Developers completed the final phase of Avondale’s RiverVue waterfront apartment community at 3946 St. Johns Ave., between St. Johns Avenue and Fishweir Creek.
Jacksonville-based Chance Partners LLC began renovation and redevelopment of the Commander Apartments and after buying the site in March 2016 and earning development approvals.
Chance Partners founder Judd Bobilin said at a July 2017 ceremony he envisioned the value of saving the 16-story waterfront Commander Tower, built in 1961, and providing infill residential in place of the demolished St. Johns Village commercial center.
RiverVue “reflects what today’s consumers want most in a home - both within and beyond the walls of their residence,” he said a Nov. 26 news release.
The 228-apartment community at southeast St. Johns Avenue and Herschel Street has views of the St. Johns River and Downtown Jacksonville.
The tower comprises 88 studio, one- and two-bedroom units with water views from every unit.
Chance Partners also built structures on the site where the St. Johns Village Center was demolished.
Those buildings comprise two four-story buildings along Fishweir Creek with 132 units and two two-story buildings with two units each and four carriage homes with individual garages along St. Johns Avenue.
According to rivervuejax.com, the project comprises:
• Studio units of 616 square feet that rent for $1,460 a month
• One-bedroom units of 616 to 820 square feet that rent from $1,225 to $1,785
• Two-bedroom units range of 1,028 to 1,403 square feet that rent from $1,800 to $2,465
• Carriage Homes of 1,202 square feet that rent for $2,515
• Townhomes of 1,379 square feet that rent for $2,715
A parking structure is in the center of the project.
Outdoor amenities comprise a saltwater pool; an oasis with a fire pit; a kitchen, dog park and spa; an acre of open space; and an outdoor yoga lawn with free weekly classes for residents.
Indoor amenities include a fitness center with a Cardio Theatre a social lounge, business center, cybercafe and bike-sharing.
Pegasus Residential is the property manager for RiverVue. More than 60% of the units were leased in the first six months.
Chance Partners has offices in Jacksonville and Atlanta. It focuses on infill residential and mixed-use developments and management in what it considers walkable neighborhoods and collegiate towns in the Southeast.
The group's other Jacksonville developments are the San Marco Crossing and San Marco Promenade apartments and the proposed 234-unit River City on Main in North Jacksonville.
