{"id":220288,"date":"2026-04-06T09:49:08","date_gmt":"2026-04-06T09:49:08","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/220288\/"},"modified":"2026-04-06T09:49:08","modified_gmt":"2026-04-06T09:49:08","slug":"gateway-jax-seeks-final-approval-of-ambassador-hotel-restoration","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/220288\/","title":{"rendered":"Gateway Jax seeks final approval of Ambassador Hotel restoration"},"content":{"rendered":"

The Downtown Development Review Board is scheduled to consider final approval for Gateway Jax\u2019s proposed restoration of the Ambassador Hotel on April 9.<\/p>\n

Gateway Jax seeks to resurrect the property at 420 N. Julia St. as a boutique hotel with a guest lounge, restaurant and bar amenities.<\/p>\n

In an application for final approval, the Gateway Jax development team says it has received a Certificate of Appropriateness for a historic restoration and will preserve and repair the building\u2019s facades as required through the certificate.<\/p>\n

Gateway Jax is a partnership between principal Bryan Moll, JWB Real Estate Capital and DLP Capital. The partners plan a Downtown development that if fully built would involve an investment of more than $2 billion across 25 city blocks. According to thegatewayjax.com site, plans include more than 5,000 multifamily units and 500,000 square feet of commercial and retail space.<\/p>\n

\"A<\/p>\n

A rendering of the final design of Gateway Jax’s proposed restoration of the Ambassador Hotel in Downtown Jacksonville. The development partnership seeks to revive the long-vacant structure at 420 N. Julia St. as a boutique hotel.<\/p>\n

The DDRB essentially serves as the planning commission for the eight districts that make up Downtown Jacksonville, with authority to approve designs of projects.\u00a0<\/p>\n

On Feb. 24, EnVision Design + Engineering submitted plans to the city for the restoration, which called for 109 hotel rooms, an 1,800-square-foot restaurant with 92 seats, a 1,600-square-foot bar area with 45 seats and a 1,000-square-foot kitchen. New streetscaping to meet Downtown design standards also was included.<\/p>\n

Gateway Jax announced in March 2025 it was partnering with The Indigo Road Hospitality Group to redevelop the 102-year-old hotel, which has been vacant and exposed to the elements for years.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Gateway Jax bought the hotel and surrounding property a month earlier for $17 million. The purchase included nearby land where Gateway is building a 480-space parking garage.<\/p>\n

\"Bryan<\/p>\n

Bryan Moll<\/p>\n

The Ambassador is south across Church Street from Gateway\u2019s Block N11, a seven-story mixed-use project at 515 N. Pearl St. Plans for the $45 million building, which is under construction, include 205 apartment units and 24,086 square feet of retail, commercial and storage space.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The hotel and parking garage will serve visitors to Pearl Square, Gateway Jax\u2019s $750 million-plus, 10-block mixed-use development in Downtown\u2019s NorthCore district north and west of City Hall.\u00a0<\/p>\n

The hotel opened in 1924 and was placed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1983.<\/p>\n

Indigo Road Hospitality, based in Charleston, South Carolina, owns and operates O-Ku in Jacksonville Beach and plans to open Oak Steakhouse in The Greenleaf building at 208 N. Laura St., the headquarters of JWB Real Estate Capital.<\/p>\n

The DDRB meeting is scheduled for 2 p.m. in the main Jacksonville Public Library, 303 N. Laura St.<\/p>\n

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