Cathedral Commons, an affordable housing project five years in the making, moved forward April 9 with conceptual design approval from the Downtown Development Review Board.
The board supported the proposed 120-unit development at 527 Duval St. on a 7-0 vote, with Chair Linzee Ott and member Joseph Loretta not present. Loretta later joined the meeting by remote video connection.
With the vote, the project moves to consideration of final design approval by the DDRB, which serves as the planning commission for the eight districts that make up Downtown Jacksonville. A vote on final approval has not been scheduled.
In 2022, JWB Real Estate Capital received final design approval for a different version of Cathedral Commons comprising 175 units and 18 buildings.
That version was redesigned, with the current version including two three-story buildings. JWB remains the developer.
Bruce Werner, principal architect of Bold Line Design, told DDRB members the combined buildings encompass 92,000 square feet, with surface parking in the core of each structure. Plans call for 18 studio, 78 one-bedroom and 24 two-bedroom apartments.
According to materials in the DDRB agenda packet, amenities include a community grill and dining area, outdoor fitness facility, community garden, clubroom, business center and bookshelves for a community library.
A cost estimate and prospective rents were not mentioned.
DDRB staff recommended conceptual approval.
JWB has developed or redeveloped several Downtown projects and is a partner in Gateway Jax, which is developing its $750 million Pearl Square across nine Downtown properties. In February, JWB moved its offices into The Greenleaf building at 208 N. Laura St., which it purchased for $7 million in 2022 and spent $17 million renovating.