People come to Downtown Jacksonville for events like the 2024 Jax River Jams in April 2024. | Michelle Corum, Jacksonville Today
Published on November 21, 2024 at 2:15 pm
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Downtown Jacksonville is closing out the year with more investment dollars and visitors, but it’s also shedding some of its workforce and residents.
Downtown Vision Inc.’s 2024 State of Downtown Report provides an annual look at the decades-long effort to revitalize Jacksonville. The report released this week includes economic data, public and private investment updates, survey results and other information from its eight districts.
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The upshot: Downtown gained private investment this year and attracted more visitors, although still fewer than before the pandemic. But it lost 150 people from its workforce, and Downtown has a greater share of empty offices — 28% — than other big Florida cities, according to the Jacksonville Daily Record.
Development is on the upswing, with nearly $9 billion in the works, including high-profile projects like the stadium makeover and the 4 Seasons hotel, but also One Riverside, the former site of the Florida Times Union building. Other projects include The Lofts at Cathedral Apartments renovated from an old YMCA building. Its grand opening will be Dec. 11.
Four retail establishments set up shop: Cereal Bar Live, Cinco de Mayo, Degree Wellness and Toon Town Pickleball.
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According to the report, more than 7,600 people live Downtown, down slightly from last year. When surveyed, most downtown residents named the “urban vibe” and walkability as very important.
Downtown Jacksonville starts 2025 with more than 2,000 residential units under construction and 13 multifamily developments under review, totaling almost 3,000 units. There are plans for 500 more hotel rooms.
As for visitors during 2024, 4 million came for events like sports, concerts and festivals. A total of 500 visitors were surveyed and asked what word comes to mind for Downtown. Most mentioned “homeless” and “empty,” but even more said “potential.”
The full report on the state of downtown is at DTJAX.com.
