Building Up Jax: Khan, Jags confirm Four Seasons plans

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.

SHAD KHAN, JAGUARS CONFIRM PLANS FOR FOUR SEASONS AT MET PARK

As part of a presentation to Downtown Investment Authority, Shad Khan and the Jaguars confirmed a long-rumored portion of their pitch for redeveloping Met Park: Jacksonville’s first Four Seasons hotel.

The presentation, which was mostly focused around the team’s controversial Lot J project, also offered the latest details of what Khan and the Jags hope to do with Met Park and a portion of the city’s Shipyards property. The latest plans show a Four Seasons hotel, designed to invoke the look of a large ship, along with a large riverfront office tower, a medical center, two parking structures, a marina, and 400 residential units; the hotel would be the project’s first phase, with the other elements coming in phase two.

Rendering by Iguana Investments, via COJ

While the new-to-market Four Seasons proposal is encouraging, the new proposal for Met Park and the Shipyards represents a significant scaling back of the team’s previous proposal, which included a new city convention center. The team’s plans for a stadium-adjacent entertainment complex have changed several times since first being proposed in 2015.

It’s also important to note that development on the Met Park portion of the team’s project would not begin until the completion of Lot J; the city must also first replace the federal park land that will be lost as a result of the development, along with funding and completing necessary infrastructure upgrades to accommodate the project.

NOTED PROJECTS

The owner of the parking garage at 841 Prudential Dr. is seeking to add over 12,000 sq. ft. of retail space to the structure’s ground floor.
Ridenow Power Sports received a permit for the construction of a new 11,000 sq. ft. building at 6407 Blanding Blvd.
Cathedral Foundation of Jacksonville received a permit for the construction of Ashley Square, a 4-story, 120-unit senior housing complex at 650 N. Newnan St. The $16.5 million project will also include a small parking structure.
Belle Epoque Realty Services received a permit for build-out within the Schultz Building at 118 W. Adams St.
WellHealth Pharmacy submitted renovation plans for an existing building at 12644 San Jose Blvd.
Dunkin’ submitted plans for a new 1,265 sq. ft. standalone location with drive-thru within The Fountains at St. Johns.
Circle K submitted plans for a new convenience store and gas station at the northwest corner of Atlantic Blvd. and Southside Blvd. An existing structure will be demolished to make room for the project.
Plans were submitted for a new 7-building apartment complex at World Commerce Center, off of Commerce Plaza Blvd. near SR-16.
Encore Nails & Spa received a permit for build-out at 8324 Merchants Way.