Get ready for the Pearl Street District as one of our first guests on This Week in Jacksonville: Business Edition is back with an exciting update.

What was once a parking lot in Jacksonville’s downtown could soon become high-rise condos.

Discussions on how to move forward with redeveloping the iconic Laura Street Trio buildings have started once again.

This episode focuses on downtown, with Lori Boyer, CEO of the Downtown Investment Authority.

Downtown Investment Authority CEO Lori Boyer is frustrated, claiming the DIA’s work is on hold until the Jacksonville City Council decides how the agency will operate.

The head of the group in charge of development and growth in Downtown Jacksonville says the City Council’s efforts to intervene are responsible for more delays in long-awaited projects.

The Downtown Investment Authority staff again recommended that the city end negotiations with the developer of the Laura Street Trio on the latest round of requests for public incentives to resurrect the historic buildings, according to News4JAX’s news partner the Jacksonville Daily Record.

The Downtown Investment Authority staff again recommended that the city end negotiations with the developer of the Laura Street Trio on the latest round of requests for public incentives to resurrect the historic buildings, according to News4JAX’s news partner the Jacksonville Daily Record.

The Downtown Investment Authority (DIA) on Friday will discuss a multi-million dollar incentive package to help rebuild the Rise Doro apartments.

The future of Jacksonville’s downtown is under debate.

The special committee examining the future of downtown Jacksonville is scheduled to meet Monday morning, and Jax Chamber officials are expected to share some of the lessons learned from a recent trip to Downtown Phoenix.

A new committee looking at the city agency that’s supposed to bring in development to downtown met for the first time Monday. The question many have now is why downtown development is taking so long and what about the future of the Downtown Investment Authority and its leader, Lori Boyer.

Downtown Investment Authority CEO Lori Boyer could soon have her contract extended.

Downtown Investment Authority CEO, Lori Boyer, is welcoming the city council committee's look at her agency and the pace of downtown development.

Jacksonville City Council President Ron Salem announced a Special Committee that will look into the efficacy of the Downtown Investment Authority.

Plans to build a self-storage facility with affordable housing and retail space in San Marco are moving forward after the Jacksonville city council voted to bring the facility to the corner of Hendricks Avenue and Prudential Drive.

Downtown development is on the minds of people in Jacksonville.

The future of the Laura Street Trio project in downtown Jacksonville might be in jeopardy, according to a new letter from the developer that was shared by The Jaxson Mag on social media.

The city of Jacksonville gave a presentation Wednesday for updates on dozens of public projects throughout every neighborhood downtown.

The city of Jacksonville gave a presentation Wednesday for updates on dozens of public projects throughout every neighborhood downtown.

Due to rising costs, two of the biggest housing developments that were set to be built in downtown Jacksonville are likely never going to happen, according to the Jacksonville Daily Record, News4JAX’s news partner.

The Gateway Jax project, also known as The Pearl Street District, is expected to get incentives from the city to start construction mid-2024.

When a portion of the parking garage at Ascension St. Vincent’s collapsed this week in Riverside, it brought to light the lack of inspections required for garages across Jacksonville.

A prime spot on East Bay Street in downtown Jacksonville is in line for big changes.

The Downtown Investment Authority (DIA) met on Thursday to talk about how much more money could be needed for projects on both the Northbank and the Southbank, including the area known as the Shipyards and the former home of the Jacksonville Landing, now called Riverfront Plaza.

A Shad Khan project is getting a big boost from Jacksonville city council leaders.

Some work is underway on the Shipyards project, which involves a new hotel and office building on Jacksonville’s Northbank, but costs have gone up, and all indications are the deal that the Jaguars have with the city is about to change again.

The Downtown Investment Authority is expected to officially sign off on a $35 million plan to bring new high-rise apartments to the former site of The Jacksonville Landing.

Jacksonville’s Downtown Investment Authority and a developer are nailing down incentives for a high rise to go up where The Jacksonville Landing used to be.

LaVilla, a neighborhood in Downtown Jacksonville, is arguably one of the most historic areas in the city.

Negotiations are underway.

The Downtown Investment Authority has agreed to start negotiations with a developer to build a multi-million-dollar high-rise on the site of the former Jacksonville Landing.

After speaking Wednesday evening with a group of millennials, Jacksonville City Council members are onboard with the Downtown Investment Authority’s proposal to finally bring new parks to the area.

For years, there have been promises of downtown riverfront development, yet nothing has happened. Now the promise of new parks along the St. Johns River is closer to coming true.

One of the six bids the city received -- from a company called "Carter's" based in Atlanta -- appears to be the clear frontrunner.

