Report documents record residential growth, landmark openings and a surging $7 billion development pipeline
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — April 29, 2026 — Downtown Vision, Inc. (DVI), the nonprofit Business Improvement District for Downtown Jacksonville, announced today the release of its 2025 State of Downtown Report. This latest edition marks a strategic shift from an 18-month reporting cycle to a calendar-year format, capturing the significant progress and development in Downtown Jacksonville from January 1 through December 31, 2025.
The report tracks Downtown's performance across key indicators of urban vitality, including development and investment, residential demand, office market and employment base, transportation and infrastructure enhancements and tourism health, to track momentum, benchmark trends and support investment efforts. The full 2025 report is available in an interactive format at DTJax.com/reports.
Highlights from the 2025 State of Downtown Report reflect a landmark year of growth and transformation:
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Soaring Residential Growth: Downtown Jacksonville’s residential population reached 9,228 in 2025, representing a 97% increase since 2016. The area maintains a 96% residential occupancy rate, with more than 1,500 additional units actively under construction.
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Elevated Investment: Downtown Jacksonville is experiencing significant investment, with $7 billion currently in the development pipeline.
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In-Demand Opportunities: Expansion in the education and healthcare sectors, including the $345 million University of Florida graduate campus and a $190 million Baptist Health expansion, are reinforcing Downtown as a hub for innovation and care.
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Destination Status: Major projects, such as the $1.4 billion "Stadium of the Future" renovation, the Four Seasons construction and advancing progress with Gateway Jax’s Pearl Square, underscore Downtown’s role as the region’s cultural and entertainment epicenter.
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Public Parks: 2025 saw the opening or improvement of three major riverfront parks, including Riverfront Plaza, The Playground at St. Johns River Park/Friendship Fountain and the parks at RiversEdge.
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Tourism Draw: Downtown hosted 19.7 million visits through nearly 3,200 events, drawing more than 5.3 million attendees. That activity generated 4.3% of the city's property tax revenue, 32% of its hotel tax revenue and 8% of its sales tax revenue.
“Downtown Jacksonville is no longer a future conversation. It is happening right now, and the momentum is undeniable,” said Colin Tarbert, CEO of the Downtown Investment Authority.
“Downtown Jacksonville’s progress continued in 2025, building on a strong foundation of public and private investment,” said Jake Gordon, CEO of Downtown Vision, Inc. “With cranes in the air across multiple project sites and growing alignment among partners, growth is unmistakable. This year’s report again shows that significant public and private investment is catalyzing real progress Downtown. The future of DTJax is bright."
The full 2025 State of Downtown report is available to view and download at DTJax.com/reports.
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About Downtown Vision:
Downtown Vision is a not-for-profit organization revitalizing Downtown Jacksonville through district services, stakeholder support, marketing, research, events and placemaking. Primarily funded by a self-assessment of Downtown property owners and governed by a board representing a diverse array Downtown stakeholders and community leaders, DVI administers a 1.3 square mile Business Improvement District. For more information, visit DTJax.com/dvi.