The updated design for RD River City Brewery apartments at the site of River City Brewing Co. on the Downtown Southbank.
RD River City Brewery apartments is near Friendship Fountain.
The west elevation
The south elevation
The north end
The north and south ends of the building
The east elevation
The mid-rise project, adjacent to Friendship Fountain, also has an eight-story, 535-space parking garage.
Miami-based Related Group is developing the 333-unit apartment community.
Miami-based developer Related Group will return to the Downtown Development Review Board on March 23 with a new design for its RD River City Brewery apartments project after the conceptual review was tabled in January.
Project designer MSA Architects will bring the design for what the Downtown Investment Authority staff report released March 17 calls, “modern in style with clean lines, smooth textures, and minimal ornamentation.”
Related Group plans to replace the River City Brewing Co. restaurant on the Southbank with an estimated $92 million, eight-story, 333-unit apartment community.
The mid-rise project, adjacent to Friendship Fountain, also has an eight-story, 535-space parking garage.
Related is under contract with the site leaseholder Maritime Concepts to buy out the company’s interest in the restaurant property, including the remaining 77 years in its long-term land lease with the city.
A $15.94 million public inventive package for the Related project that includes tax and completion grants and site infrastructure improvements is waiting for City Council approval.
The DDRB report in January said the staff was unsure if that design fit “contextually” along the St. Johns River in Jacksonville.
Board members said they want the Miami condominium, apartment and office developer to build in Jacksonville, but agreed with the staff assessment.
The board tabled the review in a 9-0 vote Jan 14.
It will consider the revised conceptual design at 2 p.m. March 23.
The latest plans from Related and MSA show a Southbank Riverwalk waterfront promenade with seating, lounge terraces and a pool terrace for residents, fire pit and an outdoor summer kitchen.
A freestanding restaurant adjacent to Friendship Fountain, a required component of Related’s pending city-backed incentive deal, will be submitted later as a separate project, according to board documents.
DIA staff is recommending the board allow a portion of the apartment structure to exceed the maximum height allowed by city code for construction along the riverbank.
The rule, drafted in 2019 by DIA CEO Lori Boyer when she was on City Council, aims to maintain river views and prevent a crowded feeling for riverfront pedestrians and retail patrons.
The code allows developers to exceed the set height if the building’s width and volume are below a certain threshold.
The DIA staff report said one of the two apartment sections exceeds the lesser volume requirement.
The board will be asked to consider a proposed workaround in the staff report that applies the overage to the second section so Related meets code compliance.
Staff also want Related Group to “soften” the top floor on the parking deck, which will be visible from upper floors on the nearby Prudential Financial Building, with trees in raised planters.
The apartment rooftop will have utility service and will not be used as an amenity for residents, according to the report.
Related Group is represented in Jacksonville by the Driver, McAfee, Hawthorne & Diebenow law firm.
