NOVEMBER 21 TO NOVEMBER 27, 2024 | JAXDAILYRECORD.COM
BUSINESS & LEGAL NEWS IN BAKER, CLAY, DUVAL, NASSAU AND ST. JOHNS COUNTIES
INSIDE
THE DVI’S ‘STATE OF DOWNTOWN’ REPORT Downtown Vision Inc. CEO Jake Gordon takes questions on “zombie” projects, who’s counted as a visitor, and more.
INSIDE
THE MATHIS REPORT
Warehouse designed for smaller customers PAGE 4
CITY GOVERNMENT
Laura Street Trio incentive talks again break down PAGE 8
READ THE REPORT Downtown Vision Inc. released its 2024 State of Downtown Report to its board Nov. 20. A full interactive version of the report is scheduled to be live online Dec. 3. Visit the DVI website at dtjax.com.
BY RIC ANDERSON ASSOCIATE EDITOR
D
owntown Jacksonville experienced gains in private investment in 2024, attracted an increased number of visitors and starts 2025 with more than 2,000 residential units under construction and plans for 500-plus additional hotel rooms in development. But the residential population dipped,
visitorship still fell short of pre-pandemic levels and the Downtown workforce shrank while office vacancy increased significantly. Those are among the details of the 2024 State of Downtown Report by Downtown Vision Inc., which provides an annual status check on the decades-long effort to revitalize the heart of Jacksonville. Presented to the DVI board Nov. 20, the 40-page report includes economic data; survey results; demographics, public and
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private investment updates; and more information about Downtown’s eight districts. DVI’s mission includes promoting Downtown locally and beyond, organizing events and activities to invigorate the core, and providing maintenance, trash pickup, security and hospitality through its Downtown Ambassador program. The nonprofit is funded mostly by SEE REPORT, PAGE 6
DEVELOPMENT
The HUB Brooklyn breaks ground Developers of a multiuse restaurant, office and event space, a project four years in the making, broke ground Nov. 14 at 400 Riverside Ave. in Downtown Jacksonville. PAGE 12
THE BASCH REPORT
REAL ESTATE
Vehicle maker Cenntro settles two eviction lawsuits
Top home sales of the week
Electric vehicle maker Cenntro Inc., which ended its Jacksonville operations after being served with two eviction actions in the spring, reaches settlements on both lawsuits. PAGE 10
Oceanfront three-story home with Intracoastal Waterway views sells for $3.5 million. PAGE 14
VOLUME 112, NO. 2 | TWO SECTIONS | PUBLISHED SINCE 1912