New details are surfacing regarding the potential redevelopment of the aging Regency Square Mall.
A preliminary name for the project has been introduced. The Nexus at Regency—along with a proposed scope: 11 commercial outparcels at the northwest corner of Atlantic Boulevard and Monument Road in Arlington.
Utility Service Application Filed
Jacksonville-based EnVision Design + Engineering LLC submitted an application on March 3 to the JEA, the city’s utility provider, to assess the availability of utility services for the site.
While no developer has been identified, previous JEA filings suggest potential tenants, including:
- Raising Cane’s Chicken Fingers on Outparcel 1
- A gas station/convenience store on Outparcel 5
A service availability request does not guarantee development but indicates that the site is being evaluated for future use.
Prime Location for Redevelopment
The project’s name, Nexus, may be a nod to its strategic location. The mall sits along Arlington Expressway, near the intersection with Atlantic Boulevard, and between Interstate 295 and Monument Road, offering direct access to Downtown, the Beaches, and North and South Jacksonville.
The application describes plans for the creation of 11 commercial outparcels within the existing parking lot along Atlantic Boulevard and Monument Road. Estimated daily utility usage suggests a mix of restaurants and retail spaces.
Proposed Site Plan for Regency Square Mall site
Ownership and Sale Details
Regency Square Mall is owned by three LLCs led by New York-based Regency Mall Realty LLC, which purchased the property for $13 million in 2014. Over time, the company sold the movie theater parcel and the former Belk store to Impact Church.
Other portions of the mall are separately owned, including:
Sears, which was acquired by TF Jacksonville LLC, part of Transformco Properties
Dillard’s Clearance Center, owned by Dillard Department Stores LLC
In October 2023, Lake City-based Blackwater Development LLC announced that it had a contract to purchase the remaining portion of the mall. The sale is expected to close by the end of March 2024, pending due diligence and negotiations.
Blackwater Development has not disclosed financial terms or any partnerships in the acquisition.
Redevelopment Plans
Blackwater Development LLC President Rurmell McGee
Blackwater Development President Rurmell McGee has indicated that parts of the mall will be demolished, with redevelopment plans including:
- Multifamily housing
- Retail and entertainment spaces
- Other mixed-use developments
The full sale and redevelopment process could extend into early 2025.
Site Plan Details
A site plan submitted to JEA outlines two main parcels for redevelopment:
A 41.84-acre eastern site at the corner of Atlantic Boulevard and Monument Road
A 35-acre western site, located north of Arlington Expressway
Additionally, a roadway with a roundabout is planned to connect Regency Square Boulevard South to the Arlington Expressway/Atlantic Boulevard intersection, with Impact Church situated northwest of this area.
As the redevelopment process moves forward, more details on tenant agreements, infrastructure upgrades, and community impact are expected to emerge.