Managing Editor
Three Downtown projects are on Thursday’s agenda of the Downtown Development Review Board.
The board, part of the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission, is scheduled to:
• Conceptually review the proposed TRIO buildings renovations Downtown;
• Consider final design review for the proposed Bahri gas and convenience store, including a special sign exception; and
• Consider conceptual and final review for renovations to the Burger King restaurant.
The board also is scheduled to vote for a vice chair and secretary and discuss the Jacksonville Transportation Authority’s Bus Rapid Transit system.
In more detail, the board is scheduled to consider:
• A request for conceptual review for the Barnett and TRIO mixed-use development and parking garage at 112 W. Adams St. and 51 W. Forsyth St. Developers request conceptual review for remodeling the 18-story Barnett Building; the two-story Florida National Bank Building, also known as the Marble Building; the 12-story Florida Life Building; the 10-story Bisbee Building; as well as the proposed nine-story TRIO Lofts building and a new parking garage. The project is at Laura and Adams streets and Laura and Forsyth streets.
The project includes existing buildings of historical significance and will require approval by the Jacksonville Historic Preservation Commission before final review board approval.
• A request for final approval for the Bahri gas and convenience store proposed at 9 E. Union St. The JEDC approved a resolution of support Aug. 12 for the development agreement among the JEDC, the City and developer Main Street Development Inc. The review board will consider final approval of the application. Developers Carla and Andre Bahri want to build a 4,392-square-foot one-story gas station and convenience store with 12 fuel pumps and propose to hire eight full-time and three part-time employees at the Main, Union and State street project. The sign exception requests allowance of one monument type identification sign.
• A request for conceptual and final review for a renovation of the Burger King restaurant at 210 E. State St. The developer proposes to demolish the greenhouse dining room structure on the east and north sides of the building and put up a new exterior wall. The work will decrease the building size by 400 square feet. The application states that the greenhouse structure leaks. It also says that the dining room and restrooms will be upgraded.
The board is scheduled to meet at 2 p.m. Thursday in Suite 200 of the Police and Fire Pension Fund Building Downtown at 1 W. Adams St.
356-2466