JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – Change is coming to Jacksonville’s skyline, and Wednesday could be a pivotal next step in the decision-making.
The Downtown Investment Authority will meet Wednesday afternoon to weigh major development projects affecting the Southbank and Riverfront.
One of the projects expected to be discussed is a proposed 15-story, nearly $110 million hotel that Baptist Health is planning to add to its Southbank campus.
RELATED | Baptist Health planning nearly $110M hotel on Jacksonville’s Southbank
According to the project leaders, Baptist Health would own the hotel. However, another company would be operating the day-to-day workload.
Project leaders also said they don’t want this to be mistaken as a hospital hotel, but instead something for everyone to enjoy.
According to News4JAX partners at the Jacksonville Daily Record, land-use and governmental affairs attorney Steve Diebenow of Driver, McAfee, Hawthorne & Diebenow, who is representing Baptist, said the 226-room hotel is planned at Palm Avenue and Gary Street.
The DIA is expected to consider on Wednesday a nearly $21 million incentive package that would help fund the hotel.
The proposed city incentives comprise a $12.98 million Recapture Enhanced Value Grant and an $8 million completion grant. The completion grant would be paid in two $4 million portions, likely in 2029 and 2030.
Another big project set to be discussed is the demolition of the Southbank MOSH.
For decades, it’s been a place where generations of kids learned and explored. Now, the city is reviewing a permit that would allow the building to be demolished.
RELATED | City reviewing permit to demolish closed Southbank MOSH
MOSH already closed and is preparing for a new, expanded home on the Northbank, which is expected to open in 2028.
ELEV8 Demolition of Jacksonville is the contractor listed on the permit application to demolish the four-story, 83,299-square-foot building at 1025 Museum Circle at a project cost of $835,000.
These projects will go before the DIA at 2 p.m. Wednesday. News4JAX will be attending the meeting and will provide updates.
Copyright 2026 by WJXT News4JAX – All rights reserved.