10-story high rise coming to downtown Jacksonville

A 10-story high rise will break ground in downtown Jacksonville's Brooklyn neighborhood next year.

Hallmark Partners and Bristol Development Group plan to build in an empty lot next door to Unity Plaza at 220 Riverside, which is six stories high.

"I think it's a great area and it's got a lot of potential," said Ellen Cottrill, who co-owns the restaurant Hobnob with her husband in Unity Plaza. "I think that would be great. I think when you look at this area, what it was even two years ago, it's completely different. It just sort of emerged out of nothing." 

The high rise will be a mixed-use development of apartments and retail, according to Hallmark Partners.

It comes into a neighborhood where new businesses are constantly popping up and some are shutting down.

Corner Bakery Café abruptly shut its doors this week.

Cottrill said the high rise will inject vibrancy into the area and could increase walkability in this part of town.

“I think Jacksonville in general still doesn’t get the walkability quite yet. But I think it’s coming,” Cottrill said. “We’re used to getting in the car and driving, but there’s so much around that you can walk to.”

Construction is expected to take about a year and a half.