First Coast Energy received a portion of permitting it needs to build a gas station and convenience store in LaVilla, a project that drew neighborhood opposition as it advanced through the design approval process.
The St. Johns River Water Management District issued an individual environmental resource permit Dec. 19, 2025, allowing Jacksonville-based First Coast Energy to build a stormwater management system at the project site, a 1.47-acre block bounded by Forsyth, Jefferson, Bay and Broad streets.
In August 2023, the Downtown Development Review Board granted final design approval for the proposed two-story gas station and convenience store, which was planned to include a Bold City Brewery and restaurant.
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.
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 were out of character with the neighborhood.
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 remained standing as of Jan. 12.
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.
In August 2025, Jacksonville City Council approved a three-year extension to First Coast Energy LLP for the final design approval it received from the DDRB.
The extension was contained in Ordinance 2025-0470, which was designed to allow the developer 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.
The St. Johns River Water Management District application describes the project as a 1.47-acre mixed-use development at 55 N. Jefferson St. proposing the construction of a three-story building with a convenience store and fuel pumps.
The environmental resource permit technical staff report dated Dec. 19, 2025, says the project includes the construction of a multi-use property with subsurface piped stormwater collection to the existing municipal drainage network.
The applicant is First Coast Energy LLC founder and CEO Aubrey Edge.
England-Thims & Miller is the civil engineer.