A proposed development by Ashco Centers could reshape the Southbank skyline with a pair of high-rise towers.
The proposed Seaport at St. Johns mixed-use development combines retail, residential, dining, and hotel components with public amenities designed to enhance the riverfront parcel and connect it to the Southbank Riverwalk.
The two towers would house high-end residences and a luxury hotel, with 110,000 square feet of boutique retail, a grocer and waterfront dining. Designs also include a marina and a public promenade and plaza with access to the Riverwalk.
The development would sit on the 4.87-acre site at 1701 Prudential Drive, replacing the existing Duval County Public Schools headquarters.
“This project puts Jacksonville’s greatest natural asset, the St. Johns River, at the heart of downtown life,” said Ashco Centers Founder Edward Ashurian. “We envision a community gathering place on the St. Johns River where everyone can dine at the water’s edge, stroll the riverfront and explore new amenities.”
Ashco Centers Vice President of Leasing and Acquisitions Tiffany Ashurian said this development is an opportunity to shape how future generations will experience and interact with the river.
“The best developments don’t just fill space; they define a city,” said Tiffany. “The Seaport at St. Johns is our bold vision for the future of the Southbank…”
It will be some time before that future takes shape, however. At its October board meeting, the DCPS Board approved the sale of the district’s administrative headquarters to Ashco for $15.1 million, but the district has three years to identify its new headquarters and relocate its staff to their new offices. Before casting their votes, board members held a robust conversation surrounding the sale of the building.
“I know that we’ve had two outside appraisals, and I know that a lot of people think that this dirt is worth a lot more than what the appraisal is,” said DCPS Vice Chair April Carney. “But at the end of the day, the market dictates what the market dictates, and I think we’ve got a great deal, and we need to strike while the iron is hot.”
DCPS District 3 Board Member Cindy Pearson echoed the sentiment.
“So I’ve spent a lot of time thinking about this and going back and forth, and I’m at a point now where I am a yes. People wanted us to do this. The majority of the board wanted us to do it, so let’s just do it,” Pearson said. “I feel like we have the best possible situation I think that we’re going to get, and we do have three years to make the move and make it happen.”
Following the October meeting, DCPS Superintendent Dr. Christopher Bernier shared the following statement with Resident News regarding the sale and eventual move:
“For more than four decades, the DCPS headquarters building has been a familiar landmark for our employees, families, and community. When the building was constructed in 1980, the surrounding area was largely industrial in nature, including the Southside Electric Generating Station located next door. As the Southbank has changed over the years, so have the opportunities for this waterfront property. The decision to sell the property represents an important step forward as we continue planning for the future. While we recognize the history connected to this building, we’re excited to turn the page and embrace the opportunities ahead for our district.”
In February of this year, Chase Properties terminated its contract with DCPS to purchase the building, claiming the associated RiversEdge Community Development District had not been disclosed. Language in the purchase and sale agreement with Ashco Centers specifically addresses the CDD, reading, in part:
“The parties hereby agree and acknowledge that portions of the Property are located within The District Community Development District (CDD) and agree that Seller shall not be obligated to take any action whatsoever with respect to the CDD under this Agreement, including, by way of example, to seek removal or release of such portions of the Property from the CDD.”