A Downtown building tied to two prominent Jacksonville architects could return to life as a bar and lounge with overhead loft apartments under a service availability request filed with JEA.
The request is to determine the service availability for 29 E. Adams St., a two-story building adjacent to Indochine Downtown restaurant and the soon-to-open Dorothy’s Downtown restaurant, which co-occupy 21 E. Adams St.
According to city documents, the building was designed by architect Henry J. Klutho and opened in 1915. In 1965, architect Taylor Hardwick significantly redesigned the building to cover it with midcentury modern features such as large plate glass windows, decorative glass tiles, aluminum fin-like strips and an arched entryway.
Klutho designed numerous buildings in Jacksonville following the 1901 fire that destroyed much of the city, including the current City Hall. Hardwick’s works included design of the Haydon Burns Library at 40 E. Adams St., now the Jessie Ball duPont Center. That building is directly across the street 29 E. Adams St.
The JEA request, submitted April 30, is for electric, sewer and water service and was filed by Baker Design Build for a project described as “Proposed Bar/Lounge and loft apartments.”
The property is owned by Plaka Main Street Inc., which according to state records is led by Chris Hionides of Jacksonville.
The request identifies uses as a 50-seat restaurant and three apartments. According to property appraiser records, the building comprises 11,626 square feet of heated space.
In February, the Jacksonville City Council approved legislation designating the building as a local landmark, giving it historic preservation protections.
Hionides signed a sponsorship statement on a request for the designation through the Historic Preservation Section of the city of Jacksonville’s Community Planning Division.
Property appraiser records show the building was last purchased in 2021 for $500,000. Its 2024 certified market value was listed at $459,759.
In 2021, Elias Hionides of developer and property manager Petra said the company bought the building through Plaka Main Street Inc. with plans to redevelop it.
Elias Hionides is a founding partner of the nearby Hardwicks Bar at 100 E. Adams St.
JEA service availability is part of a developer’s due diligence and does not mean the project will be pursued.