Building Up Jax: Some details of Amazon bid revealed; T-U leaving Riverside Ave.

OUR AMAZON PITCH

This week, the city released details of its pitch for Amazon to build its second headquarters location here.

The proposal involved giving Amazon up to 200 acres of riverfront property for free. Namely, it would have given them most of the long-vacant Shipyards property near the stadium – a prospect that would negate the massive multi-use proposal for that land by Shad Khan’s development company.

It may seem like a lot to give a company for free, but cities across the country have offered similar deals in the hopes of luring the online retail giant – and the jobs and money that it would potentially bring with it.

Even with this generous offer, and Amazon’s recent investments here, Jax is still considered a longshot to be selected.

TIMES-UNION TO CEASE RIVERSIDE AVE. OPERATIONS

The Florida Times-Union, the largest local daily newspaper in Jax, announced this week that it would no longer produce its daily newspaper in Jacksonville, shifting those duties to offices in Daytona Beach and Gainesville.

Meanwhile, the rest of its employees will move downtown by the end of next year, vacating the building at 1 Riverside Ave. that it has occupied since 1967.

The move comes after the paper was bought by GateHouse Media in October. The Riverside Ave. office building, and its surrounding land, is still up for sale.

MERCHANT’S WALK EXPANDING

The Merchant’s Walk shopping center at 9965 San Jose Blvd. is planning an expansion.

Plans filed this week show a new outparcel building at the site of a former doctor’s office, which will be demolished soon. Additionally, the shopping center’s main building will be expanded by over 6,000 square feet to reach the adjacent road San Jose Place – meaning the center will also be accessible from that road.

In total, the center will add just under 12,000 square feet of new space.

NOTED PROJECTS

• After lots of anticipation, the first two Jax-area Wawa locations opened this past Wednesday. Its third location at St. Johns Town Center will open next Thursday.
• Plans were submitted for a new apartment complex and parking garage at 1444 Home St. in San Marco.
• Furniture store Summer Classics plans to open a showroom and warehouse at 1104 W. Adams St. in LaVilla, according to Jax Daily Record.
• Article, a Canadian online furniture store, plans to open a distribution center in Imeson Industrial Park early next year, also via JDR.
• Reve Brewing, yet another new Jax-area brewery, plans to open at 1237 Mayport Rd., according to the Florida Times-Union.