Build Up Downtown

07/27/2026

Could Riverside Avenue become more pedestrian friendly?

Jacksonville City Councilman Jimmy Peluso recently shared an updated proposal to redesign Riverside Avenue through Brooklyn.

The plan would:
• Reduce Riverside Avenue from 6 lanes to 4
• Add 61 new parallel parking spaces
• Create a buffer for protected bike lanes
• Improve connections between Downtown, Brooklyn, LaVilla, and San Marco

According to Peluso, each phase of the project will cost less than $100,000 and will primarily consist of restriping the roadway with limited concrete work. The projects are already funded through the City’s pedestrian safety initiatives and will not require additional City Council approval.

The City conducted primary traffic studies and only Riverside Avenue could potently see slight increase in travel time during rush hour, according to the results. Their Planning Department will spend the next six months gathering community feedback before finalizing the design and moving toward construction.

Would you support this proposal? What would you like to see considered before the plan moves forward?

💬 Share your thoughts below

07/07/2026

One of Jacksonville’s most beloved local restaurants is coming to the riverfront 🥪

The City has selected European Street Cafe to operate the café at Riverfront Plaza, making it the first restaurant announced for the reimagined riverfront destination. Expected to open later this fall, the new café will become European Street’s fourth Jacksonville location.

For more than 35 years, European Street has been part of Jacksonville’s story. After the Zarka family transformed Mr. Dunderbak’s into European Street Cafe in 1990, generations of Jacksonville residents have gathered around its tables. Soon, they’ll be creating new memories along the St. Johns River.
This announcement is about more than a new restaurant—it’s another sign that Downtown’s public investments are coming to life.

Riverfront Plaza’s $38 million first phase has already transformed the former Jacksonville Landing site into a destination for recreation, events, and gathering. Now, with a trusted local business joining the park, the vision for an active, year-round waterfront continues to take shape, with additional dining opportunities still planned for the Northbank.

It’s exciting to see a Jacksonville local staple become part of Downtown’s next chapter.

05/28/2026

“Here we are — after nearly six years.”

Last week marked a major milestone for Downtown Jacksonville as shovels officially hit the ground on the Southbank Residences development along the Southbank Riverfront. The project, led by , represents one of the largest residential developments currently underway in Downtown Jacksonville, and one of the most discussed public-private investments tied to the city’s urban core growth.

The former River City Brewing Co. site is set to transform into a mixed-use development featuring nearly 400 residential units, retail space, parking, expanded public riverwalk access, and new activity along the St. Johns River. The project was designed by internationally recognized architect .architect, with MSA Architects serving as architect of record and leading construction efforts.

The ground-floor retail concepts will include a public-facing riverfront restaurant and speakeasy, helping activate the Southbank waterfront with new dining and gathering spaces. Building amenities are also planned to include a resort-style pool and rooftop resident lounge overlooking Downtown and the St. Johns River.

💰 Project Numbers:
• City incentives: $58.79 million
• Minimum private investment: $202.74 million
• Incentive package includes a $39 million completion grant and a 30-year, 75% REV grant valued at $19.79 million

🔨 Construction Timeline:
• Estimated construction timeline: 40 months
• Target completion window: late 2028 to early 2029

Large-scale projects like this often come with important conversations around incentives, long-term growth, accessibility, public impact, and transparency around those numbers. As Downtown Jacksonville continues evolving, developments like Southbank Residences are shaping conversations about what future riverfront living, density, and connectivity could look like in the urban core. 🏙️

05/20/2026

Whole Foods Market is officially coming to Brooklyn 🛒✨

Downtown living keeps getting more connected, and for residents in and around Brooklyn, walkability is continuing to level up in a major way. Tomorrow marks the grand opening of Whole Foods Market in the neighborhood 🏙️

The new store will feature hot and salad bars, sushi, pizza, sandwiches, seasonal prepared foods, organic produce, meat + seafood counters, a specialty cheese department, bakery, health + wellness offerings, and an impressive selection of wines and craft beer. Plus, shoppers can explore more than 800 local products sourced from over 115 Florida-based suppliers. 🥬

🚨Starting at 8 AM the first 300 shoppers will receive a tote bag containing offers of up to $100 off. Samples of La Gringuita Gourmet Cookies and coffee from will be served. 

