by J. Brooks Terry
Staff Writer
The next phase of Northbank Riverwalk development began earlier this week with Jackson Street in Riverside serving as a major construction hub.
According to representatives for the project, sediment control is currently being addressed to keep large amounts of dirt from falling into the St. Johns River with more work to follow.
“[Jackson Street] is important because it is one of the few streets that provides access to a larger road from the Riverwalk,” said Project Manager Walter Hogrefe. “The closest street I think after Jackson is way down by the CSX building.”
When complete, Hogrefe said Jackson Street may be unrecognizable.
“We’ll repave it, put in some landscaping, add a kiosk and rest area and also improve lighting there,” he said, adding parking along Jackson Street — although limited after 10 p.m. to discourage loitering — will be restored. “We’re planning to make some really nice improvements.”
Hogrefe said the Jackson Street overhaul could be complete by Christmas, barring complications for property owners in the area.
“If we can’t get all of the easements we need, that will cause some delays,” said Hogrefe. “We need the land to get all of the work done, but we’re having some difficulties in getting easements on the other side of Riverside Avenue right now.”
Hogrefe declined to speculate on any reservations held by any particular business, though he said the YMCA had been “very cooperative.”
A statement issued by the YMCA informed members that for the next two to three weeks they will have limited access to the outdoor track. According to the YMCA, while prep work continues on Jackson Street , the outer loop of the track will off-limits and on-street parking will not be available.
“We’re going to keep the users of the track away from the river so that they are not in the way of the construction,” a YMCA representative said. “But they will still be able to use the inner loop in the mean time.”
Budgeted at $13.9 million, the Northbank Riverwalk capital improvement project will expand the existing structure to nearly 17,000 feet, stretching from Metro Park to Riverside Park when completed by next summer.