Urban Construction Update - May 2013
A brief look at the status of various projects under construction in and around Downtown Jacksonville during the month of May 2013.
Downtown
The Volstead
115 West Adams will be transformed into downtown's latest bar, The Volstead. The Volstead will be an "upscale bourbon bar with a 1920s theme".
Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce
The $3.4 million renovation of the Chamber of Commerce building and property continues.
Might As Well Cafe
The Might As Well Cafe will be opening in this street level retail space at 410 Broad Street. The restaurant will serve French-inspired fare and gourmet sandwiches.
605 New Center Hotel
LaVilla's long closed New Center Hotel at 605 North Broad Street is being renovated by nearby Clara White Mission into office and housing space.
Family Dollar
Work continues for a new Family Dollar store at State and Newnan Streets.
Pita Pit
Pita Pit is in the process of opening their third Jacksonville area location in the courthouse garage, at Forsyth & Clay Streets. Pita Pit bills itself as “an alternative to fast food restaurants,” offering a large selection of meat and veggie pitas, including Chicken Caesar, Philly Steak, Dagwood, Falafel, Spicy Black Bean, Hummus and more. Pita Pit also offers breakfast pita – available throughout the day – including Sausage Scramble, Ham N’ Eggs, Awakin’ with Bacon and more.
State Attorney's Office
Legislature has given the go ahead on the $26 million reconstruction of the old courthouse as a new home for the State Attorney's Office. Construction is estimated to be completed in Fall 2014.
MOCA Jacksonville
Renovation work is underway at the Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville (MOCA Jacksonville).
220 Riverside
Construction of 220 Riverside continues. 220 Riverside will feature 18,000 square feet of retail and 294 apartment units when complete in 2014.
Riverside Place/Riverside & Jackson
Land clearing and ash removal continues at the site of the proposed Riverside Place/Riverside & Jackson development site. Riverside Place will be a 310-unit apartment complex developed by Pollack Shores Real Estate Group of Atlanta. Plans call for 185 one-bedroom and 125 two-bedroom units. Riverside & Jackson will be a 53,000 square foot retail center featuring a grocery store, pharmacy and restaurants. The developer, Fuqua Development of Atlanta, anticipates construction starting in early August and opening the summer of 2014. Tenants will be announced by the end of June. Combined, the projects are estimated to cost $53 million to construct.
RIVERSIDE/AVONDALE and ST. JOHNS PARK
Bold City Brewery Expansion
Riverside's popular Bold City Brewery is in the process of doubling the size of the their operation. When complete, the five year old brewery will contain 30,000 square feet.
Cummer Museum
The restoration of Olmstead Gardens and a major parking/landscaping enhancement project continues. The project includes expanding the museum's cafe to include outdoor seating along Riverside Avenue.
Corrado's Bakery Bistro
Corrado's Bakery Bistro will be opening soon at 813 Lomax Street in Five Points.
Nightlife Activity in Five Points
Rumors are buzzing that a couple of new nightclubs are slated to open in the old Carribean Connection and YoNilla spaces in Five Points. Rain Dogs will open in the former YoNilla space.
Yo Nilla
Caribbean Connection
Orlando-based Hawkers Asian Street Fare is also planning to open their second location in Five Points by the fall. Conversation in Metro Jacksonville's forum suggest that Hawkers will open in the former Clothing Warehouse storefront.
For more information, visit: https://www.facebook.com/hawkersstreetfare
Goozlepipe & Guttyworks
Construction is now underway on King Street's Goozlepipe and Guttyworks. The estimated value of the project is $1.5 million. Located at 914 King Street, Goozlepipe and Guttyworks will be a Steampunk-themed restaurant and bar.
1012 King Street
1012 King Street was recently acquired by the owner of the nearby Garage, Loft, and Rogue bars. Tenantive plans call for the conversion of this building into a restaurant specializing in hamburgers.
Cafe Freda
Brian Freda, a apprentice of Guy LeRoy, the old partner of Wolfgang Puck who operated L'Orient and Cafe on the Square here in Jacksonville, is in the process of opening Cafe Freda. The restaurant, which will specialize in "international comfort food" will be located in Park Street's old Alphadog space.
Mellow Mushroom Avondale
Mellow Mushroom has filed plans with the City to develop the Avondale restaurant.
Pulp Juice Bar
Pulp Juice Bar's long awaited second location on Avondale's St. Johns Avenue is finally moving forward. Building permits were issued in late January.
Metro Diner - Roosevelt Square
Metro Diner will be opening a new location in the former Harry's Restaurant space at Roosevelt Square. The Roosevelt Square location is anticipated to open July 29. For information, visit metrodiner.com.
Robert E. Lee High School
The reconstruction of Robert E. Lee High School appears to be coming to completion.