📍 1 Riverside Ave Jacksonville, FL 32202
🎥:

05/13/2026

🎶 The Music Heritage Garden is now open along the Northbank Riverwalk. A space designed to celebrate the artists, producers, writers, and creatives whose influence has shaped Jacksonville’s musical legacy far beyond city limits. From hometown stages to global soundwaves, this garden honors the talent rooted right here in our community.

This project has been a true collaboration between the City of Jacksonville, the Downtown Investment Authority, Groundwork Jacksonville, and a labor of love from community members attending design and feedback workshops. This public space reflects the soul of our city for natives and tourist to explore.

And there’s even more: the Northbank Riverwalk connection near Corkscrew Park extending toward McCoys Creek is now open, bringing greater connectivity, walkability, and new waterfront experiences back to Downtown.

Take a walk, explore the space, and experience a piece of Jacksonville’s story through music, movement, and community. 🏙️✨

05/03/2026

Today marks 125 years since the Great Fire of 1901 in Downtown Jacksonville. The third largest urban fire in U.S. history. Our city suffered a prolonged drought and the fire followed. When people talk about the slow growth of our city and downtown in particular you have to take into account the destruction we were up against. Within 8 hours we lost 2,368 buildings and over 10,000 people were left homeless.

Our city oozes with resilience. 125 years later we are building up a downtown that future generations will benefit from. They will look back in history and see that Jacksonville rose from the ashes. 🏙️

05/01/2026

Where the Jacksonville Landing once stood… the next chapter is taking shape 🏙️

The next phase of Riverfront Plaza is moving forward following a recommendation by the Downtown Investment Authority (DIA) committee to advance a proposal from for a new waterfront dining destination.

This follows a competitive, open RFP process led by the DIA, with proposals evaluated on experience, design, financial capacity, and alignment with the vision for an accessible riverfront.

Atlas Restaurant Group brings significant experience to the project, with a portfolio spanning more than 50 restaurants across five states, demonstrating a strong track record of delivering high-quality dining and destination-driven concepts. 🍽️

St. Augustine-based PK Hospitality Group also participated in the process, submitting two proposals and ensuring local representation throughout.

The recommended concept includes a full-service seafood restaurant, rooftop bar, and activated waterfront space designed to complement the surrounding park and public realm. 🦐🍹

The recommendation now moves to the full DIA board for consideration as momentum continues at Riverfront Plaza.

Stay tuned for more updates as this progresses. 👀

**The image shown is The Choptank Annapolis, one of their waterfront restaurants in Maryland**

04/17/2026

🌎 It’s almost Earth Day, and we’re showing up for Downtown in a big way.

Next Saturday, join us for our quarterly community cleanup at Friendship Fountain from 9–11AM. We’ll be out there alongside our community partners doing our part to keep our city beautiful.

Want to keep the momentum going? is also hosting a cleanup from 9AM–12PM. Double the impact, double the love for our city.

Then we celebrate 🌱
Head over to 41 E Duval starting at 12PM for an Earth Day Market hosted by 🌐

Expect live screen printing, a clothing swap, local vendors, matcha by BREW 5 Points, and more.

Pull up, bring a friend, and spend the day pouring back into the city we all share 💚

04/13/2026

04/08/2026

If you’ve spent any time walking Downtown past the river, near the Hyatt, or along Bay Street, you’ve probably passed the old courthouse site and thought… what’s next for this space?

Now, there’s a new proposal on the table that could shape that answer. 👇🏽

A team led by Andy Allen and is proposing a $160M riverfront development that would bring a mix of hotel, event, office, and street-level activity to the Northbank.

Here’s what’s being discussed:
• A hotel + conference space designed to bring more visitors Downtown
• Restaurants + retail activating Bay Street
• Office space to support daily foot traffic
• Outdoor amenities and gathering spaces along the river
• A project scale meant to connect key areas of the urban core

📍 The location sits between major anchors like the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront and the Jacksonville Shipyards, making it one of the most visible and impactful sites in Downtown. Worth noting: this is still just a proposal.

And before anything moves forward, this is the moment where community voice matters most.

💭 So we want to hear from you: What does Downtown actually need in this space? More local restaurants? Public gathering areas? Event space? Something else entirely?

Drop your thoughts below ⬇️