Nearly two years after overcoming neighborhood opposition and receiving approval to build a Daily’s gas station and convenience store in LaVilla, First Coast Energy LLP is seeking more time to launch and complete the project.
On July 22, a public hearing is scheduled before the Jacksonville City Council on legislation to grant a three-year extension to First Coast Energy LLP for the final approval it received in August 2023 from the Downtown Development Review Board to build the proposed two-story store on property bordered by Forsyth, Bay, Broad and Jefferson streets.
According to a summary attached the legislation, Ordinance 2025-0470, the extension would provide Daily’s with additional time to:
• Facilitate final professional design and engineering work.
• Procure and source the necessary and appropriate materials.
• Finalize construction plans for design variations included in the DDRB’s final approval order.
• Finalize business partner components that will serve the establishments within the project.
• Complete the project under terms in the final order.
According to the summary, the DDRB had already given First Coast Energy a one-year extension on the order, which was originally set to expire in August 2024. Should Council approve the ordinance, the expiration would extend to August 2028.
In January 2025, First Coast Energy submitted civil engineering plans to the city showing a 20,554-square-foot convenience store on the southeast corner of the property, with a bank of fuel pumps roughly in the middle between entry and exit points on Bay and Forsyth streets.
Also shown were 36 parking spaces, with electric vehicle charging stations in the northwest corner.
The DDRB voted in August 2023 to grant final approval for a two-story Daily’s that included a Bold City Brewery and restaurant. The approval came on a 5-2 vote, which capped eight months of delays and hearings in which LaVilla and Downtown advocates expressed opposition to the proposal and pressed for design changes.
Opponents of the project raised concerns about the development’s effect on pedestrian safety and accessibility plans in LaVilla. Among other criticisms, opponents also said the use and design of the station was out of character with the neighborhood.
Before the final DDRB vote, Mayor Donna Deegan and City Council member Jimmy Peluso both requested a one-month hold and called for First Coast Energy to solicit more input from the LaVilla Community. Peluso’s District 7 includes LaVilla.
On Oct. 1, 2024, the city issued a permit for demolition of a closed drive-thru bank building at 60 N. Broad St. on the site of the proposed Daily’s station. The building, which remained standing as of July 22, is the last structure on the 1.4-acre block.
As approved by the DDRB, the property would include 16 fueling stations, a 5,000-square-foot restaurant and Bold City microbrewery, and a rooftop bar.
First Coast Energy paid almost $3.3 million in August 2020 for the property.
The company paid nearly $2.4 million for five parcels that include the site of a closed bank drive-thru and $900,000 for the land where the Kartouche nightclub once stood.
After the July 22 public hearing, the ordinance will advance to a public hearing before the Council Land Use and Zoning Committee. That hearing will likely be on Aug. 5.