Designs for a Southbank hotel and Northbank high-rise are set for first-step consideration March 12 by the Downtown Development Review Board.
The board has scheduled conceptual reviews for a 15-story hotel on Baptist Health’s campus and the 32-story Fleet Landing Riverside, a retirement community planned on the former Haskell headquarters property in the Brooklyn district of Downtown.
Fleet Landing announced in February that its first-phase plans for the 7.39-acre site at 111 Riverside Ave. comprised 239 independent living residences, 28 assisted living and 18 memory care suites, a parking garage, multiple dining venues, a swimming pool, a performing arts center and elevated decks.
A project overview shows the design is for nearly 780,000 gross square feet, including more than 398,000 square feet dedicated to residential space, supported by circulation and amenity areas. Some spaces, along with access to the Riverwalk, will be available to the public.
Haskell, a global building services company, built the Riverside Avenue headquarters building in 1986. It sold the structure and adjacent parking lot for $27.25 million in 2008 and was leasing it back. Haskell has moved its headquarters to the Southbank.
Fleet Landing’s first campus, established by a group of military officers in 1985, is in Atlantic Beach. The not-for-profit’s mission is “to enrich the lives of older adults through high-quality programs and services to support successful aging.”
Fleet Landing also is building a $146 million campus in Nocatee.
For the Baptist Health project is a 226-room dual-brand Marriott property at 1051 Palm Ave., which is now a parking lot.
Plans for the $110 million development call for a 134-room Marriott Tribute Portfolio boutique hotel and a 92-room Element by Westin extended stay hotel.
Other elements include 5,200 square feet of conference space, a 5,000-square-foot rooftop restaurant, a 1,000-square-foot ground-floor cafe and a 113-space parking garage.
On Jan. 21, the Downtown Investment Authority board approved a $12.9 million Recapture Enhanced Value Grant and an $8 million completion grant for the hotel.
Under the city’s governance structure, the DIA vote on the REV Grant constituted final action. The proposed completion grant advances to Council, which has final authority on whether to approve, deny or alter it because it would involve a payout from the city’s operating fund.
A REV Grant is a refund on ad valorem tax revenue generated by a new development or property enhancement. With REV Grants, the city agrees to forego some tax revenue but does not pay the grant from its operating fund.
Should the DDRB give conceptual approval for the projects, the developers would need to return to the board for final design approval.
The DDRB’s role includes serving as a planning commission for Downtown.
The meeting is scheduled for 2 p.m. at the main Jacksonville Public Library at 303 N. Laura St.