JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — A development team is planning to transform an open empty space along the Southbank into a healthy living and recreational community all centered on healthy living.
Developer Peter Rummell told Action News Jax the site will include living and retail space.
Rummell said even the design of the buildings will be focused on good health, including buildings encouraging the use of stairs.
Rummell said it will have apartments, condos and retail stores, and will be a multi-generational community.
"There will be the best bars and restaurants in North Florida there on the river so we hope it becomes a magnet and a place to come as well as a place where several hundred families will live," Rummell said. "This is something that we think is the right time literally world wide."
Tiffany Gutierrez works along the Southbank and said while she loves the view of the St. Johns River, she believes the area could use some new development.
"This whole area in general it doesn't see a lot of action," Gutierrez said. "I walk around here a lot and I don't see a lot of people so I think that would bring a lot more people to this area because it really is very nice just empty."
Gutierrez said she's excited by the proposal and can't wait for construction to begin.
"I love the idea," Guiterrez said. "I love working out and eating healthy so if it's so close to where I work which is right over there I think that'd be perfect."
Rummell said they aren't planning on sticking with the name 'healthy town' as it's been dubbed and they're asking the public to come up with ideas which can be submitted at Healthy.Town.
"It's a great idea with a bad name," Rummell said.
Rummell said the development team will make a decision on a new name around mid-September and the person who submits the winning name will get a free membership for one year at the site.