Plans to build onto both ends of the Gates of Riverside building in Brooklyn took a step forward April 10 when the Downtown Development Review Board granted conceptual approval of designs for the project on a 7-0 vote.
The two additions to the structure at 245 Riverside Ave., formerly the St. Joe Co. headquarters, would house a restaurant on the St. Johns River side and retail establishments, offices and potentially restaurants on the Riverside Avenue side.
“This is a home-run project,” DDRB member Frederick Jones said. “It’s a great way to add some additional infill in this area.”
With the project having received conceptual approval, the DDRB will vote later on whether to grant it final design approval.
Conceptual plans show a one-story, 6,045-square-foot restaurant building with rooftop dining capability would be constructed near the St. Johns River on the property.
Along Riverside Avenue would be a two-story structure with retail on the ground floor and office space above. Plans show the total square footage for that building is 24,334 square feet, divided evenly between the two floors.
Ben Hakimian, president of Hakimian Holdings, bought the building for $25.15 million in 2022 through Gates of Riverside LLC.
In a presentation to the board, project architect Robert Maurer of RAM Architecture said several restaurants had expressed interest to Hakimian in moving into the riverside location.
“Every one of them really like this space and like the rooftop,” he said, adding that the restaurateurs had encouraged a design that featured mostly glass exterior walls.
Maurer said plans called for a boat ramp on the property to be renovated to allow for boaters to access the restaurant. The final design, he said, would include landscaping improvements for the area between the river and restaurant, and to the Riverside Avenue-facing addition.
Nancy Powell, executive director of Scenic Jacksonville, said the organization supported the project and suggested that the final design prioritize shade trees near both additions. She also recommended including lawn furniture, umbrellas and other outdoor amenities in an event space on the property to be used on a regular basis.
“We applaud the addition of the restaurant,” she said. “I think everybody wants more dining options.”
DDRB staff recommended approval of the conceptual design.
“We’re pretty stoked about this project. “It’s firing on a lot of cylinders for us,” said Guy Parola, who made the staff presentation to the board. Parola is director of operations for the Downtown Investment Authority.
The restaurant would be attached to the 135,000-square-foot mid-rise building. The retail/office structure would front the parking garage, which extends from the main building toward Riverside Avenue.