Monday, Nov. 17: Kings Road Upgrade + Duval Delegation + Sidewalk Expansion
Monday, Nov. 17
Your local news briefing
5 Headlines You Should Know Today
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Jacksonville OKs more outdoor dining to boost Downtown vibrancy.
Downtown restaurants and bars will soon be able to expand their sidewalk dining. City Council has approved a new policy allowing more tables, umbrellas, and outdoor service—similar to setups in San Marco and Riverside. Businesses will still need permits and must follow safety rules, but supporters say this is a major step toward a more walkable, vibrant Downtown.
Revised bills advance on school board counsel, aviation authority revamp.
Two revised Duval County bills are heading to the next legislative session. A measure allowing the School Board to hire its own attorney has been tightened to maintain oversight by the city’s General Counsel. A second bill, once intended to rename the Jacksonville Aviation Authority, now focuses on creating an Economic Development Committee to boost international air service and aerospace growth. Both bills will be sponsored by Speaker Pro Tempore Wyman Duggan.
$6M project launches to improve safety, spur Northwest revitalization.
A long-awaited infrastructure upgrade is beginning along a two-mile stretch of New Kings Road from Soutel Drive to Trout River Boulevard. The $6 million project—funded by city redevelopment money and state appropriations—will add new lighting, landscaping, and hardscape features. Officials hope the improvements will improve safety and help attract new commercial investment to the corridor.
North Jacksonville store clears zoning hurdle in major development.
A new Publix is one step closer as part of a massive 1,000-acre development at Pecan Park Road and I-95. City Council unanimously approved a zoning exception allowing alcohol sales at the grocery store and an adjacent liquor store. The project, led by Benderson Development, will include retail, housing, industrial space, and conservation areas, with Publix serving as a key commercial anchor.
ETM CEO says Jacksonville finally moving beyond ‘City of Renderings.’
Tyler Matthews, CEO of England-Thims & Miller, says Jacksonville is finally moving from plans to progress. In a Jacksonville Business Journal column, he points to cranes across Downtown—from Bay Street to LaVilla and the North Core—as proof that major projects are now materializing. Matthews calls this a turning point where public and private investment are aligning to reshape the city’s true urban center.
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