The fence surrounding the historic Bostwick Building has been up for weeks, but it likely was Tuesday before passersby noticed a change in what will become a high-end steak and seafood restaurant.
It’s when workers carefully removed the various pieces of the structure’s iconic jaguar mural, the painted plywood pieces that have been a fixture at Bay and Ocean streets for two decades. They’ll be protected and returned to Jim Draper, the artist who painted them before the first Jacksonville Jaguars game in 1995.
For the moment, the now exposed windows offer a glimpse into the extensive work that must be done before the first diners head to the Cowford Chophouse.
It’ll start with bracing the exterior, which will happen in the next several weeks. A crew with Elkins Constructors on Tuesday continued work for that step, clearing the sidewalk and clearing area around the palm trees that must be moved.
Those passing by today might see a backhoe clearing the area in preparation for the metal bracing beams that soon will be in place.
They’re needed to secure the structure before the building can be gutted and stabilized.
In total, it’s a $6 million venture spearheaded by Forking Amazing Restaurants, led by Jacques Klempf. The group owns Ovinte at the St. Johns Town Center, Bistro Aix in San Marco and II Desco in Riverside, formerly Pele’s Wood Fire.
The chophouse is expected to breathe new life into a long dormant, dilapidated building and is the first renovation project assisted by the Downtown Investment Authority.
The authority signed off on the project receiving $750,000 in public funding, comprising a $250,000 loan and $500,000 coming from the Downtown Historic Revitalization Trust Fund.
Aundra Wallace, the authority’s CEO, said Tuesday he was “very excited” work on the building has begun and that he looked forward to the restaurant “becoming a showcase for Downtown.”
“Can’t wait until it opens,” he said.
Officials with Forking Amazing Restaurants will provide a status update on the project to the DIA board at its meeting this month or in September, Wallace said.
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