JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – The transformation of one of Jacksonville’s most iconic and long-struggling shopping centers is officially underway.
According to our news partners at the Jacksonville Daily Record, civil engineering plans filed with the city this week reveal the first concrete step in the redevelopment of the former Regency Square Mall in Arlington, which includes the demolition of a large section of the East Mall to make room for seven commercial outparcels.
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The project, known as The Nexus at Regency, is being led by Blackwater Development, which purchased the majority of the 77-acre property earlier this year for just over $19 million. The developer plans to breathe new life into the site with a mix of retail, residential, and national-brand tenants.
“These infrastructure improvements represent the foundation of The Nexus at Regency,” said Blackwater founder Rurmell McGee in a previous statement. “With roads, utilities, and landscaping in place, we can begin unlocking the front 11 acres and creating opportunities for new tenants to join this transformational project.”
Phase 1: Clearing the way for what’s next
According to the submitted plans, the initial phase focuses on roughly 11 acres at the front of the property, along Atlantic Boulevard and Monument Road. The work will include:
- Demolition of a large portion of the East Mall
- Construction of new roads and sidewalks
- Installation of water, sewer, and electric lines
- A new roundabout at the mall’s main entrance
- Landscaping and parking lot improvements
The seven outparcels, ranging from 1.1 to 2.25 acres, are designed for future retail, restaurant, or financial uses. While official tenant names have not yet been announced, preliminary utility filings suggest plans for a Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers and a Circle K convenience store and gas station.
What’s staying — and what’s going
Some pieces of the aging mall will remain in place — at least for now.
The closed JCPenney at the east end of the property will continue to stand as a freestanding building. The Firestone auto shop on the corner of Atlantic and Monument is also staying in place.
However, most of the East Mall section between Impact Church and JCPenney is slated for demolition. The West Mall, anchored by a closed Sears and Dillard’s Clearance Center, is not part of this phase and remains untouched in the current plans.
A mall in need of repair and reinvention
Blackwater inherited more than just square footage when it acquired Regency earlier this year. The mall had racked up nearly $2 million in code enforcement fines under the previous owners for a long list of violations — from structural damage to neglected maintenance.
In April, the developer paid $20,000 to settle the fines, with a two-year deadline to bring the site back into compliance. One major path to compliance? Demolition.
The mall first opened in 1967, with its West Mall expansion added in the early 1980s. Over time, anchor stores closed, interior tenants dwindled, and the property fell into disrepair.
What’s next
While much of the early work will be behind the scenes, permits, infrastructure, and site prep, Blackwater has promised to announce the first wave of new tenants once leases are finalized.
For many in Arlington, it’s a welcome sign of life returning to a place full of memories — and long overdue for a fresh start.