Phoenix Arts & Innovation District (PHX JAX), a Future of Cities project, has announced the start of the first phase of construction on two properties located at 2320 N. Liberty Street and 2336 N. Liberty Street. This work is funded through the closure of a $7 million loan from Local Initiatives Support Corporation (LISC).
“The Phoenix Arts & Innovation District is an opportunity to co-create in partnership with the neighborhood of North Springfield a new vision for its future,” said Tony Cho, CEO and Founder of Future of Cities and Founding Managing Partner of PHX JAX. “We’ve learned through experience on other projects in Miami, that the input of artists, residents and the city at large is essential to success. We are excited to see how this dynamic regenerative placemaking development will serve as a destination designed to ignite creativity and community.”
Plans for PHX JAX comprise ten separate properties across 8.3 acres located in the North Springfield neighborhood of Jacksonville encompassing a total of 120,000 square feet of adaptively repurposed warehouse spaces and located in a designated opportunity zone. The first phase of the development will begin with The Emerald Station, featuring creative offices, community gathering spaces and a warehouse event facility, and The Liberty Building, which will house 17,850 square feet of affordable artist studios, galleries, small format retail and restaurants.
“For LISC Jacksonville, the PHX JAX project represents an opportunity for us to partner on what we believe is going to be a catalytic project for one of Jacksonville’s fastest growing and most diverse neighborhoods,” said Dr. Irvin PeDro Cohen, Executive Director of LISC Jacksonville. “The investment in the PHX JAX project will bring together residents and partners and help forge a resilient and inclusive community of opportunity that will be reflective of a great place to live, work, visit, do business, and raise families.”
Preliminary site work at PHX JAX began in spring of 2023. JAA Architecture and Hota Design have been selected as the architectural and design firms and Prosser Inc. will serve as civil engineer for the Emerald Station and Liberty Building. Avant Construction is the general contractor for the Emerald Station. Construction of the Emerald Station property will begin immediately, while The Liberty Building will begin in Q1 of 2024. Both buildings are scheduled to be turned over to tenants in Q3 of 2024.
Complementing these buildings is a property located at 2335 Market St. that will be an outdoor market space serving as a hub of community activity. The project’s goal is to get this outdoor space open by Spring 2024.
Naked Kitchen is the first food and beverage concept to enter a leasehold agreement tenant in the project. Retail pre-leasing opportunities are available through The Urban Division of Colliers, managed by is continuing to pre-lease the remaining retail, gallery and food and beverage spaces under the management of Matthew Clark and supported by Olivia Steinemann and Sam Middlekauff.
