Building Up Jax: Independent Life building redevelopment moves forward

Building Up Jax is a weekly article series, posted each Saturday morning, that provides you with the latest updates on development and construction in the greater Jacksonville area.

INDEPENDENT LIFE BUILDING PLANS MOVE FORWARD

A major downtown adaptive reuse project gained final approval from the city’s Downtown Development Review Board this past week.

Augustine Development Group plans to redevelop the former Independent Life building at 233 W. Duval St. into a mixed-use project featuring 135 residential units, a top-floor bar and lounge, and ground-floor retail including a grocery store tenant. The group also plans to recreate the original Independent Life sign that once sat atop the building’s front façade.

Augustine is also behind the pending redevelopment of the nearby Ambassador Hotel building, which it plans to convert into a LaQuinta Inn hotel.

Dasher Hurst Architects is the architect for the project.

NOTED PROJECTS

Theotokos Holdings received a permit for the conversion of a former FBI office building at 7820 Arlington Expressway into a $10.9 million, 118-unit apartment complex.
Juicy Hot received a permit for build-out at 5002 Kerle St.
A permit was issued for the construction of The Doro, a $35.5 million, 247-unit apartment complex with ground-floor retail at 960 E. Adams St.
Express Bail Bonds received a permit for build-out at 6834 Arlington Expressway.
Permits were issued in relation to Julington Creek Apartments, a 260-unit apartment complex at 12397 San Jose Blvd.
Chick-fil-A received a permit to demolish a former Krispy Kreme building at 3814 W. University Blvd. to make room for a future restaurant building.