San Marco and the Southbank are edging closer to a transformation of two high-profile sites that will amp up how the popular area will live and shop.
Completion is projected for 2018, adding more than 500 luxury apartments to the neighborhoods.
Plans were submitted to the city for review of the long-planned East San Marco retail and multifamily project at southeast Hendricks Avenue and San Marco Boulevard.
More immediate, developers of the mid-rise Broadstone River House along the Southbank of the St. Johns River applied for permits to build the $26.6 million apartment project.
The two five-story structures will include 263 units. A 489-space parking deck will be between the residential buildings at 1655 Prudential Drive.
Building 1000 will face the river; Building 2000 will front Prudential Drive.
The River House is between the Duval County School Board building and the Lexington Hotel & Conference Center Jacksonville Riverwalk.
The 3.7-acre River House site will provide public access to the Riverwalk and a pedestrian plaza. The western edge will provide a drop-off area for vehicles taking visitors to the Riverwalk and restaurants.
Phasing shows the parking deck will be built first, followed by the riverfront building and then the Prudential Drive structure.
Alliance Residential Co. of Winter Park is the developer. Dwell Design Studio LLC of Alpharetta, Ga., is the architect. No contractor is listed on the permit application.
Alliance Residential Development Manager Tim Graff said previously construction could start in May and be completed in two years.
He expected Alliance will buy the property as it pulls the permits. The contract calls for Alliance to buy the land for $6.5 million from Riverwalk Jacksonville Development LLC.
East San Marco sits just a mile south along Hendricks Avenue.
The city is reviewing site plans for the apartment, retail and garage project on the block bounded by Hendricks, Atlantic Boulevard and Alford and Mango places.
Plans also show additional parking would be developed on adjacent lots. Some street-front spaces also are shown.
Publix Super Markets Inc. will lease space on the ground floor, as will almost 13,500 square feet of other retailers and restaurants.
Publix will occupy about 33,500 square feet of space, with 110 spaces on a ground floor parking deck for retail customers.
The apartments and the residents’ parking will be developed above the retail stores and Publix.
The building will be six floors at the main corner and step down to five floors on the sides.
BR ArchCo ESM LLC is the developer. That’s a venture of Bluerock Residential Group REIT Inc. of New York and ArchCo Residential LLC of Atlanta.
ArchCo Residential has said it expects the permit to be issued in August.
After that, the venture will buy the 4.3 acres from Jacksonville-based Regency Centers Corp. and start construction, with completion expected in late 2018.
Once completed, Regency Centers will buy and operate the retail space and garage, while ArchCo and Bluerock will own the apartments and residential garage.
ArchCo Residential Regional Partner Jason Jacobson said in March the venture would bid the construction project in late spring or early summer.
The partnership also intends to build 30 townhomes later.
Steele Creek in review
Luxury apartments are not just in review for the Southbank. The Southside is on target for hundreds as well.
Construction plans were submitted to the city for the 300-unit Steele Creek apartments at 8599 A.C. Skinner Parkway, west of Southside Boulevard and south of Butler Boulevard.
AC Packer West LLC, led by Joseph Eckstein, intends to develop Steele Creek on 14.76 acres next to The Loree apartments, which Eckstein’s group also is developing.
Steele Creek is described on plans as six apartment buildings and seven garage structures along with a clubhouse, fitness center and pool.
Design consultant and engineer Kimley-Horn and Associates Inc. submitted the plans. Charlan Brock and Associates Inc. of Maitland is listed as the architect.
AC Packer CFO Scott Gay and Director of Development Frank Mendola said construction could start in August and be completed in early 2018.
Gay expects the construction cost will be $28 million. A contractor has not been chosen.
Common amenities include a car spa; a clubhouse with a billiards room, business center and a conference room; a park; and an outdoor theater.
Units will range from 800-850 square feet for one-bedroom apartments; 1,150-1,300 square for two-bedrooms; and 1,553 square feet for three-bedrooms.
Rents have not been determined.
Portiva breaking ground next week
LIV Development intends to break ground next week on the more than $30 million, 260-unit Portiva luxury apartments at 6898 A.C. Skinner Parkway in Southside.
The Birmingham, Ala.-based company bought the 7.35-acre site last week from Rimrock Devlin Development LLC.
The site is at southwest Belfort Road and A.C. Skinner Parkway.
When completed in about 18 months, the four-story structure will offer one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments that average 986 square feet and will lease for $1,000 to $1,600 a month.
Specific sizes and rents have not been finalized.
Amenities will include a fitness room, party room, cybercafé, courtyards, a pool and deck. LandSouth Construction is listed as the contractor on a permit application.
Robb Crumpton, president of LIV Development, said the community will be convenient to jobs, shopping and entertainment.
It is a few miles from St. Johns Town Center and the Deerwood Park commercial center and sits within the greater Southpoint area where hotels, restaurants, medical, residential and other businesses have flourished.
LIV Development has developed multifamily properties throughout the Southeast.
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