The city is reviewing a site-work permit for horizontal development at the Emerald Station at 2230 N. Liberty St. in the Phoenix Arts & Innovation District.
Vallencourt Inc. of Green Cove Springs is the contractor for the estimated $299,714 project, described as the demolition of existing asphalt, sidewalk and storm drains for replacement with a new streetscape.
District developers held a ribbon cutting Oct. 30 for the Emerald Station, which is the first renovated building in the Phoenix Arts & Innovation District.
Anthony Cho, the district’s lead developer, is the CEO of Miami-based Future of Cities and founding managing partner of PHXJAX, which are developing the 8.3-acre property in North Springfield.
Cho said at the event that he was drawn to the site partly because of its proximity to the Emerald Trail, the system of trails, greenways and parks under construction along a route of 30-plus miles in and near Downtown.
The 17,000-square-foot Emerald Station, previously used as a warehouse, includes 7,000 square feet of creative offices, conference rooms, an in-house catering kitchen and a space for the city of Jacksonville’s Small and Emerging Business incubator.
It also houses a 10,000-square-foot event space, managed by the Twinkle Collective, which was used for the ceremony.
The district is mostly on property bordered by Main, 15th and Liberty streets and an east-west rail line. The site primarily comprises abandoned industrial properties and green spaces.
Fully built-out, the district will include 10 separate properties, including conversions of four warehouses and green spaces into office space, artist studios, galleries, retail establishments and restaurants. Affordable housing also will be included.
In June 2024, Council approved $5.5 million in incentives for the Phoenix district, with the package comprising a $1.5 million Recapture Enhanced Value Grant plus $2 million completion grants for each of two phases of construction.
A REV grant is a refund on ad valorem tax revenue generated by a new development.
Council also approved a rezoning request to Planned Unit Development to permit commercial and multifamily uses in the district.
Support also came from the Local Initiatives Support Corp., which provided a $7 million loan for the project.