Jacksonville, Florida — Future of Cities announced today a partnership with Jacksonville-based Live Oak® Contracting to support the next phase of planning and development for the Phoenix Arts & Innovation District (PHXJAX), an emerging arts, innovation, and mixed-use district located in Jacksonville’s historic Springfield neighborhood.
Spanning approximately 8.5 acres just north of Downtown Jacksonville, the Phoenix Arts & Innovation District (PHXJAX) campus is envisioned as a creative district bringing together arts, culture, entrepreneurship, and community programming. PHXJAX is designed to evolve through multiple phases into a walkable, multi-modal transit-oriented neighborhood incorporating creative workspace, public gathering spaces, and future mixed-use development supporting Jacksonville’s growing creative and entrepreneurial communities.
The collaboration brings together the PHXJAX leadership team with Live Oak’s development and construction expertise as planning continues for the next stage of the campus.
“This partnership reflects the strength of Jacksonville’s growth trajectory and the confidence we have in the Phoenix Arts & Innovation District as a catalytic project for the city,” said Tony Cho, Founder and CEO of Future of Cities.
Live Oak Estates Group, the development arm of Live Oak Contracting, will support development strategy and planning efforts alongside the PHXJAX team, while Live Oak Contracting will provide pre-development and pre-construction services as the project advances.
“PHXJAX represents an opportunity to create a new kind of district for Jacksonville—one centered around creativity, community, and forward-looking development,” said Michael Weil, Chief Operating Officer of Future of Cities. “Partnering with a Jacksonville-based team like Live Oak brings both development insight and construction leadership as we move the vision forward.”
Live Oak Contracting, headquartered in Jacksonville, has delivered multifamily, hospitality, and mixed-use developments throughout the Southeastern United States and will work alongside PHXJAX leadership to support site planning, construction strategy, and implementation planning for future phases of the district.
“We are excited to partner with the PHXJAX team to help bring this vision to life,” said Paul Bertozzi, CEO of Live Oak Contracting and Live Oak Estates Group. “Projects like this have the potential to create lasting impact for a city by blending housing, culture, and innovation into a vibrant urban environment.”
The Phoenix Arts & Innovation District (PHXJAX) is part of a broader effort to activate underutilized land in Jacksonville while creating a destination for artists, entrepreneurs, residents, and visitors.
Additional project details and development timelines will be announced as planning continues.
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About Future of Cities
Future of Cities is a next-generation regenerative real estate investment, development, and education platform transforming how we live and thrive through regenerative placemaking. Driven by a commitment to regeneration, Future of Cities convenes leaders, policymakers, technologists, and community builders to advance holistic urban innovation while co-designing the cities and communities of the future. Learn more at https://focities.com.
About the Phoenix Arts & Innovation District (PHXJAX)
The Phoenix Arts & Innovation District (PHXJAX) is an 8.3-acre urban development and innovation hub in Jacksonville’s North Springfield corridor. The project repurposes 120,000 square feet of historic industrial buildings into modern creative space while advancing a broader mixed-use district with entitlements for up to 830 multifamily units, including affordable, workforce, and market-rate housing. Located along the 30-mile Emerald Trail, PHXJAX integrates with Jacksonville’s growing transit and recreational infrastructure while transforming underutilized land into a vibrant, community-centered destination. Learn more at https://www.phxjax.com/.
About Live Oak®Estates Group
Live Oak Estates Group is the development arm of Live Oak Contracting and focuses on planning, financing, and developing multifamily and mixed-use communities throughout the United States.
About Live Oak®Contracting
Live Oak Contracting is a Jacksonville-based construction firm specializing in multifamily, mixed-use, and hospitality developments across the United States. Learn more at https://liveoakcontracting.com/.
