Jacksonville Beach, District 2
Community Newsletter
February 2020
Please share this newsletter with your friends and neighbors!
Wishing you and yours a
Wonderful Valentine's Day!

What's your Vision for Jacksonville Beach?
Do you want to be part of shaping the future of Jacksonville Beach?
The City is asking residents who want to be part of the community vision process to sign up for one meeting since space will be limited (we don't want the groups to get too large), and we are looking for diverse participation.

You can contact Chris Wright at 904.247.6268 to sign up for a meeting. More sessions will be added if needed.

Thank you for your willingness to participate!

Visioning Meetings

  • February 8 (Saturday) 10:30 - noon  Community Center, Sunshine Park FULL!

  • February 13 (Thursday) 6 - 7:30pm  City Hall, City Council Chambers FULL!

  • February 22 (Saturday) 6 - 7:30pm Community Center, Sunshine Park STILL HAVE ROOM!
Home Rule
The Florida State Legislature is currently in session, and there are some proposals that will impact Jax Beach (The Legislature is in session for 60 days each year). One of the proposals before them pertains to Short Term Rentals, among many other pieces of legislation, that seeks to take away our ability to decide what we want, and don't want, in Jax Beach.
The current proposed legislation seeks to take away municipalities' right to regulate short term vacation rentals (for example, Airbnb). The state has already taken away our ability to decide what zone short term vacation rentals can operate in, which is why we see them operating in residential neighborhoods. The proposed legislation would nullify Jax Beach's current Short Term Rental ordinance that was passed last year. This is an attack on Home Rule (see video below). Please contact the committee members who will be hearing this bill this week to let them know about your experiences regarding the short term rentals in your neighborhoods. We need as many residents as possible to voice their concerns.
[Here are some talking points , if needed.]
Please let me know if you have any questions, concerns, or comments.
904.486.6865

February Events
2/5 7:00 pm
Beaches Library
Topic: State of the Beaches

2/9 7:00 am
Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach, and Jax Beach

2/11 5:00-9:00 pm
Downtown

2/19 5:00-8:30 pm
Seawalk Pavilion

2/22 noon to 2/23 7:00 pm
Seawalk Pavilion

2/29 10 am - 3 pm
Seawalk Pavilion


Click here for more information and events.

State of the Beaches
On February 5, the three Beaches mayors presented the state of each City at Beaches Watch's monthly meeting.
Jax Beach Pier
Good news! Construction has started and is expected to be completed by November 2021.
  • The project will cost $9.88 million. The cost is broken down to 75% federal government; 25% split between Jacksonville and the State.
  • The reconstructed pier will be the same length as the original pier (1,300 feet), but will be 8 feet higher at the end.

Jacksonville will maintain ownership of the Pier, but Jacksonville Beach is looking at taking over its management.

More information can be found here.
Downtown Jax Beach
The following properties/projects are new large-scale developments in downtown Jacksonville Beach. The latest addition is 221 Surfside , a mixed use development to the property just north of the Seawalk Pavilion. Proposed uses include a restaurant, office space, a boutique hotel, and retail.

221 Surfside (formerly Sydney's and Buckets, just north of the Pavilion)
Rooms: 17
Height: 2 stories
~Construction has started~


 SpringHill Suites (Current location of the Pier Cantina restaurant)
Rooms: 136
Height: 56' (5 stories)

~Buildings over 35' (3 stories) were grandfathered in~
Element Hotel (southeast corner of Beach Blvd. and 3rd Street)
Rooms: 80
Height: 35' (3 stories)
~Construction has started~
Margaritaville Hotel (oceanfront lot north of Casa Marina)
Rooms: 202
Height: 89' (eight stories)
~Construction has started~
Dolphin Depot (across 1st St from Margaritaville)
Rooms: 57 hotel rooms, 54 apartments
Height: 68' (6 stories)
Together, we will make a difference.
Let's continue to work together to ensure that Jacksonville Beach remains one of the greatest places to call home! Reach out if you have any questions or concerns about what is happening in your neighborhood or City.
Cell phone: 904.486.6865