Work Begins on 20 Adams Street Project

Restorations have begun inside the long-vacant Southern Drug Company building at 20 Adams St., with the aim of converting it into a dormitory building for Florida State College of Jacksonville.

Permits were issued this past week for $400,000 worth of alterations to the building, which was constructed in 1911. Danis Construction was awarded the contract. Danis is also handling the restoration of the future Cowford Chophouse building and the construction of Daily’s Place at EverBank Field.

The building’s restoration has been pending for over a decade. Originally, apartment units were planned – development plans were halted when the economy tanked in 2008.

Last year, the property was sold to Phoenix Adams Rising LLC. PQH Architects developed new plans for the site, including dorm rooms and a ground-floor cafe.

The building was constructed in 1911 to house Southern Drug Company. Its longest-running tenant was Lerner Shops from the 1940s to the 1980s. It sits next door to Farah & Farah’s downtown offices and across the street from The Carling, an example of a successful historic building restoration.

The total cost of the project is expected to be around $6 million. An expected completion date has yet to be announced.