Downtown Jacksonville’s “lighthouse” parking garage would get a makeover as part of the Gateway Jax redevelopment project under a design that will go before the Downtown Development Review Board on Oct. 10.
The board will consider giving final design approval for the property, at 721 N. Pearl St., which constitutes Block N5 of the Gateway Jax project. It is part of the more than $400 million first phase of the project, known as the Pearl Street District.
The new design of the five-story parking garage would add storefronts along the Beaver Street frontage and on the corners of Pearl and Julia streets.
Staff recommends approval of the design on the condition that the developer continues to work with staff members to make the project comply with design standards that are specific to Downtown’s NorthCore District, where the property is located. Those standards apply to furnishing, landscaping and hardscaping.
The DDRB granted conceptual approval to Block N5 in July 2024.
The block is bordered by Beaver, Julia, Pearl and Union streets and is distinguishable by the light tower structure on its northwest corner.
JWB Real Estate Capital, a partner in the Gateway Jax project, bought the garage in 2022 from First Baptist Church of Jacksonville for $5.924 million.
Renderings show an addition of a brick-and-glass line of retail shops along Beaver Street, signage reading “Pearl Street District” on the southwest and southeast corners of the garage, and a geometric painting design on the tower, plus new trees and other landscaping.
Other design elements include a J-shaped statue with the city’s name running vertically along the stem of the letter.
The Gateway Jax project is a partnership of lead developer Bryan Moll, JWB and DLP Capital, who say it could grow to encompass more than 20 blocks of Downtown at an investment of more than $2 billion. The fully developed project would include 1,160 apartments, office space, 120,000 square feet of grocery-anchored retail space and parking over the next decade.
The DDRB has approved designs for blocks N4, N11 and N8.
On Aug. 13, Jacksonville City Council granted final approval to a $98.58 million package of city incentives for the Pearl Street District.
The board meets at 2 p.m. in the Main Library, 303 N. Laura St.
