A planned affordable housing complex near Jacksonville’s Sports and Entertainment District and the Duval County jail moved forward May 14 after receiving final approval from the Downtown Development Review Board.
The DDRB voted 6-0, with members Ennis Davis, Frederick Jones and Joseph Loretta absent, to approve the project. As part of its role, the DDRB serves as the planning commission for the eight districts that make up Downtown Jacksonville.
The 120-unit Cathedral Commons apartment building at 527 E. Duval St. received conceptual approval from the DDRB in April 2026.
In 2022, DDRB approved a different version of the project. JWB Real Estate Capital, the developer, had previously produced a plan with 175 units and 18 buildings before altering its scope.
The current plan calls for two three-story buildings, and JWB remains the developer.
Cathedral Commons is planned on a vacant lot in the Cathedral District, near single-family homes and two law offices.
Bruce Werner, principal architect of Bold Line Design, told DDRB members in April 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.
On May 14, DDRB approved a motion for final approval with no questions for the developer and little comment.
“I know this has been a couple of years of thoughtful planning at this point, so thank you for that work,” Chair Linzee Ott said.
According to materials in the DDRB agenda packet, amenities will include a community grill and dining area, outdoor fitness facility and community garden.
Kimley-Horn is the civil engineer and landscape architect for the project. The site is three blocks north of the jail, formally the John E. Goode Pre-trial Detention Facility, at 500 E. Adams St. It is less than one-half mile west of VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena.