QuoteJTA approved to negotiate potential Gateway Jax, Corner Lot apartment developments
The Jacksonville Transportation Authority can now engage in lease negotiations for potential apartment developments Downtown at the Rosa Parks Transit Station and on the Southbank near the Kings Avenue Parking Garage.
At its Dec. 14 meeting, the JTA board authorized staff to begin negotiations with the developers of the Gateway Jax Downtown redevelopment project for the Rosa Parks property and Corner Lot Development Group for the Kings Avenue site.
Full article: https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/news/2023/dec/14/jta-approved-to-negotiate-potential-gateway-jax-corner-lot-apartment-developments/
I had been wondering what was going on with the King's Ave site.
I realize this would be more expensive, but wouldn't it be better for the area if JTA/Corner Lot, "swapped" the retention pond on Kings Ave with the site at Montana and Manning? I just think the synergy with the other things on King would make it more vibrant.
Quote from: Steve on December 15, 2023, 03:30:25 PM
I realize this would be more expensive, but wouldn't it be better for the area if JTA/Corner Lot, "swapped" the retention pond on Kings Ave with the site at Montana and Manning? I just think the synergy with the other things on King would make it more vibrant.
Way too complex for JTA lol. They got the entitlements for this from an old foreclosure, and would assume they are just doing what's easy for them but agree that your idea is much more ideal.
Just throw a path around the retention pond, landscape, and add a few amenities and call it a park.
Quote from: thelakelander on December 15, 2023, 08:08:28 PM
Just throw a path around the retention pond, landscape, and add a few amenities and call it a park.
Lake Ella in Tallahassee is a great example. Love that little park.
The Emerald Trail Master Plan suggests expanding the sidewalk along the pond into a trail:
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On a broader note, both of these projects seem like good ideas. I'm sure JTA is pointing to them as examples of success from the U2C TOD study, which is probably not realistic, but nonetheless it's new housing that will have access via transit to much of Downtown's amenities, and critically provide revenue to JTA for transit operations. It also leverages existing parking garages instead of building more, which is great for efficient utilization of those garages and leaves more land available for housing and other uses.
They've been trying to lease these parcels for nearly four years now, so it's wonderful to finally see interested parties.
Quote from: jaxoNOLE on December 15, 2023, 09:12:17 PM
Quote from: thelakelander on December 15, 2023, 08:08:28 PM
Just throw a path around the retention pond, landscape, and add a few amenities and call it a park.
Lake Ella in Tallahassee is a great example. Love that little park.
EXACTLY the example that I had in mind.
So many happy memories there.
Beautiful little spot.
Central Florida is also full of the Lake Ella type of parks. You can find these examples all over Lakeland, Winter Haven, Orlando, St. Petersburg, etc. I agree, the pond can be improved into a public amenity with infill uses surrounding it.
Quote from: thelakelander on December 20, 2023, 08:35:56 AM
Central Florida is also full of the Lake Ella type of parks. You can find these examples all over Lakeland, Winter Haven, Orlando, St. Petersburg, etc. I agree, the pond can be improved into a public amenity with infill uses surrounding it.
I was in the Winter Park/Thornton Park/Baldwin Park areas of Orlando 2 weeks ago and I was very impressed with the greenspace and public infrastructure. Used multiple public garages and enjoyed a couple Christmas markets and farmers markets that were either in parks or in closed roadways adjacent to parks. I went for a run in Blue Jacket park and along the trail around lake Baldwin. 2 continuous miles of uninterrupted green space and I didn't even make it all the way around the lake. I ran 4 miles and crossed only 3 very low traffic streets. It was fantastic. If I was in better shape, it could have been a 5.5 mile run through the park and around the lake with the same 3 crossings.
The lake loops are huge overlooked amenity down there. Lakeland has a 26-mile urban lake-to-lake trail that basically links multiple lake loop trails with shared use paths and dedicated bike/jogging facilities on low traffic neighborhood streets. Doesn't get the publicity of trail networks in the larger cities but is well used and popular amongst the locals.
https://www.lakelandgov.net/media/3727/bicycling-bike-brochure-inside-2016.pdf
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Cities/Lakeland---Winter-Haven/Lakeland---November-2021/i-2JfTH6h/0/256938ab/L/20211126_134323-L.jpg)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Cities/Lakeland---Winter-Haven/Lakeland---November-2021/i-d3N9P3S/0/aabb4a04/L/20211126_134530-L.jpg)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Cities/Lakeland---Winter-Haven/Lakeland---November-2021/i-7t4QBJp/0/ed42363c/L/20211126_140704-L.jpg)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Cities/Lakeland---Winter-Haven/Lakeland---November-2021/i-wtqchBC/0/227c7803/L/20211126_141649-L.jpg)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Cities/Lakeland---Winter-Haven/Lakeland---November-2022/i-WRW3qhZ/0/9c397c02/L/20221125_153103-L.jpg)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Cities/Lakeland---May-2021/i-tSr35KF/0/9cc97d54/L/20210522_130046-L.jpg)
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Some scenes from the Orlando area that I used to visit when I was working a lot down there:
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Cities/Orlando/Kissimmee---November-2021/i-pnjNS7D/0/1ab53e98/L/20211127_161600-L.jpg)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Cities/Orlando/Kissimmee---November-2021/i-mhhLQrs/0/767da93d/L/20211127_161803-L.jpg)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Cities/Orlando/Kraft-Azalea-Garden-Winter-Park/i-LS6q2Jw/0/3cda6e6b/L/20180313_185852-L.jpg)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Cities/Orlando/Lake-Eola-Park-November-2019/i-vpM3jcV/0/1c18b391/L/DSCF5666-L.jpg)
(https://photos.smugmug.com/Cities/Orlando/Lake-Eola-Park-November-2019/i-qHjfXwC/0/bffde3d2/L/DSCF5626-L.jpg)
The JTA Board unanimously approved the lease agreement with Gateway Jax
QuoteThe Jacksonville Transportation Authority board approved a ground lease with Gateway Jax that would allow the Downtown developer to build apartments and commercial space on a lot near the Rosa L. Parks Transit Station.
