Downtown Development Update: What's rising, what's delayed

[fsu813]

Any idea why DVI randomly decided to cancel Sip and Stroll through September? Feels like a popular event that always draws good foot traffic for local businesses. The DIA pushed through open container regulations for it. We finally have the riverfront parks open. Perfect time of year with schools out and daylight until 8:00 pm. Very hard to build momentum with start and stop on these things.

https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/news/2026/may/14/downtown-vision-incs-sip-stroll-event-to-go-on-summer-break/

They've done this the past 2 years as well. Severe weather + extreme heat made it difficult to continue in the summer months and turnout wasn't always great so they decided to focus on fall, winter, and spring when the weather is more cooperative

I feel like some of the design firms that have created our public spaces still think of shade as secondary or optional. Shade is pretty much *required* for any outdoor public space to be easily used 33% of the year.

I feel like that number is creeping up to 40%

I was understating it, lol.

[fsu813]

Good news for a big one:

https://www.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/news/2026/05/19/pearl-square-update-may-2026.html

Demo expected on the Gateway Jax Publix site next month.

Timely follow through is the antidote to pessimism and cynicism. Bravo.

[Jankelope]

it is kind of crazy to me because Gateway, although probably really great at what they do...is just what a normal developer should be doing.

When a developer ACTUALLY wants to build something in order to make money, they move heaven and earth to make it happen on time, or even ahead of schedule. And we have such a shortage of that kind of developer.

I am so grateful for their "get up and go" which has "got up and went" for many of our other developers.