The Jacksonville City Council on Tuesday night approved a redevelopment agreement for a project at and around the site of the old Florida Times-Union building in the Brooklyn neighborhood.

A spokesperson for the Museum of Science and History has confirmed to News4Jax that the Downtown Investment Authority has approved a plan to move MOSH to the Jacksonville Shipyards.

Jacksonville is getting a look at what a new development project might look like at and around the old Florida Times-Union building in Riverside.

The DIA wants a restaurant like this one right here to be a part of the first phase of redeveloping this area, which is expected to start next year.

MOSH is just one piece of the puzzle of big, historic changes on both sides of the river.

The artist known as Jefrë, born Jefre Figueras Manuel, has created life-size public art pieces in cities like Manila, London, Abu Dhabi and Orlando.

The future of the former home of the Jacksonville Landing is now more clear after a city committee on Thursday selected a Chicago-based design firm to redevelop the Northbank site.

After sitting vacant and unfinished along the St. Johns River downtown for more than a decade, a Jacksonville eyesore is finally on the verge of coming down.

The Downtown Investment Authority on Wednesday voted unanimously to approve $114 million in incentives to help bring Jacksonville Jaguars Shad Khan’s vision of a Four Seasons and other amenities along the St. Johns River to life.

We should learn Wednesday if the proposed Shipyard project on the Northbank will move ahead.

There is one part of the proposal that calls for moving a portion of Metropolitan Park west toward downtown and developing a new park along the riverfront.

The Shipyards project proposed by the Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shad Khan on Friday made it over its first hurdle.

Two massive development proposals for Downtown Jacksonville have been in the spotlight this week.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – On Tuesday, Jacksonville residents learned more about possible developments at the shipyard site, a new Four Seasons hotel near Metro Park and what is going to take the place of the Jacksonville Landing and other downtown projects along the St. Johns River. The Downtown Investment Authority (DIA) heard from many of the key players during a meeting, including the Jacksonville Jaguars, about the future of the riverfront projects. AdThe Jaguars plan is to use a portion of Metro Park where Kids Kampus used to be located. But that is creating somewhat of a rift because some are saying no part of Metro Park should be used for private development. Ad“The real question here is can moving it be better for the public?” said DIA CEO Lori Boyer.

An artist's rendering of what the Four Seasons hotel could look like in Jacksonville. JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – A plan by Jaguars owner Shad Khan to develop the Jacksonville Shipyards is one step closer to materializing, but still far from reality. The original plan to build the hotel on the park site was turned down by the National Park Service in 2020. It has control over a portion of the original park site. The DIA plans to hold a workshop next Tuesday, where it will look over plans to address riverfront development in Downtown Jacksonville.

We look forward to reviewing the submissions come March and wish all interested parties the best of luck.”The RFP selection process will happen on two parts. Part one includes submission of qualifications, which the city will evaluate, score and select three shortlisted design teams to participate in a design competition. In the second half of the process, the three shortlisted design teams will receive a stipend to complete 50% designs where they will showcase their vision for the plaza, including how their design would interface with the future private development. The selected winner of the design competition for the best-qualified design will be invited to negotiate a full professional services design contract with the city, bringing design of the public space to 100%. As such, the city is taking reservations for use of the park between now and December 2021 and hopes to be under construction on the new public space by January 2022.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – News4Jax is learning more about what could happen to the site of the old Jacksonville Landing. City planners, including the Downtown Investment Authority, are working to turn the site into a new public space and some type of private development at a later date. Right now, the plan is to have designers along with artists submit plans for the public space. Construction on the public site won’t happen until late in the year. As for the private development, plans for that won’t take place until it’s decided what the park space will look like.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – News4Jax political analyst Rick Mullaney of Jacksonville University’s Public Policy Institute joins this edition of “This Week in Jacksonville,” which explores the Lot J proposal from multiple angles with Downtown Investment Authority CEO Lori Boyer, Jacksonville Civic Council CEO and President Jeanne Miller, Urban Land Institute Chair Tarik Bateh, Jaguars Senior Vice President and Chief Legal Officer Megha Parekh and Mayor Lenny Curry’s Chief of Staff Jordan Elsbury.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The proposal to build a $445 million entertainment complex on Lot J of TIAA Bank Field -- the sole topic of another tense Jacksonville City Council meeting Thursday -- will not be voted on until Tuesday at the earliest. The deal calls for the city to invest $233 million in direct spending or loans by the city of Jacksonville to the developer for Jaguars owner Shad Khan, the Cordish Companies. That drew a sharp response from Council President Tommy Hazouri and questioning of the rules before the review of the plan resumed. The DIA, which was asked to review the plan last week, voted Wednesday to recommend City Council approval, but with some modifications. DOCUMENTS: DIA report on Lot J proposal | Council Auditor’s Office’s things to consider/concernsMark Lamping, the Jaguars president, has asked for a vote by the council by its last scheduled meeting of the year, which is next Tuesday.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville’s Downtown Investment Authority on Wednesday voted to pass a report on to the City Council, which recommends the Lot J project with changes. It would develop Lot J outside TIAA Bank Field in a deal between the city and the Jaguars owner, using a developer named The Cordish Companies. But if the ask is, we want you to reduce the public investment by $65 million, than the project doesn’t go forward,” he said. I think for a lot of us guys like myself who take these kind of things very very seriously that they would understand that.”The DIA’s approval with changes is just a recommendation for City Council about Lot J. All 19 City Council members are scheduled to take part in Thursday’s meeting where they could decide to put the measure on their agenda Tuesday night.

