Council committee debates land swap to advance Riverfront Plaza redevelopment, takes no action

Jacksonville city council members met in a Committee of the Whole on May 21 to review two ordinances (File Nos. 2025-3-19 and 2025-3-39) that would authorize a land exchange and related redevelopment agreement with GatewayJax aimed at advancing construction on Riverfront Plaza Pad B and supporting a proposed University of Florida (UF) downtown campus. Council did not take a vote on the measures and no amendments were considered; staff said the item will return for further committee consideration when more councilmembers are present.

The proposed deal would transfer ownership of 801 West Bay (a 2.85-acre, 36,000‑square‑foot office property) to the city and convey Riverfront Plaza Pad B (1.21 acres, undeveloped) to GatewayJax, with an option for the developer to acquire the East Landing parking lot (1.77 acres) later. Lori Boyer, chief executive officer of the Downtown Investment Authority (DIA), said the DIA supports the exchange because it delivers 801 West Bay to the city “with no cash outlay required at this time,” can be completed on a timeline that aligns with UF’s purchase, and creates a recurring revenue source for park maintenance via a proposed 2% hotel surcharge.

“The redevelopment agreement is in standard format, was prepared by OGC, includes many of the normal city protections on performance schedules, rights of reverter, prohibitions against transfer, restrictions on use,” Boyer told the committee. She added the agreement “expressly requires an amendment at a later date, subject to city council approval, to authorize any completion grant” and that the redevelopment agreement includes a cap on that completion grant.

Developer GatewayJax chief executive Brian Moll summarized the company’s experience and the project concept, saying the proposal would include a 17‑story…