Design approval sought for The Doro apartment, retail and restaurant community

A Georgia developer seeks conceptual design approval for The Doro apartment, retail and restaurant community from the Downtown Development Review Board.

 Valdosta, Georgia-based Rise Properties LLC proposes to redevelop the George Doro Fixture Co. property next to Intuition Ale Works and Manifest Distilling, near the Downtown Sports Complex.

Downtown Investment Authority staff recommends approval for the eight-story, 247-unit mixed-use project at 102 A. Philip Randolph Blvd.

The 1.63-acre property is bounded by Adams, Lafayette and Forsyth streets and A. Philip Randolph Boulevard. 

Project plans and renderings show a seven-level parking garage and 4,875 square feet of ground-level retail, commercial and restaurant space.

The retail is at Forsyth Street and A. Philip Randolph Boulevard and will face an outdoor area that Rise Properties calls “The Alley” between the south side of the development and Intuition Ale Works.

The eighth floor will focus on retail space and resident amenities. Plans show 2,652 square feet of outdoor retail space with a 4,653-square-foot rooftop terrace for customers.

Matthew Marshall, vice president of development at Rise: A Real Estate Company, said Dec. 13 that the rooftop space would be an indoor-outdoor bar and lounge.

The top floor also has a 9,469-square-foot terrace and a 2,991-square-foot resident amenity space with a swimming pool.

At ground level, the developer expects to include a 5,029-square-foot courtyard.

The report says a 6,100-square-foot plaza is planned at A. Philip Randolph Boulevard and East Adams Street with built-in benches and movable tables. 

Iconic Real Estate Investments President Paul Grainger signed a purchase-and-sale agreement in June to sell the site. 

Marshall anticipates that Rise will buy the property in May or June and start demolition and construction.

The Doro property is near VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena, TIAA Bank Field, Daily’s Place and 121 Financial Ballpark.

JEA issued a service availability letter to civil engineer England-Thims & Miller Inc. on Oct. 22 for the mixed-use development.

It described the project as a multistory, mixed-use development with 247 multifamily units comprising 308 bedrooms, along with 7,720 square feet of retail space and an unspecified 10,956-square-foot amenity.

Rise says on its website that it focuses on market-rate multifamily housing, student housing, and the purchase, rehabilitation and repositioning of property.

Beyond conceptual review

Before final approval, Rise Properties will have to show additional amenities such as water features, public art or interactive art pieces for the urban open space to conform with the Downtown Zoning Overlay standards.

The Doro design allows for a wider sidewalk than the existing structure, according to the report.

The first building on the property dates back to 1914, and six more structures were added through 1954. 

According to the DIA staff report, the city Planning and Development Department’s Historic Preservation Section found the property is not part of the Downtown Jacksonville Historic District.

The report states the Doro building is not eligible for individual local landmark designation protection.

The board is scheduled to meet at 2 p.m. March 12 at City Hall.