220 Riverside development, Unity Plaza on track for fall, early 2015 opening

An ambitious $40 million retail, residential and public park project that has risen from the ground in the historically neglected Brooklyn neighborhood along Riverside Avenue is on track for completion by fall 2014 or early next year, developers said Wednesday.

The timeline for some pieces of the 220 Riverside development have been pushed back slightly because of a few routine construction delays. But Alex Coley, principal with Hallmark Partners, the lead developer, said the project is moving steadily forward and should be fully completed no later than early 2015.

220 Riverside will have 294 apartments, 18,000 feet of retail space, 397 parking spaces and Unity Plaza, a park that will circle and overlook the city pond at the corner of Riverside Avenue and Forest Street.

Pre-leasing has begun on the first batch of 220 Riversides 294 apartments, which will be delivered in September followed by the rest in November or later next year. Developers say interest has been high, thanks in part to a boom in activity along the road that represents the busiest development near downtown Jacksonville.

Were getting a lot of buzz here, said Tri Ball, the developments property manger.

Construction on Unity Plaza, a public park that serves as the spiritual centerpiece of the development, is to begin within 30 days and be complete late this year or early 2015.

In between the retail space on the ground floor and the pond will be the plaza, which will have an amphitheater and grassy area able to accommodate about 2,000 people. Coley hopes to program events more than 300 days each year. In December, the city provided $2.6 million for Unity Plaza construction.

Hallmark is very close to signing tenants for the retail space, he said.

The apartments will rent for $1,040 to $2,000 per month, Ball said. She said progress has been moving fast but would not disclose how many apartments have been pre-leased.

Two other major developments along Riverside Avenue are helping generate interest, Ball said.

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220 Riverside development, Unity Plaza on track for fall, early 2015 opening