Jacksonville is kicking off a new push Thursday to find a developer willing to breathe life back into Snyder Memorial, the 122-year-old church building that has sat largely dormant in the heart of downtown. The city-owned structure at 226 N. Laura St. hasn't hosted a religious service since the 1970s, but officials hope that is about to change in a different way, with a request for information going out to gauge which developers are serious about taking it on.
The Downtown Investment Authority has issued a request for information about the property.
The building's path to this point has been years in the making. The DIA board voted 9-0 in February 2026 to establish a marketing period ahead of seeking redevelopment proposals, according to News4JAX. The city has owned the structure since 2004, the station notes.
Possible Uses for Snyder Memorial
Possible uses include offices, restaurants or event venues, according to News4JAX's February 2026 account. A restaurant or music hall has also been floated as a possible use.
Any eventual plan will also need to respect the building's historic integrity while helping activate the area around James Weldon Johnson Park and the Main Jacksonville Public Library, per the same account. When ranking proposals, the DIA plans to weigh factors including a developer's financial capacity and the strength of its business plan or pro forma, including an estimated construction schedule, the Daily Record reports.
Cushman & Wakefield began marketing the property to potential developers after the DIA contracted with the commercial real estate firm in February 2026, the station's report states. That marketing effort has paid off with what the Daily Record describes as robust developer interest, including numerous tours from different groups looking at the building.
From Fire-Damaged Sanctuary to City-Owned Landmark
Snyder Memorial's story stretches back more than a century. Construction on the Snyder Memorial Methodist Episcopal Church began in October 1902, with the first service held in December 1903, according to the Daily Record. The building has not been used for religious services since the 1970s and was later deconsecrated by the United Methodist Church, per DIA documents cited in that reporting.
The city has owned the building since 2004.
The city has committed $4.5 million toward critical repairs to Snyder Memorial, including work on the roof and foundation, News4JAX reported.
Jacksonville isn't alone in grappling with what to do with aging, underused buildings downtown. Industrial adaptive reuse is gaining traction locally as developers increasingly recognize the potential in older structures, according to Jacksonville Today, which pointed to the city's recently completed Union Terminal Warehouse project as one example of that trend.
No developer has been chosen and no final redevelopment plan has been set, so for now the building's future remains an open question the city is only beginning to ask. The Downtown Investment Authority's request for information marks the start of a search that officials hope will finally match Snyder Memorial with a use worthy of its prominent spot in the city's core.
