5 Local Development Projects to Watch in 2020

The 2010s was a busy decade for development in the Jacksonville area. It saw major expansion at and around the Town Center, several new projects in Brooklyn and LaVilla, and several urban core restoration and revitalization projects.

The upcoming decade is likely to continue the trend of construction and expansion, with several new development projects expected to kick off next year and others – such as the Shipyards redevelopment and Florida Theatre renovations – are slated for later on in the decade.

For now, the focus is on 2020. What proposed projects are expected to begin construction? What new projects will be revealed?

We’ve highlighted five key projects that you’ll likely hear about frequently in 2020 – most of which are also likely to begin construction in the new year. Once completed, these projects will help shape modern-day Jacksonville in the same way this past decade’s major projects did.

LAURA STREET TRIO

With work now wrapping up on its restoration of the former Barnett National Bank building, SouthEast Group will soon shift focus onto its next project: restoring the Laura Street Trio buildings.

The development group proposes to convert the trio of historic buildings into a Marriott-branded hotel, office space, and an upscale steakhouse-style restaurant.

At the very least, 2020 should bring about the construction of the planned parking garage to complement the development. The garage will be built by VyStar Credit Union and will be utilized by its employees as well.

But it’s also quite possible that preliminary work could begin on the Laura Street Trio, bringing the historic properties a step closer to revitalization after many years of neglect.

LOT J @ TIAA BANK FIELD

2020 is the year when things should get rolling on Shad Khan and the Jaguars’ development plans for the Lot J parking lot at TIAA Bank Field.

Khan and the city agreed earlier in the year on an incentives package in which the city would provide up to $233 million for the $450 million project. As currently proposed, Khan and The Cordish Companies would construct a multi-use development featuring a Live! Entertainment complex, a 200-room hotel, and a 300-unit apartment building along with a parking structure to replace the existing Lot J spaces.

The Hart Bridge expressway ramps adjacent to Bay Street will be demolished at the beginning of the year to accommodate the project, and Khan has indicated that he expects work on Lot J to begin during the first half of the year as well. Construction will likely last well into 2021, but it’ll certainly be nice to see progress on a major phase of Khan’s vision for the sports district.

EXCHANGE AT JACKSONVILLE

Earlier this year, the Skinner family announced that it was selling off the final major portion of its land near I-295 and Butler Boulevard – namely, the southeast quadrant of the junction.

Not long after, it was revealed that Fuqua Development would purchase 67 acres of the property for the development of a $300 million mixed-use project tentatively titled Exchange at Jacksonville.

Included in the project will be a CineBistro movie theater, a 20,000 sq. ft. food hall, a 20,000 sq. ft. retail hall, entertainment options including a brewpub and bowling alley, four apartment complexes, and two luxury hotels. The food hall is expected to feature a mix of local and national tenants, as will the retail hall.

Plans for infrastructure development to support the project have already been submitted to the city and will likely be completed during 2020. Once the roads are built out, work can begin on Exchange.

THE FORD ON BAY

When the city demolished its old city hall annex and courthouse buildings, they did so without any firm plans to reutilize its newly-vacant riverfront property.

Initially, the idea was to find a developer to build a new convention center and hotel on the land. But those plans were put to the side when it was indicated that a convention center may be part of Shad Khan’s plans for the Shipyards property.

For the past few months, the city has been marketing The Ford on Bay, as they’ve dubbed the five-acre property, to developers. The bidding process is expected to open in late January, but the proposals will likely not be available to the public until at least February.

Once a winning proposal has been selected, it will move to final review by Downtown Investment Authority and then to city council for a vote.

It’s pretty unlikely that any construction will be happening at The Ford on Bay in the coming year, but we should at least get an idea of what will eventually be built there.

EAST SAN MARCO

After so many false starts, the Publix-anchored East San Marco project is expected to finally break ground in 2020.

The project is set to move forward after several modifications based on feedback from the neighborhood. The residential component of the project was scaled back – from the originally-proposed 280 units down to just 35 units – and instead it will focus on street-front shops and restaurants as well as the long-awaited Publix, which will be located on the second story above a parking deck.

Regency Centers, the company behind the project, plans to begin work on the project this year, with hopes to complete it all by the end of 2021.

At this point, given the project’s delays, many residents will likely need to see actual construction begin before believing that the project will indeed be completed. In 2020, their patience should finally be rewarded.