JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The closed Regal Cinemas theater along Jacksonville’s Beach Boulevard will begin coming down next week to make way for brand new multifamily apartments.
Realco Recycling will be leading the demolition, which will cost $100,000.
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The plan is for the demolition process to begin Monday, and they expect that process will take about a month. After that, the parking lot, trees and everything underground will be a thing of the past.
In its place will be Regal Apartments, still at 14051 Beach Blvd, through the developer Presidium out of Dallas, Texas.
Presidium’s President of Development, Mark Farrell, told Action News Jax that the project has reached a cost of nearly $50 million.
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Five four-story apartment buildings will be created, making for a total of 334 units. The plan is for the units to be move-in ready by the end of 2023.
The architect is Dwell Design Studio LLC.
Action News Jax also spoke with one of the project’s local contractors, LandSouth Construction.
Phillip McBride is the group’s project manager. He shared what people can expect from Regal Apartments.
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“Kind of a higher-end luxury, semi-luxury type feel for the apartments,” McBride said.
There will be a high-end amenity center, a pool and a fitness center along with quality landscaping and other features.
The City Council approved plans to build a multifamily development at the closed Regal Cinemas site back in April.
Some residents say they’re concerned about crowded roads, affordability and losing entertainment options.
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“During the COVID pandemic, a lot of movies closed down,” University of North Florida student Giana Mercado said. “People are using streaming services or not watching movies, but I think that the film industry really needs these movie theaters to stay open so that people can have entertainment and it’s not a lost art form.”
The plan is for the construction of Regal Apartments to begin sometime during late summer with the project wrapping up by the end of 2023. Community members could expect to begin leasing the apartments by the middle of next year.
“I think this is a great piece of property in a great location,” McBride said. “It’s a hop, skip and a jump to the beach. I think it’ll be a nice facelift for this area.”
PHOTOS: New Regal Apartments to take place of closed theater in Jacksonville
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