The Lot J development will send a big message to the team & NFL. I’m a yes as demonstrated by me introducing Lot J bill to city council. — Lenny Curry (@lennycurry) December 1, 2020Curry started the thread implying that if Jacksonville residents want to remain an NFL city, the Lot J deal would help. The mayor made it clear he supports the Lot J deal and what it stands for. He said the Lot J Development, Jaguars stadium upgrades and the Jaguars’ lease should be negotiated as one deal.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Many questions remain about the status of the proposed Lot J project that would build a $445 million entertainment complex outside TIAA Bank Field in Jacksonville. A meeting Thursday night that was created to answer some of those questions was derailed as the Jacksonville City Council president, council members and the mayor’s staff traded barbs. RELATED: Special meeting on Lot J project filled with finger-pointing, name-callingThe cost of the project would be split between the city and the Jaguars. When the plan for the Lot J project was announced in October, Jaguars President Mark Lamping said it could be built in three years. One of the main concerns is contamination at Lot J.

Instead, nothing happened at a special meeting Thursday night except finger-pointing, name-calling and what some members say was a big embarrassment for government. Those on hand say they were at the meeting to get answers from the City Council auditor about Lot J. No vote was taken by the City Council about that, but apparently, the DIA has already started that process. Instead, he heard the bickering and he also heard that some council members wanted to start the whole process of Lot J negotiators over again. Other council members spoke up, saying they were surprised about what happened and how nothing came out of what was to be an important meeting.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Downtown Investment Authority on Wednesday discussed the redevelopment of the River City Brewing Company site on Jacksonville’s Southbank. The land is owned by the city. A South Florida developer is proposing tearing down the landmark restaurant, building apartments and making improvements to the marina on-site. During Wednesday’s Downtown Investment Authority meeting, an agreement was tweaked. Under the plan, the current restaurant would be allowed to remain open until September 2022.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The Downtown Development Review Board has approved plans to build a temporary welcome center and office space for USS Orleck DD-886 Naval Museum proposed for the city-owned Shipyards property, Jacksonville Daily Record reports. The board voted 8-0 on Thursday to approve a 90-by-50-foot modular building off Pier 1 for the Jacksonville Historic Naval Ship Association’s warship museum. The vote came after the board added a condition that the nonprofit return to DDRB in three years to extend approval for a temporary building or submit designs for a permanent center. Naval Ship Association plans to tow the USS Orleck from Lake Charles, Louisiana, to Jacksonville. After regulatory approval, the Naval Ship Association has several steps to take before it can tow the USS Orleck from Lake Charles, Louisiana, to Jacksonville.

Khan, who bought the Four Seasons Hotel Toronto in 2016, wants to build the hotel where Metropolitan Park sits along the Northbank. During Thursday’s DIA meeting, Lamping said the Lot J development would be a catalyst for additional efforts to revitalize the area. RELATED: Curry & Khan unveil plans for Lot J developmentOriginally, Khan mentioned moving the city’s convention center to the Shipyards site. Meanwhile, the City Council is still debating the merits of the city’s involvement in the Lot J project. The DIA board is set to discuss incentives for Lot J next week.

