looking surprisingly awesome at Rivers Edge.

Next three years are gonna be wild too, with Shipwards West, Riverfront Plaza Phase II, MOSH 2.0, Metro Park, Stadium Renovations, the 22-story Publix-anchored Gateway Jax project, and potentially private development at Riverside Plaza all targeting a 2028 completion. Beyond that, the Emerald Trail is targeting full completion by 2030.

Things won't turn around overnight, but cannot imagine downtown not being a significantly more desirable place for private business and residents to call home over the next 3-5 years.

[acme54321]

, the 22-story Publix-anchored Gateway Jax project

Is that official?

[Ken_FSU]

, the 22-story Publix-anchored Gateway Jax project

Is that official?

Official that they've secured a grocer? Yes. Officially announced that it's Publix? No. Can't see a universe where it's anything else though. Bryan Moll came in confident that he could secure Publix. They've got the preexisting relationship from Tampa. In many way, it feels like the development was designed around the idea of a Publix anchor. And as recently as a couple of weeks ago, several members of the DIA believed it was Publix. Can't see Whole Foods or Fresh Market cannibalizing their sales a half mile away. Aldi/Winn Dixie doesn't fit the demo for the development. Trader Joe's is way too small for the footprint. Given the timeline, chatter around town, project design, and preexisting relationship, would eat my hat if it wasn't Publix.

No joke, if they can pull it off, it would be genuinely transformational for the Northbank core. Changes the whole landscape and makes it so much easier to start really building the residential base and filling the vacant storefronts. Saw it firsthand in Fort Myers, where I grew up. The entire downtown core was catalyzed by the addition of an urban Publix.

[jaxjags]

Another good thing I see about this would be a pharmacy in DT.

[Jones518]

With all of the activity and investment dt, I think it's safe to stop betting against downtown Jax...


This list doesn't include:

Johnson commons progress in LaVilla
LEVS park completion
JU's new college of Law
Decca Live opening
Hardwick bar
Starbucks returning to downtown
Lofts at Cathedral recently completed construction
Green leaf and Crosby building (former Jacob Jewelers) bringing Oak steakhouse and JWB relocating their headquarters
MOSH experiencing some delays but still moving forward 
The June private club building out in the historic federal Reserve building

Surrounding downtown developments (First and Main, Old Union Terminal Warehouse, Phoenix Arts District, Jax Armada Soccer field, etc.)

It's been a long time since we've seen construction, some with cranes in downtown urban core.

There is quietly a LOT going on at the moment.

Shipyards office tower topping out.

Four Seasons full steam ahead.

Rise Doro back in full construction.

Riverfront Plaza full speed.

VyStar garage retail going strong.

Two-waying of streets.

U2C concrete box control center nearly complete.

Whole Foods parcel still looks like it's getting ready to hopefully start soon.

Hub Brooklyn finally showing some progress.

Pearl Square full steam ahead.

Emerald Trail progressing nicely.

Artist Walk under construction.

Friendship Fountain/St. Johns Park making lots of progress in the last month.

Infrastructure work looking surprisingly awesome at Rivers Edge.

Next three years are gonna be wild too, with Shipwards West, Riverfront Plaza Phase II, MOSH 2.0, Metro Park, Stadium Renovations, the 22-story Publix-anchored Gateway Jax project, and potentially private development at Riverside Plaza all targeting a 2028 completion. Beyond that, the Emerald Trail is targeting full completion by 2030.

Things won't turn around overnight, but cannot imagine downtown not being a significantly more desirable place for private business and residents to call home over the next 3-5 years.

[jaxlongtimer]

Progress!

But a fly in the ointment is the lack of effective urban mass transit - not U2C or the hub and spoke but buses/street cars circulating through the urban core.

Other to dos:
- While green spaces are improving, I think more large spaces still need to be added to accommodate the goal of adding even more residents downtown and to host significant events to draw more downtown visitors.

- Improve historic preservation efforts.  Still too many buildings with character at risk even with the current restorations underway.

[Jones518]

Yes, I agree!


I honestly wish gateway was swapping the interline building for the land near the old county courthouse and the Hyatt not the old landing site...


It's not set in stone yet, so plans could shift.


Mass transit is definitely a huge concern of mine for this city too.... I don't think we missed our chance with U2C just yet even with the JTA autonomous building progressing. I wonder if Desantis is a fan of the project... I could see something oversight getting involved soon...

Progress!

But a fly in the ointment is the lack of effective urban mass transit - not U2C or the hub and spoke but buses/street cars circulating through the urban core.

Other to dos:
- While green spaces are improving, I think more large spaces still need to be added to accommodate the goal of adding even more residents downtown and to host significant events to draw more downtown visitors.

- Improve historic preservation efforts.  Still too many buildings with character at risk even with the current restorations underway.

[Shorey94]

Pour Taproom and Pizza Dynamo have entered the chat 

With all of the activity and investment dt, I think it's safe to stop betting against downtown Jax...