Eagle Eye Care
Eagle Eye Care is constructing a new 5,423 square foot facility at 714 Stockton Street.
SPRINGFIELD
Ardy's Eatable Delyghts
Ardy's Eatable Delyghts will be opening soon at 1855 North Main Street. Ardy's specializes in an array of signature desserts and eatable sweets.
Lonnie Lamar Smith
Lonnie Lamar Smith's salon is relocating to 401 East 8th Street.
1221-1237 North Liberty Street
Infill construction activity appears to be underway at 1221-1237 North Liberty Street.
122 West 8th Street
Earlier in the month, the old "moto lodge" at 122 W. 8th Street was demolished, an old hotel which was has been out of use for some time. According to MySpringfield.org, it was a non-historic, non-contributing structure. Operation New Hope plans to break ground on a two-story, 14 unit workforce housing apartment development later this year.
HomeStar Realty
HomeStar Realty will soon open in this storefront space at 8th & Main.
SAN MARCO
San Marco Boulevard Streetscape
Construction of the San Marco Square roundabout is now underway as a part of the San Marco Boulevard Streetscape project. when complete, a new greenspace will anchor the popular commercial district.
Indochine/The Budda Bar
Downtown Jacksonville's popular Thai restaurant, Indochine, plans to open a second location at 1974 San Marco Boulevard in August 2013. The building's street level bar has been rebranded as The Buddha Bar. Plans call for the bar to host live music on weekends and offer "Indochine-style bar food" until 2 am.
Taverna
Taverna has plans to take over an adjacent storefront space, doubling in size, and getting a liquor license.
San Marco Station
Construction is underway on San Marco Train Station project, which will be anchored by Panera Bread.
First Citizen's Bank
First Citizen's Bank will be expanding with a San Marco branch location at San Marco Boulevard and Cedar Street.
Update by Ennis Davis
The Volstead
115 West Adams will be transformed into downtown's latest bar, The Volstead. The Volstead will be an "upscale bourbon bar with a 1920s theme".
Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce
The $3.4 million renovation of the Chamber of Commerce building and property continues.
Might As Well Cafe
The Might As Well Cafe will be opening in this street level retail space at 410 Broad Street. The restaurant will serve French-inspired fare and gourmet sandwiches.
605 New Center Hotel
LaVilla's long closed New Center Hotel at 605 North Broad Street is being renovated by nearby Clara White Mission into office and housing space.
Family Dollar
Work continues for a new Family Dollar store at State and Newnan Streets.
Pita Pit
Pita Pit is in the process of opening their third Jacksonville area location in the courthouse garage, at Forsyth & Clay Streets. Pita Pit bills itself as “an alternative to fast food restaurants,” offering a large selection of meat and veggie pitas, including Chicken Caesar, Philly Steak, Dagwood, Falafel, Spicy Black Bean, Hummus and more. Pita Pit also offers breakfast pita – available throughout the day – including Sausage Scramble, Ham N’ Eggs, Awakin’ with Bacon and more.
State Attorney's Office
Legislature has given the go ahead on the $26 million reconstruction of the old courthouse as a new home for the State Attorney's Office. Construction is estimated to be completed in Fall 2014.
MOCA Jacksonville
Renovation work is underway at the Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville (MOCA Jacksonville).
220 Riverside
Construction of 220 Riverside continues. 220 Riverside will feature 18,000 square feet of retail and 294 apartment units when complete in 2014.
Riverside Place/Riverside & Jackson
Land clearing and ash removal continues at the site of the proposed Riverside Place/Riverside & Jackson development site. Riverside Place will be a 310-unit apartment complex developed by Pollack Shores Real Estate Group of Atlanta. Plans call for 185 one-bedroom and 125 two-bedroom units. Riverside & Jackson will be a 53,000 square foot retail center featuring a grocery store, pharmacy and restaurants. The developer, Fuqua Development of Atlanta, anticipates construction starting in early August and opening the summer of 2014. Tenants will be announced by the end of June. Combined, the projects are estimated to cost $53 million to construct.
RIVERSIDE/AVONDALE and ST. JOHNS PARK
Bold City Brewery Expansion
Riverside's popular Bold City Brewery is in the process of doubling the size of the their operation. When complete, the five year old brewery will contain 30,000 square feet.
Quote
Fortunately, we’re able to stay in the area we love by expanding into an additional 14,000 square feet directly behind our existing building. All of the brewing, cellaring and packaging operations will be moving into the new building which will give us a total of 30,000 square feet, which is a lot of room for additional tanks and packaging equipment to be setup. I’ll pass along more information and updates in the coming weeks.
Cummer Museum
The restoration of Olmstead Gardens and a major parking/landscaping enhancement project continues. The project includes expanding the museum's cafe to include outdoor seating along Riverside Avenue.
