Top Stories

The latest news and biggest stories from both sides of the river.

Southbank’s Riverplace Boulevard: Creating a streetscape for the future

Southbank’s Riverplace Boulevard: Creating a streetscape for the future

The city of Jacksonville is one step closer to building a better road for its “urban village” on the Southbank. The Downtown Development Review Board approved a plan Feb. 18 to reconfigure the lanes on Riverplace Boulevard so it can become more bicycle- and pedestrian-friendly. Public meetings to discuss the Riverplace road diet project took […]

Plans materialize for East San Marco

Plans materialize for East San Marco

Long awaited mixed-use project coming to fruition After several attempts to finance and bring one of the largest projects in San Marco’s history to fruition, its time has come.      East San Marco, planned for several vacant lots on Atlantic Boulevard at the intersections of Hendricks Avenue and Mango Place just a block east […]

San Marco Preservation looks to put teeth in neighborhood plan

San Marco Preservation looks to put teeth in neighborhood plan

The balance between urban development and preserving the character of an historic neighborhood has always been tricky. In an effort to preserve San Marco as the unique and special historic community it is, the San Marco Preservation Society intends to legislate its neighborhood action plan, San Marco by Design, in order to give it some […]

Despite vocal local opposition, Roost gets one more approval closer to plan

Despite vocal local opposition, Roost gets one more approval closer to plan

A recent unanimous decision to approve The Roost, a 150-seat, late-night bar and restaurant on Oak Street, has frustrated nearby residents who wonder whether city planners are considering business opportunity over the letter of the law. Based on action by the City of Jacksonville’s Planning and Development Department and by the Planning Commission, many opposed […]

New ownership, new outlook for Commander, St. Johns Village

New ownership, new outlook for Commander, St. Johns Village

The Commander Tower Apartments and the St. Johns Village shopping center in Avondale have been sold to Chance Partners, an Atlanta real estate firm specializing in development and management of mixed-use communities. The new owner, which paid $5.8 million for the 55-year-old apartment building and the 29-year-old shopping center, is evaluating the future use of […]

Planning Commission approves waiver for beer, wine at Starbucks

Planning Commission approves waiver for beer, wine at Starbucks

In the future, Starbucks may serve beer and wine alongside coffee and tea at its San Marco Square location. Despite objections from the San Marco Preservation Society, Southside Baptist Church, and the Duval County School District, the Jacksonville Planning Commission voted to grant Starbucks at 1980 San Marco Blvd. a waiver of minimum distance requirements […]

South Shores residents brace for congestion, noise as JEA lays new sewer main

South Shores residents brace for congestion, noise as JEA lays new sewer main

Over the next seven months, South Shores residents may find their neighborhood noisy and congested as JEA installs a new sanitary sewer force main underneath the St. Johns River. The new sewer line will extend from the north bank near EverBank Field to JEA’s sewer pump station on Utah Avenue in the South Shores neighborhood. […]

Baptist secures final parcel necessary for new cancer center

Baptist secures final parcel necessary for new cancer center

When Baptist Health Properties Inc. purchased the warehouse at 1316 San Marco Boulevard, it acquired the final piece of the real-estate puzzle that will enable it to build a new state-of-the-art facility for its MD Anderson Cancer Center. On Feb. 12, Baptist closed on the property across from Kitchen on San Marco and its own […]