Anticipation Grows at RiversEdge
A November unveiling event heralded the next phase of construction for the Southbank’s highly anticipated mixed-use development RiversEdge: Life on the St. Johns.
Since the development broke ground in 2021, site work has been primarily unseen by Jacksonville residents as it has consisted of underground infrastructural work and bulkhead construction. Moving forward, however, the city will be able to see progress as the development and its amenities begin to take shape.
The unveiling event was held on Wednesday, Nov. 8, hosted by Dallas-based developer Preston Hollow Community Capital LLC in partnership with the City of Jacksonville, in the space that will soon be one of four public parks expected to come online by the end of next year.
“We are going to have four interconnected world-class parks,” said Preston Hollow Community Capital Managing Director Ramiro Albarran. “They’re all going to be connected with more than a mile of combined riverwalk, boardwalk, multi-use paths that are really going to encourage the community to engage. The one thing that is so important here is to view this as a community. This is not a real estate development project. What will be coming to the City of Jacksonville is a new community – a true gem for the City.”
While many of the details of these four greenspaces were discussed earlier this year at Riverfront 2025: A Look Ahead, new details were revealed last month regarding some of the public art commissioned for these public spaces.
New York-based artist and architect Marc Fornes discussed “The Pearl,” the custom art sculpture he’s designed to be the centerpiece of the development’s Central Park.
In a video played during the unveiling event, Fornes said, “We set out to create an ever-changing landmark sculpture that will offer a surprise no matter how many times you view it. The idea is, even if you only see ‘The Pearl’ once, you will never forget it.”
Later, during his presentation, Fornes explained he wanted to create something large enough to be seen from across the river and to entice visitors to come explore the artwork, which they will be able to walk through and enjoy. This hollow structure is free of any beams or columns and is “barely” a quarter of an inch thick at its thickest point.
“We want you to come back and enjoy quality time by losing your time staring at the piece. At the end, it’s a gigantic 3D puzzle,” he added.
Ultimately, this 33-acre project will accommodate 1,130 high- and mid-rise residential units, 40 townhomes, a 125-slip marina and more than 100,000 square feet of restaurant, retail and entertainment space. Albarran said RiversEdge will also have the ability to accommodate 200,000 square feet of office space.
Plans were also shared to include a 200-room boutique hotel to RiversEdge.
“The City of Jacksonville deserves an approachable, unique hotel experience,” said Albarran.
The Resident News has previously reported on the Toll Brothers as the project’s first confirmed vertical developer. When asked if there are any details regarding other vertical developers, Albarran said, “No, but something’s coming soon.”
The lineup of speakers also featured city representatives, including Mayor Donna Deegan, DIA CEO Lori Boyer and District 5 City Councilmember Joe Carlucci, who shared his own excitement about the included public greenspaces.
“Our city is craving greenspace, riverfront activation and quality shopping, dining and riverfront living, and this project – community – accomplishes all of those things,” he said.
Apart from an amphitheater planned for Central Park, which is currently in final design, Albarran said, “Everything you’re seeing here today is funded, committed and part of this next phase of work and will all be coming out of the ground. Everything you’ve seen here today is coming, and it’s coming in 2024.”
By Michele Leivas
Resident Community News
(No Ratings Yet)
Loading... 
