The Downtown Investment Authority seeks to attract investment, facilitate job creation and increase residential density through capital investment, planning, marketing, and public-private partnerships including the provision of incentives.
A University of Florida Board of Trustees committee selected the area around the Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center as the site for the university’s planned graduate center campus in Jacksonville.
The Committee on Governance, Government Relations and Internal Affairs voted unanimously Dec. 12 to select the site and delegate authority to the university president and board chair to negotiate an agreement to convey the property.
The full board will vote on the matter Dec. 13.
A presentation to the committee included renderings and conceptual site plans showing UF buildings immediately north of the Union Terminal Station and west to the Forsyth Street exit of Interstate 95.
Includes Florida Semiconductor Institute
A news release from the city of Jacksonville said the campus is expected to open in fall 2026 and would include the Florida Semiconductor Institute.
The release said graduate degree offerings were being finalized, but areas under consideration include business management; data analytics; computer science with concentrations in artificial intelligence and cybersecurity; law; and biomedical and health sciences.
UF says enrollment at the fully built-out campus could reach 20,000 or more.
Mayor Donna Deegan plans to work with the Downtown Investment Authority and City Council to provide 22 acres, the release said. With the Florida Semiconductor Institute as part of the campus, the administration will propose $50 million in city funding for the project on top of $50 million committed by City Council in the spring of 2023.
In a question-and-answer session at City Hall with reporters after the committee’s vote, Deegan said the initial conveyance would involve two vacant city-owned properties next to the convention center.
Additional properties
Deegan said UF was working to secure a property other than those two, possibly an existing building, where it would begin offering classes in the fall of 2026.
UF had negotiated with JEA for a short-term lease of space on the fifth floor of the municipal utility’s headquarters building at 225 N. Pearl St., but a JEA spokeswoman said a deal had not been reached.
UF announced nearly two years ago that it planned to open a graduate school focusing on health and financial technology in Downtown Jacksonville.
Since then, $250 million in funding has been committed to the project, comprising $150 million from the state of Florida, the $50 million from the city of Jacksonville and $50 million from private donors.
Deegan said the campus would be “another monumental step towards Jacksonville being a national leader in the industries that will shape our collective future.”
Mori Hosseini, chair of the UF Board of Trustees, said: “Our goal is to create a national center of excellence and to bring our bright students to this forward-thinking city. We are grateful for our strong partnerships with the state, city, and community leaders – we are going to do big things together.”
Jacksonville 'on the forefront of innovation'
UF interim President Kent Fuchs said, “Jacksonville – like UF – is on the forefront of innovation.”
“This is a place where our students will create great change and help transform the industries of the future,” he said.
The property near the convention center was among three that had been publicly identified as sites being considered by UF, including the soon-to-be vacated Jacksonville Fairgrounds and land near the Florida State College at Jacksonville Downtown campus.
Deegan recommended the convention center site in a Dec. 5 letter to Fuchs and Hosseini. In the letter, she said the city would work with the university on terms of conveyance “so that design, planning, and construction can begin as quickly as possible in 2025.”
The Daily Record has requested details on the parcels under consideration from the city.
During the committee meeting, Hosseini commended Deegan, Council members and Jacksonville business development officials for driving the project forward.
“The leaders of Jacksonville kept on pushing us, (saying), ‘Come on, let’s go,’” he said. “That’s so admirable. We all think governments are slow and never move. But they did an impressive job.”
Why LaVilla
Kurt Dudas, UF vice president for strategic initiatives, told committee members that the president’s office recommended the Prime Osborn site based partly on its proximity to interstates 10 and 95 and to businesses in Brooklyn and the Downtown core.
Other reasons included the nearby availability of public transportation out of the Jacksonville Transportation Authority’s headquarters, and the presence of public amenities such as Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing Park and the Emerald Trail Model Mile.
David Norton, UF vice president for research, said locating the Florida Semiconductor Institute in Jacksonville offered an opportunity for it to become a “world-class research facility” specializing in national security. Florida lawmakers approved $80 million for the institute this year.
“The accessibility of Jacksonville with direct flights into Washington, D.C., make it much more attractive for us to really build-out something new that will be competitive to what other universities across the country have already built-out in the area of national security,” he said.
