What’s going on at Riverfront Plaza?

Construction is underway at Riverfront Plaza, the former site of the Jacksonville Landing, to turn it from a field of dreams into a park of reality. A story we shared in Thursday’s newsletter said the city just issued a construction permit for a restaurant at the park — but as eagle-eyed reader Rick P. pointed out, that’s an oversimplification.

Here’s what’s really going on:

Park plans include two different businesses that will both serve food: a “cafe” and a “restaurant.” The “cafe” that was approved this week will be situated near the intersection of Hogan Street and Independent Drive, away from the waterfront. According to Downtown Investment Authority documents, it is expected to serve “light fare” for lunch. The building will also have a park office and public bathrooms. It’s expected to open next year.

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Separately, the investment authority has approved a “restaurant” (which, confusingly, is labeled in renderings with the words “cafe” and “restaurant” on the same building). That restaurant, complete with a bar and outdoor seating, will serve breakfast, lunch and dinner, and “position itself as an accessible culinary haven offering a diverse selection of high-quality offerings.” The restaurant was approved in February over activists’ objections to its proximity to the river and its potential to obstruct the view of the water or flood in a storm. That restaurant hasn’t been designed yet and is anticipated to open in 2026.

(In addition to those, a “beer garden” that serves lunch and dinner is also planned, so park visitors will have plenty of food options.)

What isn’t approved for the park: the 44-story residential building that was originally pitched. And, of course, the “lerp” sculpture will remain nothing more than a collective fever dream we all had during the pandemic.