JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — Two and a half years since the Landing was demolished and one month since construction was supposed to start, development is set to begin on Riverfront Plaza Wednesday in Jacksonville.
First Coast News inquired with the mayor's office about why construction work hadn't started by about 10:30 a.m. Wednesday, and learned from the mayor's office spokesperson that signage will be put up on Hogan Street and Independent Drive, but ground will not be broken on the project until Monday.
During the last Downtown Investment Authority meeting, the redevelopment coordinator said phase one has an 18-month timeline for completion.
Exactly one month ago, First Coast News noticed construction did not start the morning of June 7 and asked the city's public affairs office about it. A spokesperson said the then-mayor and mayor-elect's office decided to postpone construction until after Independence Day and other festivities to eliminate any problems with traffic or parking.
By next winter, the plan is to have a café facing Independent Drive with a playground on top of it. The redevelopment coordinator says this will create a hill her kids will be excited to climb. There will also be more green space. The first phase does not include the large statue spelling "Jax," also known as "Lerp."
Phase two of construction will be the side of the plaza closest to the Main Street Bridge. There's no timeline set for it, according to what was said in the DIA meeting. It's planned to have a more than 40-story residential tower along with restaurants, civic steps, a beer garden and more green space.
First Coast News talked with people who don't live close downtown and asked them if the new development will draw them to the city center.
"Certainly, I would come down there and check that out," said Dave Schmidt who lives in Orange Park. "Anything they can do to improve, get people down there. More restaurants, more museums, anything to get people down there, sure, we would check that out."
