Building Up Jax, 12/10: Vista Brooklyn to join busy stretch of Riverside Ave.

This week in Building Up Jax: a new 10-story apartment tower is coming to the Brooklyn neighborhood, and plans emerged for the future of the JTA Skyway. We’ll detail all of this as well as a few other noted projects.

Vista Brooklyn

The fast-growing Brooklyn neighborhood is getting yet another big project.

Vista Brooklyn, a 10-story apartment tower with ground-floor retail, was announced this past week by developers NAI Hallmark Partners. NAI Hallmark was also the company behind the design for the neighboring 220 Riverside complex. 

The building is planned to go in at 200 Riverside Ave., between 220 Riverside and Brooklyn Station. It’s planned as a luxurious apartment complex, complete with a rooftop pool and clubhouse. The developers expect around 300 units ranging from studios to three-bedroom apartments.

The Brooklyn neighborhood has undergone rapid growth this decade with developments like Brooklyn Station, two upscale apartment complexes, and a new state-of-the-art YMCA. The addition of a third luxury apartment complex, as well as more retail space, will serve to continue this trend.

The project, however, does bring with it concerns about traffic and parking. The lot upon which it will be built has been in use as overflow guest parking for 220 Brooklyn and the struggling Unity Plaza. Additionally, the project would add more residents to an already densely-packed area. That stretch of Riverside Ave. is already the site of major traffic backups during rush hour.

The project is expected to cost upwards of $50 million to complete. Construction is expected to begin in early 2017.

Skyway revival

As we noted in yesterday’s article, the JTA Skyway could be on its way to getting a major revamp.

The project is likely still a while away from becoming reality – if it does in fact get approved by the JTA board. Nonetheless, read up on all the details in our article about the proposed changes.

Noted projects

• Lucky’s Market, a new-to-market grocery store, opened this week at 580 Atlantic Blvd. It’s been drawing attention from locals for its unique selling point: it has a bar where customers can grab a drink before beginning their shopping.
• GATE Petroleum received permits to demolish vacant buildings at 436 Park St. and 444 Park St., in preparation for build-out of their future Brooklyn location.
• Corner Bakery Café abruptly closed both of their Jacksonville locations – one in Brooklyn, and the other and along Butler Blvd. – at the beginning of the week. The location near Butler Blvd. will be replaced by an unnamed Mexican restaurant, according to The Florida Times-Union.
• Saucy Kitchen plans to open at the former site of Jersey Mike’s Subs along Hendricks Ave. in San Marco, according to a new coming soon sign placed at the location.