An appeal to the Downtown Investment Authority over the construction of a residential tower on the Southbank failed to win over board members Wednesday.
Attorneys representing Baptist Health and owners of the Aetna Building were unable to sway the DIA to overturn approval given to Ventures Development Group by the Downtown Development Review Board in early June.
The DDRB voted 4-1 to grant five deviations for the property, including a reduction in required parking from 559 spaces to a minimum of 337 spaces; altered landscaping along adjacent railroad tracks at the east end of the development to provide a buffer; an increase in the allowed building height from 60 feet to 190 feet; and reduced setbacks from the riverfront bulkheads in certain areas from 50 feet to 25 feet.
Those deviations were at the center of the appeal.
Baptist and Aetna attorneys argued in June that the 1.2 spaces per apartment were not appropriate and that the added congestion to Prudential Drive from new residences would cause further traffic problems.
Baptist is building a 2,400-vehicle parking garage nearby.
Jacksonville-based Ventures Development proposes to build a 13-story residential tower on 2.9 acres between the Aetna building and the Acosta Bridge. Baptist Health operates a medical campus across the street and also leases space in the Aetna building.
The project would accommodate up to 300 apartments and townhomes and would include an expansion of the Southbank Riverwalk.
A three-level parking garage would be built within the tower, along with 12 public surface- level spaces for access to the Riverwalk.
Project renderings show a private courtyard, pool and other amenities for residents, along with 53,000 square feet of open space along the riverfront for the public.
The DIA board voted 4-1 to dismiss the appeal, with board chair and former Daily Record publisher Jim Bailey as the only no vote.
Attorneys for Baptist Health and the Aetna landlord could appeal to City Council.
Calls to those attorneys were not returned Thursday.
It was only the second time the DIA has entertained an appeal since it was chartered.
The first was in 2016 when the DIA denied the appeal of the approval of the site design for Gate Petroleum Co’s. proposed convenience store and gas station in Brooklyn.
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