Legislation to expand the Gateway Jax development in Downtown Jacksonville cleared the City Council Land Use and Zoning Committee on Feb. 4.
On twin 5-0 votes, with two members not present, the committee approved ordinances providing a land-use amendment and rezoning to facilitate mixed-use development of the property at 901, 937 and 940 N. Main St.
Downtown commuters may be familiar with 901 N. Main St., the location of the unused parking structure that remains from the demolished Park View Inn on the southern border of Springfield. Now shielded by Gateway Jax cladding, the structure had for years been visible to thousands of cars traveling west on State Street daily.
937 Main St. is the site of the Claude Nolan Cadillac building, which was designed by noted Jacksonville architect Henry Klutho. Another portion of the properties was used by Florida State College at Jacksonville.
Together, the parcels comprise 5.1 acres.
Gateway Jax, which has unveiled plans to invest more than $2 billion in Downtown, proposes to build offices, commercial retail, service establishments, restaurants and multifamily dwellings on the North Main Street properties.
Presenting a staff report, city Current Planning Division Chief Erin Abney called Gateway’s plans for the properties “a perfect redevelopment project for this location.”
The Jacksonville Planning Commission endorsed the land-use amendment and rezoning for the parcels on a 6-0 vote Jan. 9. The legislation drew no opposition at the Planning Commission and LUZ meetings, putting it on track for final approval by the full Council on Feb. 11.
The LUZ’s votes came on Ordinances 2024-0914 and 2024-0915, which provided the rezoning and land-use amendment, respectively. The land use amendment is from several different categories to Regional Commercial with a Site-Specific Future Land Use Element Policy.
The rezoning is from Planned Unit Development and Public Buildings and Facilities to Planned Unit Development.
On the rezoning, the committee approved conditions endorsed by the Planning Commission to withhold building permits for 901 N. Main St. until the property complies with Florida Department of Environmental Protection soil and groundwater regulations.
Another condition calls for a traffic study.
Gateway Jax is a partnership between principal developer Bryan Moll, JWB Real Estate Capital and DLP Capital. After acquiring more than two dozen properties in Downtown and Springfield, the partners broke ground on their construction, a seven-story building called Pearl Square, in October 2024.
LUZ members who voted for the ordinances were Kevin Carrico, the committee’s chair, Raul Arias, Rory Diamond, Ken Amaro and Reggie Gaffney Jr. Members Joe Carlucci and Rahman Johnson were not present.