Building Up Jax: Walkability for Baymeadows Rd.

This week in Jax development news was a little slower than last week’s whirlwind of Shipyards-related leaks.

Here are the key pieces of news from the past week, brought to you as always by Building Up Jax!

FDOT takes on Baymeadows

Baymeadows Rd. will soon be getting an upgrade courtesy of Florida Department of Transportation.

As reported by Modern Cities via an announcement on councilman Danny Becton’s website, the stretch of Baymeadows Rd. from Prominence Parkway to Southside Blvd. will receive various upgrades.

These upgrades include a second left-turn lane from Baymeadows onto Prominence Parkway, a second left-turn lane from Western Way onto Baymeadows, widening and addition of turn lanes at the Baymeadows/Old Baymeadows Rd. intersection, and an additional left-turn lane from Baymeadows onto Southside Blvd.

Perhaps most importantly, it also features the addition of a new sidewalk along Baymeadows Rd. from Western Way to Southside Blvd., adding a much-needed element of walkability to the area.

JU moving into SunTrust Tower

Jacksonville University’s downtown expansion is a step closer to being realized.

According to Jax Daily Record, the school will take over the 18^th floor of the SunTrust Tower. It’ll be used mainly for graduate programs, at least initially.

JU had been looking to expand downtown for a few years.

Noted projects

• Retailer JC Penney announced a round of store closures due to declining sales, and its location off of Dunn Ave. was included on the list. The store is expected to close by June. Its locations at The Avenues, Regency, and the Orange Park Mall will be unaffected for now.
• Maple Street Biscuit Company received a permit for build-out of its second B Street Eats location. The Latin restaurant will go in right next to the Maple Street Biscuit Co. in Murray Hill, in the spot formerly occupied by Knead Bakeshop. The concept already has one location in St. Augustine.
• The owners of Roosevelt Square, the former mall turned into a shopping center along Roosevelt Blvd., are planning a slight revamp of the center, according to Jax Daily Record. The plans involve an expansion of the building currently housing Metro Diner, as well as the demolition of the recently-closed Belk.
• JEA is shutting down an electric plant on the Northside, eliminating just over 200 jobs, according to the Florida Times-Union.