Construction to begin soon on Southbank apartments

Construction to begin soon on Southbank apartments
Rendering of the river side of the Broadstone River House, a 263-unit apartment complex slated to begin construction on the old Crawdaddy’s site at the end of June.

For months Southbank residents have been hearing about more than one sizeable construction project that will significantly change their skyline. At the end of June, the first of those projects will break ground.

Alliance Residential Company, a development firm based in Phoenix, Arizona, plans to close on the old three-acre Crawdaddy site adjacent to the Southbank Riverwalk and the Duval County Public School building during the week of June 20. After the papers are signed, Alliance will waste no time starting its $26.6 million housing project with the advent of construction planned for June 27, said Tim Graff, vice president of development for Alliance Residential.

Construction to begin soon on Southbank apartments

Rendering of the view of the front of Broadstone River House from Prudential Drive, and Alliance Residential Company development.

Because the restaurant is no longer standing, the first thing to be demolished will be the existing parking lot so that a $1.2 million soil remediation project can begin, Graff said, adding it is necessary to remove soil that was contaminated with petroleum years ago due to the property’s past use as a shipyard.

Two years from the day it starts construction, Alliance intends that Broadstone River House, a six-story, 263-unit apartment complex offering one-, two-and three-bedroom apartments will stand on the site. Community amenities include a pool, courtyard, fire pit, and game areas, a social clubroom, billiards lounge as well as a health club that will feature yoga and spin studios as well as top-grade fitness equipment.

In addition to paying a big number for soil remediation, Alliance has budgeted an additional $620,000 to rebuild the bulkhead.

Perhaps most exciting for Southbank and Jacksonville residents in general will be a new $100,000 public plaza, which Alliance plans to build along the Southbank Riverwalk on the west end of the property. Two public bridges, costing as much as $88,000, on the east and west sides of the complex, will also be built, giving the public access to the Riverwalk.

The plaza was placed in the Planned Unit Development by city officials to ensure the public will continue to have access to the Riverwalk, which was paid for through city funds, said District 5 Councilwoman Lori Boyer. Once complete, the plaza will sit between the old retail offices north of the Lexington Hotel on land owned by Miami developer Ramon Llorens and the Broadstone Riverhouse.

Although the plaza will straddle land owned by both Alliance and Llorens, because Alliance is developing its land before Llorens, it has responsibility for building the plaza, said Graff. Llorens has granted the city an easement to his land, but has not deeded the land to the city, said Graff, noting as part of the deal, Alliance will grant Llorens an easement on the public driveway they are building so he will have an easy connection to his land.

Included on the 7,000-square foot space will be benches, tables and landscaping, which will be connected to Prudential Drive by a wide public walkway, Graff said, noting the plaza will be constructed of pavers “so everything blends into the Riverwalk.” Way-finding signage will be placed on Alliance property so the public can easily spot the plaza and access to the Riverwalk, he said.

“It’s a nice amenity, and we are glad to build it,” said Graff. “It comes as a request of the city, and we gladly obliged. The city has been wonderful to work with, and we’re excited to finally close and bring the property to fruition.”


By Marcia Hodgson
Resident Community News

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