Prompted by a question from Hosseini, Norton indicated the institute’s economic impact could eventually be in the hundreds of millions of dollars.
Jaguars reaction
The Jacksonville Jaguars issued a statement calling the committee’s vote “a moment of celebration” for team owner Shad Khan and his family. The Khan family donated $5 million toward landing the campus and had offered the 14.1-acre Fairgrounds property, which in 2022 it agreed to purchase.
“Growing Downtown Jacksonville to be a versatile center for commerce, education, entertainment and lifestyle is a priority for the Jacksonville Jaguars,” the statement read.
“With today’s news from the University of Florida on the location of their graduate studies campus and Florida Semiconductor Institute, our downtown is one step closer to that reality.”
Demolition in future
Deegan said that eventually the newer portions of the convention center, not including the historic train station, could be demolished to make way for the campus.
However, she told reporters that plans involving the demolition would be years away, allowing time for the city to develop a new convention center. likely at a site near the current Duval County jail.
“In terms of the convention center itself, that is probably 10 years down the road,” she said.
“You’ll have another mayor to beat up on, probably, by that time.”
Conveying properties
Deegan said the city’s timeline called for the Downtown Investment Authority to vote in January 2025 on conveying the initial two properties.
The city said the DIA vote would be on six parcels, five of which make up one of the lots.
The properties involved in the DIA vote in January are a grass parking lot directly north of the train station and an adjacent paved parking lot to the east, across Park Street.
Five properties comprise the block of Bay, Forsyth and Lee streets and LaVilla Center North totaling 1.33 acres.
The sixth property is 2.26 acres next to the east at Bay, Forsyth and Lee streets
“At the end of the day, a lot of space that we’ve had sitting around doing nothing and providing no tax benefit to the city is going to be a vibrant part of our Downtown,” she said.
In March 2024, the State University System Board of Governors approved UF’s plan to establish the school.
UF followed up by negotiating with JEA for a short-term lease of space on the fifth floor of the municipal utility’s headquarters building at 225 N. Pearl St.
A JEA spokeswoman said Dec. 11 that no agreement had been reached.
The UF colleges participating in the establishment of the facility include the Warrington College of Business; the Herbert Wertheim College of Engineering; the College of Medicine; the College of Public Health and Health Professions; the Levin College of Law; and the College of Design, Construction and Planning.
Plans unveiled in 2023
Plans for UF to establish the school in Jacksonville were unveiled in February 2023, long enough ago that two of the principals then are no longer involved.
Mayor Lenny Curry’s term ended in July 2023 and UF President Ben Sasse resigned in July 2024 after 17 months on the job, the shortest term of any non-interim president in the university’s history.
Hosseini, a strong proponent of the proposed Jacksonville center, also took part in the February 2023 announcement and remains part of the board.
Sasse, a former Republican U.S. senator from Nebraska, had touted the Jacksonville school as part of his vision to expand the university and turn it into an economic development engine for communities outside of Gainesville.
Sasse’s strategy involved partnering with businesses to apply research to real-world challenges and putting students closer to prospective employers.
In his resignation, Sasse cited concerns over his wife’s health.
Later, the Independent Florida Alligator reported that Sasse’s relationship with Hosseini had collapsed and that Sasse had more than tripled his office’s spending during his 17 months as president while directing millions of dollars of university funds into consulting contracts and positions for his political allies.
By Ric Anderson, Reporter
Jacksonville Daily Record
Upon being appointed to the board of directors of the Downtown Investment Authority last year, a few other volunteers and I were pushed directly into the deep end of the development swimming pool. Due to expired terms or vacancies on the board, along with leadership transitions in both Mayor Donna Deegan's office and Jacksonville City Council, there was simply no time to ease into the work.
While these transitions were taking place, the demands on us continued at a frenetic pace.
These demands include fielding calls from local and out-of-town developers; answering questions and providing updates at City Council committee meetings; negotiating multimillion-dollar development agreements; recruiting small businesses and helping them navigate the bureaucracy of local government regulations.
We also visit project sites to work through delays and complications or celebrate the completion and opening of a years-long project, so the agency is constantly in motion. While it may be easy to see stagnation and empty promises when walking around downtown Jacksonville, it is also not hard to notice recent additions to downtown and new ones on the way.