Corrado's Bakery Bistro
Corrado's Bakery Bistro will be opening soon at 813 Lomax Street in Five Points.
Nightlife Activity in Five Points
Rumors are buzzing that a couple of new nightclubs are slated to open in the old Carribean Connection and YoNilla spaces in Five Points. Rain Dogs will open in the former YoNilla space.
Quote
About Rain dogs.For more information, https://www.indiegogo.com/projects/rain-dogs and https://www.facebook.com/raindogsjax
A space where music, art and ideas grow in the heart of 5 points. Celebrating all local entrepreneurs and visionaries, we offer bold bean coffee, Intuition and Bold City brews and eats from Peles and Blue Buddha. Rotating art shows and community events.
Yo Nilla
Caribbean Connection
Orlando-based Hawkers Asian Street Fare is also planning to open their second location in Five Points by the fall. Conversation in Metro Jacksonville's forum suggest that Hawkers will open in the former Clothing Warehouse storefront.
Quote
About
Asian Street Fare
Malaysian, Chinese, Korean, Singapore, Vientamese, Thai
Description
Prominent on the streets of Asia, Hawkers are street vendors who depend on locally grown ingredients to create dishes sold from mobile carts and stands. The most successful recipes, typically passed from one generation to the next, bring flocks of eager patrons.
Here at Hawkers, we've selected only the best of these recipes from across Asia and are bringing them to you in a unique, sharing-encouraged, gastropub environment.
For more information, visit: https://www.facebook.com/hawkersstreetfare
Goozlepipe & Guttyworks
Construction is now underway on King Street's Goozlepipe and Guttyworks. The estimated value of the project is $1.5 million. Located at 914 King Street, Goozlepipe and Guttyworks will be a Steampunk-themed restaurant and bar.
1012 King Street
1012 King Street was recently acquired by the owner of the nearby Garage, Loft, and Rogue bars. Tenantive plans call for the conversion of this building into a restaurant specializing in hamburgers.
Cafe Freda
Brian Freda, a apprentice of Guy LeRoy, the old partner of Wolfgang Puck who operated L'Orient and Cafe on the Square here in Jacksonville, is in the process of opening Cafe Freda. The restaurant, which will specialize in "international comfort food" will be located in Park Street's old Alphadog space.
Mellow Mushroom Avondale
Mellow Mushroom has filed plans with the City to develop the Avondale restaurant.
Pulp Juice Bar
Pulp Juice Bar's long awaited second location on Avondale's St. Johns Avenue is finally moving forward. Building permits were issued in late January.
Metro Diner - Roosevelt Square
Metro Diner will be opening a new location in the former Harry's Restaurant space at Roosevelt Square. The Roosevelt Square location is anticipated to open July 29. For information, visit metrodiner.com.
Robert E. Lee High School
The reconstruction of Robert E. Lee High School appears to be coming to completion.
Eagle Eye Care
Eagle Eye Care is constructing a new 5,423 square foot facility at 714 Stockton Street.
SPRINGFIELD
Ardy's Eatable Delyghts
Ardy's Eatable Delyghts will be opening soon at 1855 North Main Street. Ardy's specializes in an array of signature desserts and eatable sweets.
Lonnie Lamar Smith
Lonnie Lamar Smith's salon is relocating to 401 East 8th Street.
1221-1237 North Liberty Street
Infill construction activity appears to be underway at 1221-1237 North Liberty Street.
122 West 8th Street
Earlier in the month, the old "moto lodge" at 122 W. 8th Street was demolished, an old hotel which was has been out of use for some time. According to MySpringfield.org, it was a non-historic, non-contributing structure. Operation New Hope plans to break ground on a two-story, 14 unit workforce housing apartment development later this year.
HomeStar Realty
HomeStar Realty will soon open in this storefront space at 8th & Main.
SAN MARCO
San Marco Boulevard Streetscape
Construction of the San Marco Square roundabout is now underway as a part of the San Marco Boulevard Streetscape project. when complete, a new greenspace will anchor the popular commercial district.
Indochine/The Budda Bar
Downtown Jacksonville's popular Thai restaurant, Indochine, plans to open a second location at 1974 San Marco Boulevard in August 2013. The building's street level bar has been rebranded as The Buddha Bar. Plans call for the bar to host live music on weekends and offer "Indochine-style bar food" until 2 am.
Taverna
Taverna has plans to take over an adjacent storefront space, doubling in size, and getting a liquor license.
San Marco Station
Construction is underway on San Marco Train Station project, which will be anchored by Panera Bread.
First Citizen's Bank
First Citizen's Bank will be expanding with a San Marco branch location at San Marco Boulevard and Cedar Street.
Update by Ennis Davis