JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The Downtown Development Review Board voted 5-2 Thursday for Vestcor's revised design for a controversial 10-story building that will contain self-storage units and apartment along with street-level retail and restaurant space on the Southbank.
Vestcor's first architectural vision faced blistering critiques from the Downtown Development Review Board members in April when they call it a "brutal" concept. Board member Trevor Lee said at that time it was "almost like it's a 10-story CubeSmart with windows on the top floor of the CubeSmart and applied columns to help break it up, and that's really it."
Vestcor returned with a revised design keeps the overall shape but adds some features that the Downtown Investment Authority staff said makes it more visually appealing. The vote Thursday on the conceptual design contained some recommended changes that Vestcor will consider when it comes back at a future date for final approval.
The 10-story building at the corner of Prudential Drive and Hendricks Avenue will have ground-floor space for retail and restaurants, self storage units on floors three through six, and apartments on floors seven through 10.
The inclusion of the self-storage units in the building triggered fierce opposition from Southbank and San Marco residents when City Council deadlocked 9-9 in June 2023 on a previous version of the project. After retooling the proposal to include affordable housing, Vestcor won 11-8 support by City Council in April for rezoning the property as a planned unit development. Vestcor will receive a city loan for the affordable housing component.
Vestcor still must get approval by the Downtown Development Review Board before advancing toward construction. The review board isn't assessing the use of the building for self-storage units but is focused on the architecture and how the design of the building fits in with the rest of the Southbank.
A staff report said the block-shaped design "has been improved even though the overall massing of the structure remains unchanged. Dominant, articulated vertical elements create a rhythm across the facades fronting Prudential and Hendricks."
The staff report said the "more elegant vertical orientation" of the design creates a frame for recessed storefront along the sidewalks, giving more presence to the ground-floor space.
The conceptual review is the first stage in the two-step process the city uses for scrutinizing the design of new construction in downtown. The second stage involves a more detailed look at features such as the type of construction material.
The staff recommended conceptual approval but said in order to get final approval, Vestcor should ensure the design creates an "architectural transition from the height and scale of surrounding buildings."
The staff also said the design should add more features to the side of the building that faces Home Street.
