Unity Plaza director shares big ideas, bright future
It’s already been touted as an event space and gathering location, festival hot spot, music amphitheater and, if the newly slated Executive Director of Unity Plaza had her way, it would already be complete and full of activity. “It’s really so much fun when capital, ideas and architects come together. It’s just really cool,” said Jen Jones, as she led a tour for media and special guests through the roughed in spaces and dirt piles on the property.
“It’s really so much fun when capital, ideas and architects come together. It’s just really cool.” – Jen Jones,
Newly slated Executive Director of Unity Plaza
As the progress at 220 Riverside and Unity Plaza begins to take shape, the vision for the project sounds promising. For NAI Hallmark Partners leadership, the conceptualized project is one that’s been percolating over the years while construction sat dormant. “When Alex Coley first started sharing his ideas for what this space was for Jacksonville, something that he mentioned was ‘life events,’” Jones said. “When we have a lecturer such as Deepak Chopra, or there’s maybe a Jewish wedding and we’ve got the bride and groom on chairs or there’s this incredible community heritage event going on and we need indoor space,” she said, as the tour neared the indoor event space.
Another portion of the inside of the space is said to contain a 4,000-square foot “mash up,” where purveyors of local gourmet best practices prevail. She said, “Think Bold Bean’s coffee, French Pantry’s bread, Chef’s Garden grab-n-go wonderful gourmet food.” Another draw will be a “beautiful, twinkly lighted, sultry after work event space aka – a bar.”
Working outward from the epicenter of Unity Plaza, plans for the adjoining properties are said to include a hotel, an 8,000-square foot destination restaurant, a corporate building and an acre of green space to complete the campus. According to Jones, the goal is a sustainable, walkable entertainment and fellowship-based area for Brooklyn, based on New York’s Central Park.
Plans continue to unwind as talk of a radio studio space and a glass enclosed event space are on the wish list. For more information and upcoming updates, stay in touch at www.unityplazajax.com for more information on programming and other updates.
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