These are evidenced by lane closures, dust, orange cones and cranes — all of which signify real progress and exciting momentum.
People who live and work downtown often want to know why things aren’t better. Why aren’t there more restaurants, shops, services and places to gather along our beautiful St. Johns River? Visitors to Jacksonville from out of town and other states (particularly successful, sophisticated developers) often ask why Jacksonville hasn’t tapped into what they see as obvious opportunity and potential.
The reality is that downtown Jacksonville does have more to offer, with more on the way. VyStar’s new campus, Vista Brooklyn on Riverside Avenue, Hardwick’s on Adams Street and the amazingly revamped Friendship Fountain on the Southbank are just a few recently completely downtown projects. Each of these also happen to be finalists for Urban Land Institute North Florida’s Awards for Excellence.
The list of downtown projects currently under construction, permitting or planning is inspiring. Riverfront Plaza is being built while millions have been secured for its sister riverfront parks. In 2024 alone, eight new restaurants have been approved through our food and beverage retail enhancement program.
The Four Seasons project is going vertical and the Artea luxury apartments on the Southbank are nearing completion. Also this year, Gateway Jax is scheduled to break ground on its $500 million multi-block project that will transform the Pearl Street area and the Cathedral Lofts is actively leasing units.
For the first time in decades, McCoy’s Creek will see the light of day in downtown and two-way streets will return to Adams and Forsyth. LaVilla is now home to the only for-sale new construction in downtown, while also celebrating its history with the inspirational Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing Park.
The interest in city-owned property from both local and out-of-town investors is real and some of the proposed projects are game-changing for Jacksonville.
However, the Downtown Investment Authority and city of Jacksonville can do more for downtown. Both the team and its board know this; they are constantly working toward setting realistic and aspirational goals, improving efficiencies and tackling difficult or unpopular issues, while asking more of themselves and the development community.
The desire to continue improving the experience of working and living in a vibrant downtown is real. As board chair, I am inspired by the constant response and performance of the Downtown Investment Authority and other stakeholders working toward the betterment of the city. Together we are transforming our riverfront parks, increasing residential options, programming events, growing small businesses and embarking on a leadership transition.
Using inspiration to constantly reach for greater goals is momentum. Downtown Jacksonville’s future is only limited by our commitment to keep the momentum going.
By Patrick Krechowski
Guest columnist & DIA Board Chair
Florida Times Union
Amid a burgeoning grocery business following the Great Fire of 1901, C.B. Gay built Union Terminal Warehouse, which sat along railroad tracks that led to the largest rail yard in the state at the time — Union Station — and served as a dry goods distribution center with barge service from Hogans Creek.
More than a century later, Columbia Ventures, an Atlanta-based developer with a track record in historic, adaptive reuse, purchased the building in 2018. Then, it was a 97% occupied, industrial building mostly home to storage, but it also hosted a range of tenants like a signage company and a guitar maker.
Now, seven years and $73 million later, the 330,000-square-foot warehouse is home to 228 apartment units, 43 small offices of about 100-500 square feet, a restaurant space, a basement with 11 flex spaces and Vantage Point Coffee, which will build-out the existing shell space soon. The first resident will move in on Feb. 1, and a ribbon cutting ceremony will be held March 6.
“This building existed long before we showed up, and we’re not coming in and tacking on new, we’ve patched and weaved with what’s going on here while investing $73 million to bring this building up to code,” partner Ryan Akin said.
The two-football-fields-long hallways are air conditioned for the first time in the building’s history. The historic windows, with help from the National Park Service, have been fully customized. The old elevator shafts have been kept and restored, serving as entry ways into the leasing office and hallways of offices called Workhouse.
Elevator grates from its industrial days hang from the ceilings. A wooden display case will hold the centuries old artifacts found during site work like ginger beer bottles from 1913 and ceramic license plates.
Leasing is ongoing, and although December and January are slow leasing months, Akin said, there have been three tours Tuesday and another three Thursday. Pegasus Residential will serve as property management for both the residential and office space.
About 70% of the apartments are studio or one bedroom, but there are also two- and three-bedroom units. Rents start at $1,314 for studio units up to about $3,000 for three-bedroom units.
