Work continues on the Phoenix Arts & Innovation District as the city issued a permit Feb. 13 for renovations of the Liberty Building.
Avant Construction Group of Jacksonville is the contractor for the $625,000 project at 2336 Liberty St. JAA Architecture Inc. is the architect.
The project comprises life safety, roofing, glazing and renovation work on 17,533 square feet of space in the building to prepare it for eventual tenant build-out.
Naked Kitchen, a restaurant with plant-based and protein options and the motto “Cooking with Conscience,” previously announced it will lease within the Liberty Building. It is the first food and beverage concept to enter a lease agreement in the project.
The Future of Cities announced Dec. 11 its Phoenix Arts & Innovation District in Jacksonville was starting the first phase of construction on two properties at 2320 and 2336 N. Liberty St.
Future of Cities said previously the first phase would begin with The Emerald Station, featuring creative offices, community gathering spaces and a warehouse event facility, and The Liberty Building, which will house 17,850 square feet of affordable artist studios, galleries, small-format retail and restaurants.
Developers intend to open an outdoor market space by spring 2024 to serve as a hub of community activity.
A spokesperson said Jan. 15 that construction would begin immediately on the Emerald Station property and work on The Liberty Building would begin in the first quarter of 2024.
Future of Cities has said the first phase of work is funded through the Dec. 6 closure of a $7 million loan from Local Initiatives Support Corp.
Since 2020, companies owned by Miami-based Future of Cities have been buying property to regenerate the North Springfield neighborhood, primarily comprising old warehouse and vacant space, into affordable housing, innovation, markets, food trucks, events, green space and more.
Property records show that between 2020 and 2023, Future of Cities companies, led by founder and CEO Tony Cho, have paid about $8.3 million for most of 8.3 acres comprising about two dozen parcels east of Main Street to Liberty Street, south of East 15th Street and generally north of the rail line, with three parcels south of the line.
The property is north of Springfield and in the Eastside area, all north of Downtown.
A spokesperson previously declined to comment when asked whether more parcels will be bought to add to the 8.3-acre property.
The district encompasses 120,000 square feet of “adaptively repurposed” warehouse spaces in the designated opportunity zone.
Preliminary site work began in spring 2023.
Ownership of the Phoenix Arts & Innovation District recently filed a master plan with the city in January in its next step to regenerate the neighborhood.
The master plan and Planned Unit Development implementation document outline road and street widths, the proposed Emerald Trail, phasing estimates, parking pedestrian circulation, building uses and heights, and architectural visualizations.
“The Phoenix Arts & Innovation District is an opportunity to co-create in partnership with the neighborhood of North Springfield a new vision for its future,” said Cho, founding managing partner of PHX JAX, in a December news release.
The Phoenix Arts & Innovation District is also called PHX JAX, which will continue to host community events during redevelopment.
Those wanting information about coworking, artist studios or event opportunities may email [email protected].