The Riverfront Plaza restaurant would be situated on the banks of the St. Johns River.
Published on February 22, 2024 at 10:58 am
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A plan to build a restaurant on the waterfront at the new Riverfront Plaza got the go-ahead Thursday over some objections.
The site of the former Jacksonville Landing was originally going to be turned into open green space next to the St. Johns River with a cafe and playground closer to the street. But a new proposal would reconfigure the layout and put the restaurant right on the water.
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Several residents shared their concerns about the swap at Thursday’s DIA board meeting. Some said it would be a bad idea to build on the water where it could be vulnerable to flooding. Others were upset that the restaurant would block views of the river.
On the other hand, the JAX Chamber supports the newest plan, believing Downtown needs more riverfront amenities to draw visitors. The DIA board mostly agreed, and voted to approve the restaurant.
City Chief Resilience Officer Anne Coglianese says her office is working to ensure the building (and the entire park) will be constructed in accordance with the city’s resilience plan and there should be no concern about flooding.
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The mayor’s office plans to hold a series of community meetings starting next month to discuss the park plans and other riverfront updates. (Jacksonville Today)
