JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – With Jacksonville’s downtown undergoing a significant transformation with a growing population and new developments reshaping the urban landscape, city leaders said they hope to have 10,000 people living in the area by next year and have that number grow even more in the next few years.
According to a recent report by Downtown Vision, approximately 7,653 people now call downtown Jacksonville home. This increase in residents is attributed to a surge in new apartment buildings, such as Artea, Union Terminal, One Riverside, and Lofts at Cathedral, which have been quickly leased.
Natalia Adams, who owns a lemonade stand downtown, notes the bustling foot traffic, especially during lunch hours.
“Yes, during the lunchtime from 11 to 2,” she said.
The city of Jacksonville is collaborating with Downtown Vision to further enhance the area’s appeal.
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Ginny Myrick, CEO of the Cathedral District, shared that new developments are quickly filling up, including the one in her district, Lofts and Cathedral.
“They were all leased up within 60 days,” she said, emphasizing the high demand for downtown living.
Mayor Deegan also acknowledged the growth.
“We need more than that. But look at what has happened just in the last 10 years and where we are now.”
The mayor pointed to the development in areas like Brooklyn and the North Bank as examples of the city’s progress.
The push for urban living is driven by the desire to create a vibrant community with amenities that attract young people.
“Young people want to be in an urban setting,” Deegan said.
She also added that The Pearl Square District and Riverfront Plaza are among the projects aimed at drawing more residents and businesses to the area.
“It’s all about making sure that all those pieces are happening at the same time. It’s hard when you just work on one piece, because you’ve got to have places for people to live, but you also have to have amenities for them to have things to do,” Deegan said.
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With a goal of 13,000 people in downtown Jacksonville by 2030, it certainly would not hurt businesses like Natalia Adams’s at Urban Panache.
“I can make enough (lemonade). Trust me,” she said.
