Related Group breaks ground on Jacksonville's first luxury riverfront high-rise in over a decade
- Jake Nicholas
- 21 minutes ago
- 3 min read
Related Group has officially broken ground on Southbank Residences, a $200 million, 25-story mixed-use development rising directly on the St. Johns River — a project the developer is positioning as a turning point in downtown Jacksonville's reinvention, and marking the first new luxury riverfront high-rise in more than a decade.
The development will deliver 395 rental residences across two connected towers: the 25-story Icon Southbank and the eight-story Manor Southbank. Anchoring the base is a 4,500-square-foot waterfront restaurant designed to activate the Riverwalk and adjacent Friendship Park, alongside a 29-slip marina, a public boat ramp, and 601 structured parking spaces. Rents will start at $2,000 per month for a studio and climb past $7,000 for a three-bedroom with panoramic river and skyline views. Completion is expected in 2028–29.
The design pedigree is the headline. Southbank Residences is designed by Carlos Ott — the architect behind Paris's Opéra Bastille and landmark projects across Dubai, Shanghai, and beyond — with MSA Architects as record architect and interiors by ID & Design International. Ott's tower is conceived as a sculptural presence on the river, designed to define Jacksonville's skyline rather than simply add to it.
Icon Southbank delivers a condo-level rental experience across 25 stories — one-, two-, and three-bedroom residences with 10-foot ceilings, floor-to-ceiling windows, and oversized balconies oriented toward the river and downtown skyline, finished with European-inspired cabinetry, quartz countertops, full-height backsplashes, and stainless steel appliances. The eight-story Manor Southbank offers a more intimate, neighborhood-scale alternative with refined finishes and direct-access structured parking, prioritizing privacy and everyday livability.
The amenity program is extensive. A spa and wellness center includes cold plunge, steam and dry saunas, massage treatment rooms, and relaxation spaces, while a 24-hour market, speakeasy, library, golf simulator, private theater, and game and entertainment lounge layer in convenience and culture. Outdoors, a resort-style waterfront pool and spa overlook the St. Johns River, complemented by a pool pavilion with grilling stations and a summer kitchen, a zen garden, a yoga lawn, and a Riverwalk promenade with shaded seating. A fitness center with yoga and cycling studios, a sky lounge with panoramic downtown views, and a rooftop clubroom and terrace reserved for penthouse residents complete the offering.
"There's a real turning point happening along the river right now — you can see it, you can feel it — and Southbank Residences is our statement in that moment," said Jon Paul Pérez, President and CEO of Related Group. "Cities across Florida have undergone defining moments that changed their trajectory, and Jacksonville is approaching one of its own. We believe the riverfront will become the backbone of the city's next chapter, creating a destination and lifestyle that will attract new residents, investment and energy for years to come."
The project has been recognized by the City of Jacksonville and the Downtown Investment Authority as part of a broader effort to shape downtown's future — reinforcing priorities around expanded housing, riverfront activation, walkability, and continued revitalization along the St. Johns River corridor. Residents will have direct access to the Southbank Riverwalk, a 1.25-mile promenade connecting more than seven miles of trails, parks, and green space, with the city's water taxi network linking the development to entertainment, culture, sports, and business across downtown.
"The Southbank Residences is a catalytic project for Downtown Jacksonville. We know this because of what Related Group has built across Florida, the U.S. and international markets — more than 100,000 units that bring together innovation, beauty, and modern architecture," said Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan. "We're grateful to have the Related Group working with us. It's the start of what we hope to be a long and successful partnership."