The JTA board voted 5-0 on July 1 in favor of terms of a 99-year lease in which Gateway Jax would pay $110,000 in rent the first year, with 2% increases every year thereafter, for the 1.47-acre lot.
The vacant lot is bordered to the west by the station, to the north by State Street, to the east by Laura Street and to the south by Union Street.
The agreement calls for Gateway to build 250 residential units and 5,000 square feet of commercial space on the property. The developer would pay a $50,000 deposit and would be required to begin construction within 720 days, almost two years, after execution of the agreement.
Construction would need to be completed in 26 months after it begins.
Under terms of the agreement, which has yet to be signed, Gateway would dedicate 15% of the residential units for workforce housing.
https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/news/2025/jul/01/jta-board-approves-lease-agreement-with-gateway-jax/
Great TOD. In a tough spot between Union and State streets, though.
Lots of untapped potential with State and Union. All that traffic is great visibility and economic opportunity. With a decent amount of urban infill, it could become one of the hotter spots in the urban core.
Are State and Union candidates for a road diet program? Get all greens and its 50+ mph today. Really, more like an extension of the Arlington Expressway ;D.
Quote from: urban_ on July 02, 2025, 01:31:14 PM
Great TOD. In a tough spot between Union and State streets, though.
Sadly, we only have three TOD eligible stations in Jacksonville and none are downtown. Two for the Mayport Ferry, and one for the Amtrak station on the Northside. I mentioned years ago how LeAnna Cumber was working very hard to find solutions with city leaders & JTA on how a minor Skyway expansion could qualify the U2C stations for federal TOD dollars (Miami's Metromover qualified for example). That ship sailed when JTA publicly announced the replacement of the skyway with the U2C. All current "TOD" projects simply utilize CCBD zoning. I don't believe a single parcel has attempted to utilize the TOD overlay.
https://www.transportation.gov/buildamerica/about/resources-mode/interactive-map-tifia-and-rrif-tod-eligibility
JTA has tried their best to craft their own definition of TOD's that don't meet any federal guidelines & is once again, unique! #innovation
QuotePremium transit station means a transit station served by either a fixed guideway service, such as BRT, rail, or the Skyway/U2C, or a station serving as a mobility hub.
(per section 656.1406 of COJ Ordinances)
Per the Federal Transportation Department:
Quote1) What types of projects are eligible for RRIF TOD loans?
An eligible purpose for RRIF loans is to "finance economic development, including commercial and residential development, and related infrastructure and activities, that (i) incorporates private investment of greater than 20 percent of total project costs; (ii) is physically connected to, or is within ½ mile of, a fixed guideway transit station, an intercity bus station, a passenger rail station, or multimodal station, provided that the location includes service by a railroad...
Quote2) Per FTA's NTD Reporting Policy Manual, "bus rapid transit" means "fixed-route bus systems that operate at least 50 percent of the service on fixed guideway. These systems also have defined passenger stations, traffic signal priority or preemption, short headway bidirectional services for a substantial part of weekdays and weekend days; low-floor vehicles or level-platform boarding, and separate branding of the service. Agencies typically use off-board fare collection as well."
As JLT said in the other thread, I'm just tired of the BS with JTA. Another federal program we will never have the ability to qualify for. #FutureOfMobility #InnovationInMotion #CommunityDriven
Awesome; however, I agree that it does, to me, seem uncanny, out of context, and possibly out of the norm for apartments to be placed at this location. However, with Pearl Development Gateway making waves not too far away, maybe, for many blocks that surrounding area might catch "development cold" LOL.
It won't be out of context when completed as it is a part of a much bigger development. Across Union Street is the site of the proposed grocer and apartment tower from Gateway Jax. They also own the property directly across Laura Street as well as the property on the NE corner of Laura and State Streets. This seems to be their next focus area after Pearl Square
Tell me this does the agreement say they have to build on the whole property or could they build 250 units and scale up on one end of the lot and build another building with more units next to it.
Quote from: Zac T on July 03, 2025, 11:16:27 PMIt won't be out of context when completed as it is a part of a much bigger development. Across Union Street is the site of the proposed grocer and apartment tower from Gateway Jax.
Keep your ears open this week.