JTA approved to negotiate potential Gateway Jax, Corner Lot apartments

[Jax_Developer]

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

Premium 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:

1) 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...

2) 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

[heights unknown]

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.

[Zac T]

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

[Skybox111]

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.

[Ken_FSU]

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.

Keep your ears open this week.