Project to revitalize Jacksonville's downtown another step closer

Imagine an amphitheater surrounded by a perfect circle of water ringed by palm trees planted right at the doorstep of Jacksonvilles downtown. Theres a seven-story apartment complex and 18,000 square feet of retail space.

Think about what it could do to jump-start a sluggish downtown.

Alex Coley has. He started planning 220 Riverside about 10 years ago. Its an ambitious plan that combines residential multifamily housing with retail space and a community area.

One of two founders behind the development company NAI Hallmark Partners, Coley was one of the speakers at the groundbreaking for Unity Plaza Sunday night.

There will be kiosks around the man-made pond, and there are also plans for mini libraries where people can pick up a book and read in the shade, he said. The half park, half amphitheater has a capacity for 2,000 people.

Coley sees Unity Plaza as connecting downtown to the neighborhoods that surround it.

The notion is its a place where we can kick off our shoes and all be comfortable to recognize one another and coalesce as a community in a way that we have never been able to do in the past, he said.

Mayor Alvin Brown also spoke at the groundbreaking. Hes been a champion of the project and said hes excited to see it progress.

What is happening here is a team effort and it shows what can happen when the public and private sectors work together, Brown said.

The city in December provided about $2.6 million in funds for construction of Unity Plaza. Total construction cost of the 220 Riverside project is more than $30 million.

Go here to see the original:
Project to revitalize Jacksonville's downtown another step closer