Of the 228 apartments, there are 34 floorplans, Akin said, but it might be closer to 228 as each unit comes with its own character — some have stamps on the walls or columns from the warehouse’s industrial days. The floorplans bear names that pay homage to the companies that once used the warehouse like Maxwell, Libby and Edison. Throughout the halls, historic fire and barn doors are displayed.
“You can’t walk into two units and say they’re exactly the same,” he said.
The Emerald Trail, a city project that will connect the downtown neighborhoods, or stitch together the city as Akin said, will run through Union Terminal Warehouse.
The developers kept the iconic water tower as it tried to keep as many architectural components as possible. Some things had to be removed because of floor plans or code compliance, but to remember those lost pieces, local photographers in a public photo contest took photos and signed over rights to Union Terminal Warehouse for those lost pieces to be displayed throughout the building.
That red water tower marked with the letters UTW sit on the roof, which has been transformed into a common space for residents, Workhouse tenants and events. From the roof, people get a 360-degree-view of the city from the Central Business District office towers to the Jacksonville Jaguars stadium.
Due to the property’s historic designation, UTW was eligible for federal historic tax credits as well as local tax exemption for 10 years. The Downtown Investment Authority approved $8.3 million in incentives from the Downtown Preservation and Revitalization Program in 2021. It also is in a federally designated Opportunity Zone.
Columbia Ventures has restored the 1913 building and brought it into 2025 living, Akin said.
What else does Columbia Ventures have in store?
The developer purchased the concrete plant behind to UTW on April 10 through Eastside Jax Property Owner LLC for $4 million. The current tenant will continue leasing the property at least through October and likely after that, Akin said. Eventually, the plan is to develop multifamily on the site.
Columbia Ventures will be constructing a pool and pickleball courts for Union Terminal Warehouse next year as a second phase of development, and Daev Momo will soon paint a mural on the Union Street wall. The design was chosen via an Instagram Story poll this month.
Ahead of its Jan. 31 grand opening and four years after it was announced, Downtown music and dance venue Decca Live held a ceremonial ribbon cutting Jan. 23.
Its owners — Eric Fuller, Evanc “Evan” Rajita, Aleksander Lukaj and Shawn Rouf — Mayor Donna Deegan and City Council members Kevin Carrico and Raul Arias were among those who celebrated the milestone.
The venue is at 323 E. Bay St., between Market and Liberty streets.
It has two stories, with full bars on each. A rooftop bar with a separate entrance is scheduled to open Feb. 14.
The first performer will be Kaskade, an American DJ and electronic dance music artist.
“This is amazing,” Deegan said. “Have you ever seen a space this amazing in Downtown Jacksonville? I feel like I’m in New York City. I just told Councilman Carrico that if you lose track of me at City Hall, you might find me over here.”
Fuller said the building location prompted the Decca Live project.
“The location is obviously perfect. We’re in an entertainment district. We’re steps from the stadium and we have great neighbors,” Fuller said. “And what sealed the deal is obviously the building itself. When we came here and saw the infrastructure and the layout of the building.”
Decca Live is in a brick building constructed in 1904. It was granted Jacksonville landmark status in 2021.
General Manager Brianna Bedia said the building was gutted to make way for $3.31 million in renovations. The Jacksonville City Council voted in July 2022 to approve a $1.53 million incentives package to help cover costs.
The Daily Record reported in 2023 the money will be awarded through the Downtown Investment Authority and the city’s Downtown Preservation and Revitalization Program.
JAA Architecture is the architect. Moyano Productions is the interior designer. Collyns Stenzel of Collyns Design Inc. is the production and stage designer.
Fuller said the owners bought the building two weeks after the start of the pandemic, which led to supply shortages and construction delays, but they remained confident the project would succeed.
The owners paid $1.4 million for the property through 323 E Bay Street RE LLC in January 2021.
“We’re the type of guys that, whenever we are faced with adversity, we just figure it out,” he said. “We had everything thrown at us. We had COVID — you know what happened there. Fortunately, Jacksonville wasn’t too bad, but our suppliers were affected. It was a learning experience.”
