Gateway Jax broke ground Wednesday on 721 North Pearl Street, launching work to convert an existing parking garage into a retail-oriented anchor that will help form a new pedestrian shopping corridor along Beaver Street in the Pearl Square neighborhood.

Publix is officially coming to Downtown Jacksonville.

Springfield has historic homes and neighborhoods that give it a charming feel, but the area has also seen a major boom in new construction, growth and potential.

The development of Pearl Square will feature housing, restaurants and retail across nine blocks.

A new project slated for completion within the next two years in downtown Jacksonville took a major step on Tuesday, providing further evidence of the city’s priority to develop the area.