Gateway Jax Announces Ambassador Hotel Plans

[thelakelander]

Commercial real estate company to redevelop and integrate historic hotel building into Pearl Square.

Read More: https://www.thejaxsonmag.com/article/gateway-jax-announces-ambassador-hotel-plans/

[acme54321]

I'm pretty sure it's too far gone, but man it would be amazing if they could bring back that original façade to 404 Julia.

[thelakelander]

I believe there's been some discussion there. It will be cool to see this block finally rehabilitated.

[jaxlongtimer]

Old buildings have so much more character than today's buildings that are mostly cookie cutter, especially relatively smaller projects.  Back in the day, most any building was unique enough to be clearly identifiable as to its location, tenant and/or use.  Buildings were just as important in making a statement or conveying a business's identity as anything else.  Today, not so much.

Go to any office park and find something that really stands out.  Hard to do.

It is why historic structures are essential to making a City one-of-a-kind, full of character.  Not to mention the historic stories they bring with them that attract added interest from visitors.  Everyone likes a good story.  With all due respect to Gateway's project, their new buildings don't appear to be very unique looking.  Could be any-City, USA.  Same for most other newer projects.  Glad Gateway supports restoration where they can as it will add some "color" to their development.

[heights unknown]

Here here...agree wholeheartedly. Yes, history, stories, and personal memories from myself relative to this building. Back in the 80's never stayed at the hotel as it was run down and a rat hole; but I did frequent the bar down in the basement on the north end of the building. I was in my late 20's to early 30's back then and me and my posse LOL used to meet there, get drunk, and make much commotion there and elsewhere downtown. Downtown was tired and very lacking back then but there were some hole in the walls to frequent; and the bar in the basement of the Ambassador Hotel was one of them. I am glad that Gateway undertook this restoration project; I am sure we will see very busy action underway and happening very soon.

[Zac T]

Probably the first Gateway Jax project that I don't like from a design perspective. Not very inspiring and wish they would've included retail along Church Street. It is interesting that the garage is only taking up half the block. They must be planning something for the other half

The developers of Downtown's Pearl Square are seeking approval from the Downtown Development Review Board to build an eight-story parking structure west of the Ambassador Hotel.


In a June 5 application to the DDRB, Gateway Jax says it plans to construct a precast concrete garage with 480 spaces for the hotel, other Pearl Square properties, the Jacksonville Fire and Rescue Department and public.

...

Renderings show the north and west sides of the garage clad with metal and louvered panels that give them a checkered facade. The south wall will be painted with a mural, the design of which has not been determined.

The east wall, which abuts the hotel, is unadorned.

https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/news/2025/jun/20/gateway-jax-seeks-ddrb-approval-for-parking-garage-at-ambassador-hotel/

[Charles Hunter]

Agree on both counts - uninspiring design, and it should have street-level retail.

[Steve]

For me the design is whatever. It's not the best, but if you think this is bad, hold my beer and I'll show you the one at Ocean and Bay lol!

In terms of retail, I'd like to see the flow of the garage, and the DDRB agenda isn't posted yet. I see the vehicle entrance from the image. I'm wondering if what they did was keep that entry drive flat, and the incline from floor 1 to 2 is abutting Church Street.

If the structure of the garage is such that it can't be built later at least, then yea it seems like an odd choice.

[Ken_FSU]

Retail will be added when Suntrust Tower occupancy reaches 65%.

[Skybox111]

Probably may have retail but it says it will have 480 spaces for the hotel and public also jfrd so maybe not best have retail there and shouldn't have any on every building or on every block   over saturated when there is hardly anyone living there not many will care eat or shop at these place when they don't want to spend on many things or just don't care about those places. See how many right now are struggling to be there.

[Zac T]

You can include retail space when constructing the garage so when the market can support it, it is easy to build out. You can see this is in the JEA garage up the street which has unfinished retail space that can easily be built out.

Judging by Gateway's plans for the immediate vicinity, I don't think the issue is one of the market but more so of logistics as Steve pointed out. If the garage were taking up the whole block, I'm sure retail would've been included

[Ken_FSU]

I wish they would've included retail along Church Street. It is interesting that the garage is only taking up half the block. They must be planning something for the other half.

https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/news/2025/jun/26/ddrb-approves-design-for-ambassador-hotel-parking-garage/

Asked about plans for a lot abutting the bank building to the west, Moll said it tentatively will be the site of a high-rise residential building.

[thelakelander]

I asked about this at the beginning of the agenda item discussion. I wanted to hear what was being vetted for the entire block, as well as how this all would fit into the greater Pearl Street District. The answer provided was a good one IMO and the proposed garage wasn't exactly new. It was a slight improvement over what Augustine had already received final DDRB approval for in 2021. Same scale and footprint. The biggest difference is the Central National Bank  potentially being an expansion of the Ambassador Hotel (i.e. meeting rooms, conference space, etc.) and a residential highrise on the adjacent lot, as opposed to a mid-rise stick frame building.

[Charles Hunter]

Glad to see something happening there.

For the Garage, did they give any indication of considering a future extension of the retail along Church Street?

Just one question about the site plan aerial - there are two green areas on Church Street labeled "Urban Open Splace" - what is "splace"? 

[thelakelander]

I asked about the practicality of the proposed future retail spot. Bryan mentioned that they added a similar sized space at Water Street in Tampa. Its small, so they'll likely need to curate it as an extension of a future business in the adjacent hotel or future adjacent highrise tower. Of interesting note, they did show a master plan illustrating the conceptual layout for retail in the FBC garage between Julia and Hogan and for the grocery mixed-use replacement of the Homerdome. It was mentioned that both of those are anticipated to break ground in 2026.