Fuller said each of the partners has owned businesses across Florida, but Decca Live is their first joint venture.
Fuller lives in Orlando but studied at the University of North Florida. Rajita and Lukaj are based in Jacksonville. Rouf, born in Jacksonville, lives in Houston.
“We all have a history and a tie to the city,” Fuller said. “I just want to thank all of the staff and our family and friends and everyone who has supported us. I especially want to thank the city and the DIA for helping us get across the finish line.”
By J. Brooks Terry, Reporter
Jacksonville Daily Record
The dining scene in Downtown Jacksonville slumped in 2024, with more restaurants closing than opening.
But with more than a dozen under construction, in development or announced, 2025 could bring a rebound.
In January, Bagels R Us opened at 440 W. Adams St. across from the Duval County Courthouse. It’s open 7 a.m. to 2 p.m. Monday-Friday.
Here is a status report of Downtown’s restaurants as the new year begins.
Burrito Gallery
The Tex-Mex restaurant shut down in February after 18 years at 21 E. Adams St.
Jumpin’ Jax House of Food
It closed after four years at 20 W. Adams St.
Bento Asian Kitchen + Sushi
Two of the chain’s three Northeast Florida locations closed in May, including one at 50 Riverside Ave. in Brooklyn.
Super Food & Brew
The gastropub at 11 E. Forsyth St., announced in mid-December it was closing at the end of the month. It opened in 2015.
The Bread & Board and Provisions
While possibly not a permanent closure, The Bread & Board and Provisions has yet to reopen after closing May 26 for what was announced as repairs.
In August, a co-owner said the issue was related to a failure in the original pouring of the establishment’s concrete floor.
Cinco de Mayo
The Mexican restaurant opened in January in the former Olio restaurant at 301 E. Bay St.
The restaurant group started at The Jacksonville Landing, which was demolished 2020, and now has locations in Jacksonville, St. Augustine and Palm Coast.
Cinotti’s and Grounds of Grace
In November, the Jacksonville Transportation Authority celebrated the opening of the cafe and bakery and coffee shop in the JTA headquarters at 100 LaVilla Center Drive.
The cafe filled a space vacated in 2023 by Crazy Beans Coffee.
The Cereal Box Live
The venue opened in July at 245 E. Adams St., offering such items as waffles and smoothies in addition to bowls of cereal.
The establishment also operates as a live music venue.
In December 2023, the Downtown Investment Authority board approved $21,500 in incentives for the establishment.
Decca Live
The live music and dance space at 323 E. Bay St., which includes a covered rooftop bar, is scheduled to open Jan. 31.
The establishment is in a brick building that was constructed in 1904 and granted landmark status in 2021.
In July 2022, Jacksonville City Council approved a $1.53 million incentives package to help finance the adaptive reuse of the building.
Jersey Mike’s
Build-out is underway for the sandwich shop at 90 Riverside Ave., Unit 604, in Brooklyn Station.
The sandwich shop is between Mayday Handcrafted Ice Cream and Vale Food Co.
Pizza Dynamo & Pour Taproom
Work is in progress for the venues on the ground floor of the VyStar Credit Union parking garage at the southeast corner of Laura and Forsyth streets.
In April 2024, the DIA board approved $207,350 in incentives for Pizza Dynamo and $215,000 for Pour Taproom.
The Co-op Frose & Eatery
On its website, it says it will open soon at 218 W. Church St., Suite 150.
In addition to frose, a blended mix of frozen rose wine, The Co-op offers breakfast, sandwiches and salads.
The restaurant group lists locations in South Carolina, North Carolina, Tennessee and Las Vegas.
In April 2024, the DIA board approved a $156,240 forgivable loan for the build-out in the renovated Florida Baptist Convention building.
The Prudential Club
The restaurant and lounge said it will open soon at 1430 Prudential Drive, where an incorporated liquor store has already opened.
According to a staff report from the Downtown Investment Authority, the establishment will offer an upscale environment and fare with 9,000 square feet of interior dining space, a 6,800-square-foot patio and a lounge with a 15-seat, full-service bar and additional seating for 75 people.
In September, the DIA board approved $345,314 in forgivable loans for the restaurant.
