DIA to review Snyder Memorial Church reuse, EverBank retention incentives, and Riverfront Plaza restaurant plans
Key downtown redevelopment items on DIA agenda
The Downtown Investment Authority (DIA) is scheduled to meet Wednesday, Feb. 18, 2026, with a work plan that includes potential next steps for a landmarked historic property, a proposed incentive package tied to downtown job retention, and the city’s continuing effort to add a signature restaurant on the St. Johns River.
The meeting is set for 1:30 p.m. at the Jacksonville Public Library’s Main Library Downtown, with participation available both in person and virtually.
Snyder Memorial Church: evaluating a path to reuse
Board members are expected to review options for the future of Snyder Memorial Church, a Gothic Revival structure built in the early 1900s at Laura and Monroe streets near James Weldon Johnson Park. The building is listed on the National Register of Historic Places and is locally landmarked.
City actions over the past year have focused on stabilizing the property and improving its marketability for redevelopment. The city has committed $4.5 million for critical repairs, including work associated with the roof and foundation, as part of a strategy intended to make the building safer and more viable for adaptive reuse. The project has been discussed as potentially accommodating modern uses while preserving historic architectural features.
Adaptive reuse discussions typically weigh preservation requirements, cost of rehabilitation, and the long-term ability of a new use to operate sustainably within the downtown market.
EverBank: incentive proposal tied to downtown presence and jobs
The DIA is also expected to consider a conditional office retention grant valued at $9.8 million over 10 years aimed at maintaining EverBank’s downtown operations at 301 W. Bay St. The proposal is structured to support the continuation of more than 800 full-time jobs in the Northbank office corridor.
Under terms discussed publicly ahead of the meeting, the company would commit to specific investments in its leased space, including tenant improvements of at least $35 per rentable square foot. In parallel, the building’s owner has outlined plans to invest $10 million in upgrades over a three-year period.
Waterfront dining: Riverfront Plaza restaurant procurement timeline
A separate downtown priority—adding riverfront dining—remains active through the city’s Riverfront Plaza restaurant initiative on the former Jacksonville Landing site. The DIA has issued a solicitation inviting proposals from experienced food-and-beverage operators to assist with design and to lease and operate a signature restaurant at Riverfront Plaza.
Proposal responses are due March 27, 2026, at 5 p.m. (EST).
Questions from interested parties are due March 13, 2026, with responses to be posted by the city.
What to watch
The Feb. 18 meeting is expected to clarify near-term milestones rather than finalize long-range outcomes. For Snyder Memorial Church, the central issue is how the city positions the building for redevelopment while meeting preservation and safety needs. For EverBank, the discussion centers on the structure and public value of incentives tied to job retention. For Riverfront Plaza, the procurement timetable establishes the next decision points toward selecting an operator and advancing design and construction planning.