Jacksonville’s Downtown Investment Authority voted Wednesday afternoon to allow a Miami-based developer to proceed with plans for a $90 million, 335-unit complex next to Friendship Foundation, a project that would involve the demolition of River City Brewing Company. Some background: The city, which owns the land where the restaurant sits, gave a 99-year lease to the owner of River City Brewing Company in 1998. The first plans unveiled by The Related Group included the aforementioned luxury apartment complex, but no restaurant or retail space. I’m glad there’s a cap at $500,000.”Unlike River City Brewing Company, the new restaurant would not sit right on the water, representatives for the developers said. For the time being, River City Brewing Company remains open as does the marina.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Plans for construction of a new headquarters for JEA are moving forward. On Wednesday, the Downtown Investment Authority announced it had finalized the sale of a piece of property in downtown Jacksonville to Ryan Companies, the firm hired to build JEA’s new base of operations. RELATED: Learn more about JEA’s choice for new HQ“This is the second major new office building project to close this year,” DIA CEO Lori Boyer said. “We are excited to partner with JEA and the DIA on this exciting project,” said Mike Harryman, senior project executive for Ryan Companies. JEA told News4Jax the groundwork will begin then, followed by vertical construction as soon as October.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Jacksonville is one step closer to having new homes and businesses along the St. Johns River downtown. Two developers have been bidding to develop East Bay Street, where the old courthouse and City Hall annex once stood. The first bidder, Spandrel Development Partners, specializes in developing “mixed-use, multi-family, hospitality and retail projects in target cities of growth," according to its website. On Monday, members of the Downtown Investment Authority committee for development recommended that Spandrel Development Partners be given the bid for the property. If the full board agrees to have Spandrel Development Partners develop the riverfront site then the group and DIA will agree on the terms of the project.

The old City Hall Annex and Courthouse once sat on the property along East Bay Street. WATCH: Jacksonville’s old City Hall crumbles in secondsThe area could soon look like one of the two plans presented by Spandrel Development Partners and The Related Group. Spandrel Development Partners has completed projects in Savannah, Georgia; Charleston, South Carolina and Brooklyn, New York. They will have hundreds of units as well as thousands of square feet of retail,” said Emanuel Neuman with Spandrel Development Partners. “I am quite excited about it.”The Related Group has developed properties throughout the state in cities including Tampa and Miami.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Just a year ago, the old City Hall was imploded and the old Duval County Courthouse was demolished. Today, all that’s left on the Bay Street site is a field of green grass. The bidding was opened at 2 p.m for the opportunity to build on the prime property on the downtown Jacksonville riverfront, but only two developers expressed interest — one company out of New York and another based in Miami. Mayor Lenny Curry, who has become known for tearing buildings down in downtown Jacksonville, spoke about the proposals Wednesday. We obviously want to develop the area but we know we have investors with capital that is liquid that are ready to go,” Curry said.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla - There are plans to redevelop some prime real estate in Downtown Jacksonville. The waterfront land where the old courthouse and City Hall once stood measures eight acres. The Downtown Investment Authority wants developers to put their best foot forward in making proposals for what's known as the Courthouse Annex property. It labels the land The Ford on Bay. The DIA points out there are $1 billion dollars in projects under construction and $3.5 billion dollars in proposed projects.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. - The Downtown Investment Authority has approved a plan to give an unnamed company millions of dollars in incentives as part of a major redevelopment project that would bring hundreds of high paying jobs to Riverside. The project, codenamed Project Sharp, is projected to create 500 jobs with an average salary of $85,000 a year. However, News4Jax's news partner, the Jacksonville Daily Record, said it's believed to be Fidelity National Financial Services Inc., or FIS. In announcing that deal last week, it was mentioned the WorldPay headquarters would move to Jacksonville. The incentive package will advance to the Jacksonville City Council for approval.

The Downtown Investment Authority approves plan to give millions of tax breaks and incentives to the unnamed company. Copyright 2019 by WJXT News4Jax - All rights reserved.

The mayor said it will result in more than $450 million of investment near the sports complex. Because it calls for incentives and tax breaks, the project must be approved by the Downtown Investment Authority and Jacksonville City Council. The cost of those will be $128 million, $76.5 million and $67 million, respectively. Jaguars President Mark Lamping released a statement calling this "the most significant step in our mission to reinvent how we work, live and gather in Downtown Jacksonville." Most like the idea of an entertainment complex, while others questioned why it can't be built elsewhere.

State Attorney Melissa Nelson on Cure Violence and the Crime Gun Intelligence Center. City Council President Scott Wilson, and Lori Boyer of the Downtown Investment Authority.

JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The City of Jacksonville may be its own worst enemy when it comes to urban revitalization and redevelopment. Although it serves as the city's development arm for the downtown district, the Downtown Investment Authority (DIA) has no control over what happens or doesn't happen with most of these properties. However, what the DIA does control, it plans to move forward in returning to the tax rolls. Here are six downtown properties the DIA plans to attempt to dispose of over the next few months. The DIA plans to issue an RFP for this building in spring 2018.