JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — How much construction can happen in one area?
That answer is 'under construction' as multiple large projects are planned along East Bay Street in Downtown Jacksonville.
The new Museum of Science & History is now a little closer to being built along the Northbank in Lot X now that MOSH has met the required $40 million in fundraising as part of their land lease agreement with the city. The deadline was extended from December.
“I, for one, can appreciate the construction going around right now,” said Rod Rivers while sitting with his family at Friendship Fountain which is next to MOSH. “I think it brings a lot more to Jacksonville – much, much needed.”
Next to the MOSH's new location on East Bay Street, the Four Seasons Hotel is being built.
Construction on the new Jacksonville Jaguars stadium could start in February and is planned to take three and a half years.
Then in December 2025, construction on the new MOSH is set to begin, with the museum planned to open in 2028. The Four Seasons Hotel is planned to open in the middle of this in 2026.
"They might now drive through Bay Street and see, 'Oh my gosh, we should stop here and grab a bite to eat,' 'we should stop here and go hang out in the park,'" said District 7 City Councilman Jimmy Peluso.
There are also plans to build up four parks around the stadium, several along East Bay Street.
"The parks alone are gonna bring people downtown," Peluso said. "The amount of folks that are moving into downtown, the amount of projects that are happening in the downtown area, we're gonna bring the residents that are gonna want amenities and things to do. And those parks are gonna be phenomenal."
When all the construction cranes come down, one goal is to have more spaces for more families like the Rivers to make memories.
“I think us getting more stuff down here in Jacksonville to do, especially for the kids, to get them outdoors, I think that's very beneficial for the city,” Rivers said.
Learn more about what the new MOSH will include here.