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.
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.