Vantage Point Coffee
The shop will operate in the lobby of the Union Terminal Warehouse mixed-use redevelopment at 700 E. Union St., which is nearing completion.
It is leasing about 900 square feet of space in the restored building, which was built in 1913.
The $72 million adaptive reuse of the warehouse will transform it into 228 apartments, 43 offices and 11 light industrial spaces.
Vantage Point owner Leo Baker said the shop would offer grab-and-go items such as muffins, bagel sandwiches and Danish pastries in addition to coffee.
Players Grille
Build-out is underway for the restaurant and sports bar on the ground floor of the Home2 Suites by Hilton Jacksonville Downtown at 600 Park St.
It is owned by the group that is developing The Prudential Club.
The DIA approved a $72,430 forgivable loan for the project in May.
Flamingo bar and cafe
A Southbank expansion of the Murray Hill concept is planned in the Hanania Place building at 1200 Riverplace Blvd.
The DIA board approved a $53,430 grant for the establishment in August 2024.
According to the DIA, the Flamingo will serve coffee, beer, wine, breakfast items, pastries, sandwiches and other food items.
Flamingo signage has gone up in the glass-walled space, along with construction screening on the windows and doors.
The HUB
Groundbreaking was in November for mixed-use space at 400 Riverside Ave. that will include a Southern Grounds coffee shop, the Sky Bar and Alder & Oak.
The Sky Bar will serve craft cocktails and small plates.
Alder & Oak will offer wood-fired entrees.
In October 2023, the DIA approved two grants for the coffee shop and restaurant for a combined $150,350.
Dorothy’s Downtown
In September 2024, the DIA board approved a $173,055 incentive package for the Southern and Creole restaurant planned in the space vacated by the Burrito Gallery.
The Daily Record reported Nov. 13 that the city was reviewing a permit application to renovate the space.
Baby Got Brunch
Former Jacksonville Jaguars defensive lineman Marcus “Big Baby” Stroud plans to open the restaurant in a renovated, 5,000-square-foot space at 610 N. Julia St.
The DIA reported that the establishment will serve brunch all day, with a menu that includes such items as chicken and waffles, short ribs and waffles, burgers, shrimp and grits, salads, macaroni and cheese and slow-cooked collards.
Cocktails and mimosas also are on the menu.
The DIA board approved a $96,620 forgivable loan for the restaurant in May 2024.
Oak Steakhouse
In November, South Carolina-based Indigo Road Hospitality Group announced that it would bring the chain to Jacksonville in the Greenleaf & Crosby Building at 204 N. Laura St.
The restaurant will take the space that formerly housed Jacobs Jewelers, which closed in 2023 after 96 years in business.
The building is being renovated by JWB Real Estate Capital, which plans to use five floors as its headquarters.
The Indigo group, founded by Steve Palmer, operates seven locations in Virginia, Georgia, South Carolina, North Carolina and Tennessee.
Panda Express Chinese Kitchen
In July, the Daily Record reported that the city was reviewing a permit application for the chain to build-out the space vacated by Bento Asian Kitchen + Sushi at 50 Riverside Ave. in Brooklyn Place. The interior of the building remains vacant.
Juliette Balcony
Plans for an adaptive reuse of the historic building at 225 N. Laura St., include renting the ground floor to a restaurateur. In mid-December, the DIA board approved a $2.56 million incentive package for the renovation project, which would include eight short-term rental units on the upper floors.
Alan and Ellen Cottrill, co-founders of Avant Construction Group, a Jacksonville-based company with years of experience in historic renovation and adaptive reuse projects, have taken an ownership stake in the building along with Rafael and Carmen Godwin, who bought the building in 2022.
Alan Cottrill told a DIA committee that the owners hoped to select a restaurant tenant within six to eight months.
In December, the Godwins bought the neighboring closed Mag’s Cafe building.
Daily’s and Bold City Brewery
The city issued a demolition permit Oct. 1 for a former drive-thru bank building at 60 N. Broad St., which is part of a proposed Daily’s gas station and convenience store that would also include a Bold City Brewery and restaurant.
The Downtown Development Review Board approved final plans for the project in August 2023.
The former bank building remained standing as of Jan. 16.
By Ric Anderson, Reporter
Jacksonville Daily Record