122 Ocean (old Main Library)

[asonj23]

Jacksonville Business Journal - March 23, 2007by Kirstin DorschStaff Writer

DOWNTOWN -- The space where Downtown patrons could once sit on the steps and read a book will soon have tables to read at and food to munch on.

The impending early-April closing on the sale of the Haydon Burns Public Library to Main Branch LLC will mark the beginning of construction on a mixed-use development that will include an "urban market" grocery store.

Construction will begin right away, said Main Branch partner Tony Allegretti, with restoration of the existing building the first priority. The planned addition to the top of the building won't begin immediately, as Main Branch wants to gauge the type of leases it will get for the office space and what kind of residential space would be appropriate. The balance of retail, residential and office space is not finalized.

"It's a multilayered cake of new urbanism," Allegretti said. "One thing that has changed is we had a stronger office interest than we anticipated."

The grocery, called City Market, will be a 6,000-square-foot store owned, built and run by Gallery Restaurant Group LLC, which also owns the Downtown restaurant Burrito Gallery and of which Allegretti is also a partner. It will be a hybrid space of regular groceries, specialty and organic foods, precooked meals, produce, a deli, seafood and a caf

[asonj23]

I can't wait for this one to finish. Jax's first truely urban grocer (well since the last one closed YEARS ago).