A proposed commercial building in downtown Jacksonville is moving through the city's approval process.
The request concerns the property's zoning designation, according to Jacksonville Daily Record. Gateway Jax is involved in the project, per the same report.
The project is planned for a site currently occupied by a warehouse. Gateway Jax CEO Bryan Moll has also discussed office development in downtown Jacksonville, according to the outlet's report. JWB Real Estate Capital has also purchased a downtown warehouse site, as detailed by the Jacksonville Daily Record.
An L-Shaped Building Wraps an Existing Condo Tower
Rather than a standard rectangular footprint, the N9 development is designed to wrap around the existing City Place condominium building at 606 N. Julia St., forming an L shape around the residential tower, per the seed report. The block's surrounding streets are part of the project's downtown setting. The Jacksonville Daily Record has also reported on downtown Pearl Square.
Block N9 sits within Pearl Square, Gateway Jax's development transforming Downtown Jacksonville's NorthCore district north and west of City Hall. The partnership behind Gateway Jax includes JWB Real Estate Capital and DLP Capital. Pearl Square is described in source material as a $750 million project in one account and nearly $1 billion in another. The City Council approved an approximately $98.58 million incentive package in August 2024 for the project's $419 million first phase, according to the Downtown Investment Authority.
Office Space Arrives Amid a Tough Downtown Market
The timing is notable given the state of Jacksonville's office market. Downtown Jacksonville's office vacancy rate hit 27.4% in early 2026, the highest among major Florida metro areas and nearly nine points above the national average of 18.5%, per Jacksonville Today. Moll's résumé may factor into how Gateway Jax is betting on that math: he previously served as Executive Vice President at Strategic Property Partners, where he helped oversee Phase 1 delivery of the $3.5 billion Water Street Tampa redevelopment, according to background compiled by Gateway Jax. Pearl Square plans include a Publix tenant.
Block N9 is one piece of a much larger pipeline. Beyond Pearl Square's nine-block footprint, Gateway Jax's broader plans span 25 downtown blocks, targeting roughly $2 billion in total investment, per the developer's own project materials. The company has been active on multiple fronts recently: it has announced Vandeveer tenants including Buchner's Biergarten, JETSET Pilates and PopUp Bagels, according to the Downtown Investment Authority. Vandeveer is part of Pearl Square. Vandeveer is Pearl Square's first mixed-use residential building, with first residents expected in late summer 2026 and some tenant openings expected in fall 2026.
A Separate Riverfront Bet Also in Motion
A separate 330 East Bay Street riverfront office proposal by Corner Lot has also drawn coverage, according to the Jacksonville Daily Record. The proposal is separate from Pearl Square.
Whether the city approves the project, and how quickly Gateway Jax can pre-lease the office space, remain open questions.
