Iguana Investments recently submitted its proposal to the Jacksonville Downtown Investment Authority (DIA) for the first phase development of Jacksonville’s shipyards, a 70-acre stretch of riverfront property south of TIAA Bank Field in downtown Jacksonville.
The proposal, which was created by Iguana in partnership with the joint venture of DeBartolo Development Co. and Rimrock Devlin Development, includes the construction of a riverfront convention center and accompanying hotel.
Iguana Investments, a development entity created by Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shad Khan, was selected by the DIA in April 2017 as the master developer of Jacksonville’s shipyards.
The proposal includes the development of a 490,000-sq.-ft. state-of-the-art public convention center and convention hotel with views of and access to the St. Johns River and public river walk. The convention center hotel also includes a 200,000-sq.-ft. multi-purpose exhibit hall, a 40,000-sq.-ft. ballroom with elevated views of the river and 45 breakout rooms.
A 350-key full-service hotel would connect to the convention space and offer additional ballroom and meeting space, a rooftop pool and ground floor retail and restaurant opportunities along Bay St., according to the proposal.
