RD River City Brewery look
RD River City Brewery apartments view looking northeast.
RD River City Brewery.
The south elevation of RD River City Brewery apartments.
A street-level view of RD River City Brewery apartments.
The west elevation of RD River City Brewery apartments.
The proposed redevelopment of the River City Brewing Co. site along the Downtown Southbank will seek conceptual approval when the Downtown Development Review Board meets at 2 p.m. Jan. 14.
The Miami-based Related Group is proposing RD River City Brewery, an eight-story, 333-unit apartment building with an attached eight-story, 535-space parking garage.
The Downtown Investment Authority board approved a term sheet Nov. 18 with Related for the $92.34 million project.
The project also proposes the future development of a restaurant adjacent to Friendship Fountain Park as a separate project that will require future DDRB approvals.
The site is 3.43 acres bounded to the north by the St. Johns River, to the east by the Museum of Science & History and Friendship Fountain, to the south by Museum Circle and to the west by the St. Johns Marina boat ramp.
The proposed design of the structure raises questions from DDRB staff:
“The current design is reminiscent of resort style architecture which is seen in Key West FL, Seaside FL, St. Augustine, FL and other resort destinations. Staff is unsure how this fits contextually along the St. Johns River in Jacksonville. The design should present a perceptible unity within the area. Staff would like to see the proposed architecture have some unity with the surrounding area,” the proposal to be reviewed states.
Related plans to demolish the River City Brewing restaurant as soon as it completes negotiations with the property leaseholder, Maritime Concepts. The developer will buy Maritime’s interest in the property and buy out the remaining 77 years in its long-term land lease with the city.
The developer plans to close on the land July 31 and complete its final design Sept. 30.
After permitting, River City Brewing’s demolition is expected to be completed Sept. 30, 2022, and it will complete construction no later than April 30, 2025.
The public meeting will be conducted in-person at 303 N. Laura St. in the multipurpose room in the conference center at the Main Library Downtown.
It also will be available to the public on Zoom at:
https://zoom.us/j/98596868344?pwd=bFJ1UEhrMmJ2SGNoKzNCdndzTmZLdz09
Meeting ID: 985 9686 8344
Passcode: 698693
