JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Within the past year, downtown Jacksonville has undergone massive improvements and growth.
The Downtown Vision, Inc. tracks that progress and released its 2025 State of Downtown comprehensive report recapping the area’s development from Jan. 1, 2024, through June 30, 2025.
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“The data in this year’s State of Downtown Report highlights steady growth across nearly every metric we track – proof that Downtown Jacksonville’s future has never looked brighter," Downtown Vision CEO Jake Gordon said.
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The report assesses downtown Jacksonville across development and investment, residential demand, the office market and employment, transportation and infrastructure, and tourism health to benchmark trends and guide investment decisions.
According to the report, nearly $3 billion ($2.84 billion) in projects have been either completed or are under construction throughout downtown’s eight neighborhoods: Brooklyn, LaVilla, City Center, Northcore, Cathedral Hill, Sports and Entertainment, Working Waterfront, and Southbank.
That list of projects that will transform downtown’s landscape includes major additions such as
- Pearl Square - includes housing, lodging, restaurants and retail across nine blocks
- RiversEdge - includes riverfront housing and parks
- One Riverside - includes riverfront residential units, dining, and retail
“Over the past year, Downtown has continued its evolution into a vibrant center of culture, innovation, education, and opportunity,” Mayor Donna Deegna said in a letter about the report. “These investments are creating a Downtown that reflects the best of who we are: forward-looking, resilient, and full of energy. All of this progress builds toward one clear outcome: a Downtown that is connected, accessible, and alive.”
Downtown has 70 acres of parks undergoing major renovations to provide recreational activities, ecological diversity and spaces for community gatherings.
Downtown is home to nearly 9,000 (8,941) residents. The report said the housing market has expanded significantly over the years, with a total of 5,665 housing units.
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Almost 47,000 employees work in downtown. The office landscape offers nearly 8 million square feet of commercial space for businesses.
Though vacancy rates have increased after the pandemic, the report said, the office market has gained momentum and become adaptable to the shift to remote and hybrid schedules.
The report also highlighted efforts to enhance transportation and infrastructure with the Jacksonville Transportation Authority’s Neighborhood Autonomous Vehicle Innovation program and the conversion of Adams and Forsyth streets from one-way to two-way streets.
Take a look at the entire annual report below: