DDRB Approves Site Plan For One Riverside
The Jacksonville Downtown Development Review Board has approved the site plan for the One Riverside Development. The 18.84-acre mixed-use development will be on the old site of the Times-Union Building.
The plans by Fuqua Development include a grocer, retail shops, a restaurant accessible from the Riverwalk, an initial 271 residential housing units, and a parking garage. It also reroutes and daylights McCoy’s Creek and builds a public park between the creek and the CSX railroad tracks. The width of the creek will also be expanded from 40-feet to 80-feet.
The projected cost of the project is about $182.2 million.
Easy public access to the park and Riverwalk have been primary stipulations by the DDRB and the Downtown Investment Authority. The park will also be accessible from the Riverwalk.
The project is planned to be constructed in two phases with a second residential complex coming after the creek has been rerouted. Plans include several pedestrian areas and public art.
The pedestrian-friendly planning is in conjunction with the construction of Jacksonville’s Emerald Trail.
DDRB Board member Matt Brockelman said he thought the site plan was a good balance in combining what’s desired with what is practical.
“Sometimes it’s a little too easy for us to get stuck in the weeds,” he said. “I think we’ve reached a pretty good balance. I don’t think we can overstate enough the importance of this project to the riverfront activation effort.”
Board members did ask for a few minor adjustments making sure the pedestrian areas and walkways were wide enough for what is expected to be a lot of traffic.
Fuqua spokesperson Cyndy Trimmer said that would not be a problem and that they wanted to make One Riverside as pedestrian friendly as possible.
The project includes about $31.5 million in proposed incentives from the city. That bill is currently in the hands of the city council. If all is approved, groundbreaking could take place early next year after the old Times-Union Building is demolished in April. The second phase could begin around 2025.
By Kevin J. Meerschaert
Resident Community News
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