Research

Read or download the
2020-2021 Report

State of Downtown Report

Each year, Downtown Vision tracks and analyzes Downtown’s performance in key indicators of urban revitalization, such as development, employment and residential.

2020-2021 Report Highlights include:

  • Visitors are returning to Downtown.
    • The first two quarters of 2021 had 70% of the visit traffic as the same period as in 2019, prior to COVID-19.
    • Despite COVID-19, new retail is opening Downtown, such as: Bento Asian Kitchen + Sushi, Bread & Board Provisions, The Bread & Burger, Crazy Bean Coffee, Estrella Cocina, Ruby Beach Brewing and Underbelly.
    • Downtown hotel occupancy is at 72%, matching pre-COVID rates in January 2020.
    • A 135-room Residence Inn by Marriott is currently under construction in Brooklyn, and more than 500 rooms are in review with the City at hotel flags such as TRYP by Wyndham, Home2 Suites by Hilton, Marriott Bonvoy Autograph Collection and the Four Seasons.
    Downtown residents have increased 40% in five years to nearly 7,000.
    • The average occupancy for multi-family residential is 97.5%, up from 94% in the previous year.
    • Five hundred and fifty-two units in three residential projects are under construction—Ashley Square Apartments in the Cathedral District, The Doro in the Sports & Entertainment District, and The Southerly on the Southbank—and more than 1,800 units are in review with the City. Once these more than 2,300 units come online, we can expect to have more than 12,000 residents Downtown.
    • Residents cite city living/atmosphere, proximity to work and walkability as top reasons they enjoy living Downtown.
    Though Downtown makes up less than 1% of Jacksonville by area, 30% of Jacksonville’s office market inventory is located Downtown.
    • New FIS and JEA headquarters are under construction, adding 539,000 square feet of inventory.
    • While the full impact of COVID-19 is still to be determined, Downtown and the suburbs are seeing similar office trends. Office occupancy has increased to 19.7% vs. 19% in the suburbs. The average lease rate is holding steady at $22.41 vs. $21.32 in the suburbs.
    • Employees cite restaurants, entertainment, events and walkability as top reasons they enjoy working Downtown.
    The surge in public-private investment in Downtown continues with nearly $5 billion in major projects in the pipeline. 
    • Over $200 million in projects have been completed since the beginning of 2020 including the Jacksonville Regional Transportation Center, Vista Brooklyn and VyStar Credit Union headquarters.
    • Nearly $2 billion in projects are currently under construction including the transformational, mixed-use RiversEdge: Life on the St. Johns and Emerald Trail model-mile.
    • Significant adaptive reuse projects, such as the Laura Street Trio, Florida Baptist Convention and Federal Reserve Bank buildings, Ambassador Hotel and the Independent Life Building, are in review with the City.
    • The DIA invested approximately $70 million to leverage more than $400 million in private capital investment and new construction.

Downtown Investment Authority Reports

The Downtown Investment Authority (DIA) was created to revitalize Jacksonville’s urban core by utilizing Community Redevelopment Area (CRA) resources to spur economic development. Projects are guided by a nine-member board of directors who conduct open-to-the-public business on an unpaid, volunteer basis. Of the nine, five are appointed by the mayor, four by the council president. All nine are confirmed by the Jacksonville City Council.

DIA.COJ.NET | (904) 255-5302 | 117 W. Duval Street #310, Jacksonville, FL 32202

Downtown Master Plan

Jacksonville’s Downtown Master Plan, “Celebrating the River: A Plan for Downtown Jacksonville,” was approved in 2000 by Jacksonville City Council. The plan designates ten districts within the boundaries of Downtown, and outlines urban design and streetscape guidelines. 

View the Downtown Master Plan

Downtown Vision Annual Reports

Have you ever wondered, “What does Downtown Vision do?” From the Ambassador program, to marketing #DTJax, to the Lively And Beautiful Sidewalks (LABS) Initiative, and more, we stay busy! Check out our Annual Report and learn about the programs that make our organization special.