JTA approved to negotiate potential Gateway Jax, Corner Lot apartments

[thelakelander]

JTA 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/

[acme54321]

I had been wondering what was going on with the King's Ave site.

[Steve]

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.

[Jax_Developer]

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.

[thelakelander]

Just throw a path around the retention pond, landscape, and add a few amenities and call it a park.

[jaxoNOLE]

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.

[marcuscnelson]

The Emerald Trail Master Plan suggests expanding the sidewalk along the pond into a trail:



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.

[Ken_FSU]

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.

[thelakelander]

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.

[Captain Zissou]

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. 

[thelakelander]

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















Some scenes from the Orlando area that I used to visit when I was working a lot down there:

[Zac T]

The JTA Board unanimously approved the lease agreement with Gateway Jax

The 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/

[urban_]

Great TOD. In a tough spot between Union and State streets, though.

[thelakelander]

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.

[jaxlongtimer]

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  .