Two companies vying to develop the former Duval County Courthouse and City Hall site, now branded The Ford on Bay, delivered their public pitches Feb. 4.
New York-based Spandrel Development Partners LLC proposes a $136 million, 550-unit multifamily development in two phases that include a grocery store and retail space of 50,000 to 74,000 square feet, according to WJCT News partner the Jacksonville Daily Record.
Spandrel Principal Emanuel Neuman said the site will have 2 acres of landscape and public open space, as well as access to the Downtown Riverwalk from Bay Street.
The Related Group of Miami’s proposed development is smaller in scale. Vice President of Development Jeffrey Robbins said the company envisions an $80 million project with 350 multifamily residential units and 10,000 square feet of retail space.
Representatives from the two development companies each had 45 minutes to pitch their ideas to Downtown Investment Authority CEO Lori Boyer, DIA board member Ron Moody and city Assistant Chief Administrative Officer Stephanie Burch, the three scorers appointed by the DIA board.
It was the first public look at proposals for the vacant 8.38-acre city-owned green space at 220 and 330 E. Bay St. and an adjacent parcel submerged in the St. Johns River.
An expanded version of this story that a slideshow of renderings and additional details about both proposals is at JaxDailyRecord.com.
