Gateway Jax unveiled how its planned downtown tower filled with luxury hotel rooms, condominiums and a skyview terrace would fit into Riverfront Plaza and won unanimous backing Sept. 10 from the Downtown Development Review Board in the first of several steps for the developer.
The construction of a tower on the downtown riverfront park has faced opposition in the past from members of the public who said it will overwhelm the experience of enjoying an outing on the riverfront.
But with city officials deciding to move ahead with a tower rather than a smaller building on the back corner of the park, Gateway Jax's visionfor blending the building with the park got enthusiastic reviews by DDRB members who called it a "home run" and a "grand slam."
The
development will consist of a pedestal topped by a 17-story tower parallel to the Main Street bridge and a seven-story building alongside Independent Drive. The L-shaped building wraps around a 5,000 square foot terrace that would be open to public.
A heavily landscaped stairway would connect the park to the terrace where people would be able take in views of the St. Johns River and eat at two full-service restaurants.
Arno Adkins, a partner with Cookfox Architects in New York City, said the design of the terrace was "heavily influenced by the design of the park itself" so parkgoers coming up to the third-floor terrace would "feel as though they're still in the park."
"Our intent is that this really and truly feels like a building rising out of the park, fully integrated with it," said Cyndy Trimmer, an attorney representing Gateway Jax.
Gateway Jax CEO Brian Mollsaid talks with seven potential hoteliers have narrowed down to two finalists.
"I think either one of them would be really terrific additions to downtown, especially the waterfront," he told DDRB members.
The development will consist of 130 to 170 hotel rooms and 50 to 150 residential units. The city will require the hotel to have a four-star or five-star rating, the two highest for the industry.
The DDRB review focuses on the exterior appearance of buildings in downtown. Gateway Jax's pursuit of financial incentives from taxpayers will go forward on a separate track to the Downtown Investment Authority board and then ultimately to City Council.
This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Gateway Jax clears first step for tower in downtown Riverfront Plaza
