Downtown Jacksonville could soon gain a new Publix supermarket. Developer Gateway Jax is moving forward with Block N7, a mixed-use building planned for 119 West Beaver Street, near City Hall.
The ground floor would feature a full-service Publix supermarket spanning approximately 31,000 square feet, including a pharmacy, with 259 rental apartments and additional retail space above. Two parking levels above the supermarket would serve Publix customers.
“A supermarket is the heart of any neighborhood,” said Bryan Moll, CEO of Gateway Jax, when the grocery chain's arrival was confirmed. The supermarket is expected to open in 2028.
Estimated total investment: Approximately $140 million.
Residential units: 259 apartments.
Supermarket: A full-service Publix spanning approximately 31,000 square feet, including a pharmacy.
Requested incentives: $49.65 million, consisting of $21 million in property tax rebates paid over time and a $28 million grant payable only after construction is completed.
Next key vote: November 4, 2026, before the Jacksonville City Council.
In early October, the City Council's Finance Committee postponed the vote on the proposed incentives. The main reason was Amendment 3, a statewide measure concerning the homestead property tax exemption, scheduled for a vote on November 3.
Part of Downtown's development incentive funding relies on property taxes, and some council members preferred to wait for the election results before committing public funds.
On October 22, council members and developers publicly advocated for the project during a meeting at City Hall. The incentive package vote was subsequently scheduled for the day after the election.
Block N7 is one component of Pearl Square, a mixed-use development spanning approximately 20 city blocks in NorthCore, northwest of Downtown Jacksonville.
According to the Downtown Investment Authority (DIA), the completed development is expected to include:
More than 1,250 residential units.
More than 200,000 square feet of retail and dining space.
Office space, public plazas, green spaces, a pedestrian street and a boutique hotel.
A total development value exceeding $750 million.
Construction is already underway. The first building, Vandeveer, located at 515 N. Pearl Street, includes 205 apartments. Construction began in October 2024, with completion expected by the end of 2026.
The second building, located at 425 Beaver Street, began construction in May 2025.
Pearl Square is part of a broader wave of investment reshaping Downtown Jacksonville. According to Downtown Vision, public and private investment in completed Downtown projects reached $3.4 billion between 2016 and 2024.
Additional major developments include the $1.4 billion Jacksonville Jaguars stadium renovation and the new UF Jacksonville campus, which opened in August 2026.
The proposed Publix would also become the fourth supermarket either open or planned in Downtown, joining Fresh Market in Brooklyn, a Whole Foods under construction at One Riverside and an Aldi on North Market Street.
Together, these projects point to Downtown Jacksonville's gradual transformation into a more complete residential neighborhood, with everyday services increasingly available to residents.
The arrival of a supermarket can be an important indicator of a neighborhood's development. Grocery chains such as Publix carefully evaluate a market's residential population and purchasing power before opening a new location. A supermarket can improve everyday convenience and make a neighborhood more attractive to potential residents.
For real estate investors, these changes may support rental demand over the medium and long term, particularly as more housing, retail and public amenities come online.
The broader multifamily market also offers relevant context. According to Matthews, Jacksonville's multifamily rents returned to growth in the second quarter of 2026 after three years of declines, while new apartment construction fell significantly.
However, investors should continue monitoring the November 4 incentive vote and the outcome of Amendment 3. Both could affect the timeline of this and other Downtown developments.
Neighborhood transformations of this scale typically take years to unfold, and future performance is never guaranteed. Infrastructure, retail investment and population growth are useful factors to consider when evaluating a real estate market, but they should be assessed alongside property prices, rental income, expenses and overall investment objectives.
Interested in exploring real estate opportunities in Florida? Contact us to learn more.
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News4JAX (October 22, 2026), “Jacksonville council members, developers make public push for Downtown Publix incentive package”: https://www.news4jax.com/news/local/2026/10/22/jacksonville-council-members-developers-make-public-push-for-downtown-publix-incentive-package/
Hoodline (October 2026), “Downtown Jacksonville's development boom meets a property-tax debate”: https://hoodline.com/2026/10/downtown-jacksonville-s-development-boom-meets-a-property-tax-debate/
Downtown Investment Authority (September 3, 2025), “Publix confirmed for Downtown Jacksonville store in Pearl Square”: https://dia.jacksonville.gov/news/publix-confirmed-for-downtown-jacksonville-store-in-pearl-square
Downtown Investment Authority / Invest DTJax, Pearl Square development profile: https://invest.dtjax.com/poi/pearl-square/
Matthews, Jacksonville Multifamily Market Report, Q2 2026: https://www.matthews.com/insights/jacksonville-fl-multifamily-market-report-q2-2026
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