Research

Download the 2022 State of Downtown Report.

The 2022 State of Downtown Report details an unprecedented wealth of private and public development projects underway, attracting residents, transforming the riverfront, activating historic properties and creating equitable public amenities. 

Highlights include:

Downtown has a clear path to 10,000 multifamily residential units, which will attract more businesses, retail and amenities. 

• Demand for Downtown living is high with occupancy rates at 98%.
• The number of residents has nearly doubled in the past five years and is set to double again. The projected growth means Downtown’s 7,500 residents will grow to more than 16,000 people calling Downtown home.. 
• Residents cite entertainment and events, culture, restaurants, city living/atmosphere and walkability as top reasons they enjoy living Downtown.

Approximately $5 billion in development projects are in the pipeline, and the Downtown Investment Authority released a newly updated Business Investment and Development (BID) Plan to serve as a blueprint for smart Downtown development as interest swells. 

• $1.5 billion in projects are under construction, nearly 2,000 percent more than 10 years ago.  
• $2.5 billion in projects are in review with the City of Jacksonville, nearly double the value at this time last year.
• The Downtown Investment Authority has refined numerous incentive programs to attract diverse retail,  commercial tenants, affordable and market-rate multi-family housing, and hotels.

More than 100 acres of riverfront are being transformed to add vibrant living and retail options, create unique public spaces and make waterfront and boating access more plentiful.

• More than 2,200 riverfront residential units are under construction or in review at One Riverside Avenue, RiversEdge: Life on the St. Johns, American Lions High Rise, The Hardwick at Ford on Bay, RD River City Brewery and The Shipyards (Four Seasons) – all with restaurant or retail components.  
• The City of Jacksonville and partners are focused on creating world-class public space and amenities to celebrate Jacksonville’s history and identity, including St. Johns River Park and Friendship Fountain Activity Node, Musical Heritage Garden on the Jacksonville Performing Arts Center lawn, Riverfront Plaza–the former site of the Jacksonville Landing, as well as a cultural hub at Shipyards West Park.

Developers are revitalizing numerous historic properties and breathing life back into the NorthCore. 

• Long abandoned properties such as the Ambassador Hotel, Federal Reserve Bank, Florida Baptist Convention and Independent Life Insurance Building are all currently under construction. Upon completion, this adaptive reuse will deliver a 100-room boutique hotel, 164 residential units and 43,000 square feet of retail space to the small district north of City Center.
• Three additional and significant properties: the Central National Bank, The Den and Jones Bros. Furniture Building are in review with the City.

As visitors return to the culture and entertainment heart of the region, Downtown is set to become even more vibrant. 

• The number of Downtown visits has nearly returned to pre-pandemic levels. The first two quarters of 2022 had 80% of the visitor traffic as compared to the same time period prior to COVID-19.
• Two-hundred hotel rooms are currently under construction with another 463 rooms in review with the City.
• The City is constructing Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing Park to celebrate the contributions of brothers James Weldon Johnson and J Rosamond Johnson in the creation of the country’s “Black National Anthem.”
• MOSH is gearing up to construct a new, modern 130,000 square-foot museum situated next to the Jacksonville Fire Museum and USS Orleck. Together, these attractions will create a new museum district within the Sports and Entertainment District.

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 near completion and will add 539,000 square feet of office inventory and more than 350,000 additional square feet of office space is in review with the City.
• Despite larger than normal swings in occupancy, average lease rates remain at a 10-year high.
• Employees cite restaurants, entertainment, events, culture and walkability as top reasons they enjoy working Downtown.

Downtown Investment Authority Reports

The Downtown Investment Authority (DIA) is the Community Redevelopment Agency and the Economic Development arm of the City for Downtown Jacksonville. Guided by a nine-member board of directors, the DIA works to make Downtown a thriving and vibrant economic center for all. 

View all reports.

• DIA Business Investment & Development Plan (Bid Plan)
• Downtown Market Feasibility Study Part 1 of 2
• Downtown Market Feasibility Study Part 2 of 2
• Downtown Public Parking Strategy & Implementation Plan  
• Brooklyn Neighborhood Road Diet Study 
• Convention Center Feasibility Analysis 
• Jacksonville’s Southbank Technical Assistance Panel

Additional City and Downtown Organization Reports

City Of Jacksonville Economic Development
Partner Impact Report – The Economic Development Partner Impact Report details the results of the City’s collaborative efforts to strengthen the local economy and increase opportunities for the people of Jacksonville.

Emerald Trail Master Plan
In 2019, Jacksonville City Council approved Groundwork Jacksonville’s Emerald Trail Master Plan to create a 30-mile network of bicycle and pedestrian trails that will connect Downtown to 14 historic neighborhoods, 18 schools, two colleges, and nearly 30 parks. 

Cathedral District Master Plan
In 2017, Cathedral District Jax-Inc. (CDJ) commissioned a master plan with the purpose of developing a revitalization strategy for the neighborhood. The framework of the physical master plan is organization around the following ideas: create a residential core; make improved connections to surrounding neighborhoods and existing resources; create a mixed-use neighborhood-serving retail street; create safe and friendly walkable, bikeable streets; add open space; create religious public art program; attract a charter school; and develop a parking strategy.