Ashley Square can take shape in the Cathedral District Downtown.
The city issued a permit Nov. 12 for NEI General Contracting Inc. of Ocoee to build the 120-unit senior housing community at 650 N. Newnan St.
Blue Sky Communities of Tampa is the developer and PQH Group Design Inc. of Jacksonville is the architect for the 168,260-square-foot project for older adults.
The development is an independent living community for people age 62 and older and people with disabilities.
Plans show two levels of parking topped by a four-story apartment building.
The 120 units comprise 96 one-bedroom and 24 two-bedroom apartments.
Cathedral Foundation of Jacksonville Inc. is the property owner.
The Downtown Development Review Board gave final design approval in November 2019.
According to the board application, 90% of the units are for those who qualify for affordable housing, with 10% set aside for low-income residents.
Ashley Square includes other residential services and activities.
The lot is bordered by Beaver, Ashley and Newnan streets, west of the Stevens Duval Apartments.
Blue Sky Communities and nonprofit Aging True Community Senior Services said previously they will invest $15 million to convert the 1.03-acre parking lot into 650-square-foot one-bedroom units and 900-square-foot two-bedroom units.
A site plan also calls for a 160-space, ground-level parking garage with the apartments built above it.
According to agingtrue.org, since 1962, Aging True — operating as Cathedral Foundation of Jacksonville Inc. and subsequently in partnership with Urban Jacksonville Inc. — has designed and administered programs to help seniors in Northeast Florida.
Cathedral Foundation of Jacksonville was established by a group of St. John’s Cathedral parishioners concerned about the health and welfare of the elderly in Jacksonville.
The initiative expanded in 1974 to include Urban Jacksonville as a focused community service division dedicated to the needs of seniors.