This list doesn't include:

Johnson commons progress in LaVilla
LEVS park completion
JU's new college of Law
Decca Live opening
Hardwick bar
Starbucks returning to downtown
Lofts at Cathedral recently completed construction
Green leaf and Crosby building (former Jacob Jewelers) bringing Oak steakhouse and JWB relocating their headquarters
MOSH experiencing some delays but still moving forward 
The June private club building out in the historic federal Reserve building

Surrounding downtown developments (First and Main, Old Union Terminal Warehouse, Phoenix Arts District, Jax Armada Soccer field, etc.)

It's been a long time since we've seen construction, some with cranes in downtown urban core.

There is quietly a LOT going on at the moment.

Shipyards office tower topping out.

Four Seasons full steam ahead.

Rise Doro back in full construction.

Riverfront Plaza full speed.

VyStar garage retail going strong.

Two-waying of streets.

U2C concrete box control center nearly complete.

Whole Foods parcel still looks like it's getting ready to hopefully start soon.

Hub Brooklyn finally showing some progress.

Pearl Square full steam ahead.

Emerald Trail progressing nicely.

Artist Walk under construction.

Friendship Fountain/St. Johns Park making lots of progress in the last month.

Infrastructure work looking surprisingly awesome at Rivers Edge.

Next three years are gonna be wild too, with Shipwards West, Riverfront Plaza Phase II, MOSH 2.0, Metro Park, Stadium Renovations, the 22-story Publix-anchored Gateway Jax project, and potentially private development at Riverside Plaza all targeting a 2028 completion. Beyond that, the Emerald Trail is targeting full completion by 2030.

Things won't turn around overnight, but cannot imagine downtown not being a significantly more desirable place for private business and residents to call home over the next 3-5 years.

[Captain Zissou]

Pour Taproom and Pizza Dynamo have entered the chat 

Tony?

[Shorey94]

Pour Taproom and Pizza Dynamo have entered the chat 

Tony?

Dad?

[urban_]

Looks like the Pearl Square district will be growing a bit bigger. Can't see this as anything but a good thing- these guys are activating the city. Notably, they've purchased the large auditorium from the Baptist church, and have announced that it'll be a 16-story apartment building with a grocery store anchoring at the bottom!! Across the street from the monorail station? Are you kidding? Incredible!
From Jax Daily Record on June 8th:

Gateway Jax says its Downtown Jacksonville development project has expanded to nine properties and a cost of $750 million. The original plan was for five properties and a $419 million investment.

N4: 425 Beaver St.
The seven-story mixed-use building at 425 Beaver St. will include 286 multifamily units, nearly 20,000 square feet of retail space and on-site parking. Gateway Jax broke ground May 29 on the building.

N5, N6: Pearl & Hogan garages retail and parking
The five-story lighthouse garage is at 721 N. Pearl St. Plans for what was called N5 show 15,277 square feet of commercial space on the ground floor facing Beaver Street to the south. The city is reviewing a permit application for work on retail shell space on the ground floor at an estimated project cost of $10.52 million. The lighthouse structure remains but the spire will be removed, a new lighthouse light will be provided and the exterior will be painted.

Next door is N6 at 712 N. Hogan St. Gateway Jax says it will have more than 1,400 parking spaces.

N7: 712 N. Hogan St.
The former First Baptist Church main auditorium, now called NoCo Center and the venue for "Beyond Van Gogh" and other exhibits, would be replaced by a 16-story apartment building with a full-service grocery store.

N9: 655 Pearl St.
A 60,000-square-foot "boutique" office building is planned at 655 Pearl St. with more than 15,000 square feet of ground-floor retail space. Gateway Jax says the space will be "designed for creative companies seeking flexibility, visibility, and walkability in the heart of Pearl Square."

N8: 440 Beaver St.
Plans for N8 specify a 22-story building connected with what appears to be a 13-story building and a three-story structure, totaling 198,181 square feet of space. The 544 rentals comprise 394 apartments and 150 furnished short-term units. It will feature a pool deck, full-service gym and ground-floor shops and restaurants. The city is reviewing a permit application for the estimated $145.21 million project.

N11: 515 Pearl St.
The seven-story building at 515 N. Pearl St. will comprise 205 apartment units and 24,086 square feet of retail, commercial and storage space. The city issued a construction permit in October 2025 project cost of $45 million.

A: Ambassador Hotel
Gateway Jax bought the block that comprises the vacant historic Ambassador Hotel and Central National Bank building in March for $14 million. It is partnering with The Indigo Road Hospitality Group to redevelop the hotel at 420 N. Julia St. Plans are to remodel the structure with a minimum of 100 guest rooms. It will have a high-end restaurant and bar, conference space and other amenities.

M: Porter House Mansion
The historic mansion is flanked by public spaces including a garden, lawn and Klutho's Alley. Henry J. Klutho was the architect for the mansion, built in 1902 by Thomas V. Porter, a businessman in wholesale groceries and a developer.

K: Klutho's Alley
The public space is named after Henry J. Klutho, the architect who helped rebuild Jacksonville after the Great Fire in 1901.

P: Pearl Square
Pearl Square is the public space at the center of the development.

Apologies for the long length. I wish I could show the map, if I could just remember how to post an image!