Big Changes Planned for Downtown Palatka: Rooftop Dining, Food Hall, Hotels and Historic Restoration

 

Big Changes Planned for Downtown Palatka: Rooftop Dining, Food Hall, Hotels and Historic Restoration

Did you know a major redevelopment project is planned for downtown Palatka?

Downtown Palatka could see major changes in the coming years. Current redevelopment plans include a rooftop restaurant, food hall, boutique hotel, event spaces, and restoration of the historic James Hotel. Projects are proposed in phases and could take several years to complete

I'm Cody Bockheim, your local Florida Realtor, and here's what's currently proposed for the 200 Block of St. Johns Avenue.

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201 St. Johns Avenue

One of the most ambitious elements of the project involves the building at 201 St. Johns Avenue. The existing structure is estimated at approximately 23,000 square feet. Plans call for the addition of roughly 9,000 square feet through the construction of a third-floor rooftop restaurant and bar. When completed, the building is currently envisioned to feature a restaurant on the first floor, a multi-purpose event venue on the second floor, and a rooftop restaurant and bar on the newly added third floor. The rooftop venue could become one of downtown's most unique destinations, adding a new entertainment option to the city center.

Corner of North Second Street and St. Johns Avenue

At the present time, no permanent redevelopment plans have been finalized for the parcel located at the corner of North Second Street and St. Johns Avenue. Initially, the property will serve as a construction laydown yard to support redevelopment activities throughout the 200 Block. The City of Palatka has approved this temporary use. Public parking currently available on the site is expected to be removed following public notice. Future development plans for the property have not yet been determined and are expected to be addressed during a later phase of the project.

211 St. Johns Avenue

The existing two-story building at 211 St. Johns Avenue contains approximately 19,000 square feet. Current plans call for the first floor to be transformed into a modern food hall concept featuring multiple food vendors. The development team anticipates between four and ten individual vendor spaces. The food hall is intended to be open to the general public and could create a centralized dining destination within downtown Palatka. The second floor is planned to contain five hotel rooms, which have already received Conditional Use Permit approval from the City of Palatka Planning Commission.

225 St. Johns Avenue

The future use of the first floor at 225 St. Johns Avenue has not yet been finalized. Planning documents indicate the space could become an art gallery, a special event venue, or another public-facing commercial use permitted within the Downtown Riverfront Zoning District. The building will also serve as an access point for hotel guests staying at accommodations within 211, 225, and 229 St. Johns Avenue. The second floor is currently planned to include four hotel rooms along with a dedicated event space that could be rented for meetings, parties, and special events. The hotel rooms have already received Conditional Use Permit approval.

229 St. Johns Avenue

Like 225 St. Johns Avenue, the final first-floor use remains under consideration. Potential concepts identified during planning include a jazz club, a special event venue, or other public-oriented uses permitted by zoning regulations. Hospitality plays a significant role in the plans for this property. Current proposals include eight hotel rooms on the second floor and an additional eight hotel rooms on a newly constructed third floor. If completed as proposed, the building would contain a total of sixteen hotel rooms.

The Historic James Hotel Redevelopment

One of the most significant aspects of the project involves the redevelopment of the historic James Hotel at 300 St. Johns Avenue. The James Hotel was established in 1916 and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. The building was designed by renowned architect Henry John Klutho and is widely recognized as one of downtown Palatka's most important historic structures. The three-story building currently contains approximately 21,600 square feet.

Plans call for the James Hotel to become a boutique hotel serving as the anchor hospitality destination for the entire redevelopment area. The proposed redevelopment includes a grand entrance lobby, modern hotel check-in facilities, guest accommodations, centralized room service operations supporting nearby hotel properties, a new fourth floor, and a porte-cochere entrance along the north side of the building. Developers currently forecast between 30 and 70 guest rooms within the completed hotel. Importantly, plans call for preserving the building's historic exterior while adapting the interior for modern hospitality use.

301 Reid Street

The vacant lot located at 301 Reid Street is expected to support expansion of the James Hotel. Current concepts include additional hotel accommodations, a porte-cochere and valet area, and architectural design elements intended to complement the historic James Hotel. Planning documents estimate the addition could contain between five and twenty hotel rooms.

The Shelley Building at 320 St. Johns Avenue

Another notable component of the redevelopment involves the historic Shelley Building. The three-story structure contains approximately 14,353 square feet. Current plans seek to maintain commercial activity on the first floor while introducing hospitality uses on the upper levels. The proposal includes between four and ten hotel rooms on the second floor and another four to ten hotel rooms on the third floor. If fully built out, the building could contain between eight and twenty guest rooms.

Potential Economic Impact

If all proposed hotel components are ultimately completed, the redevelopment could add between approximately 64 and 131 hotel rooms throughout downtown Palatka. Combined with the planned food hall, rooftop restaurant and bar, event venues, potential art gallery, potential jazz club, and expanded hospitality offerings, the project represents one of the largest downtown redevelopment efforts proposed in recent years.

Key Milestones Already Achieved

The Planned Unit Development (PUD) overlay received unanimous approval from the Planning Board.

Conditional Use Permit approval has already been granted for the hotel rooms proposed at 211 and 225 St. Johns Avenue.

 

 

Project Timeline

The redevelopment is expected to occur in multiple phases, with the 200 Block properties prioritized ahead of the larger James Hotel redevelopment. According to project presentations, the 200 Block portion of the project is anticipated to be completed within approximately four years, while the full buildout of the James Hotel district could extend up to ten years.

Phase 1: 200 Block Redevelopment (Estimated 0–4 Years)

201 St. Johns Avenue

The rooftop restaurant and bar addition, first-floor restaurant, and second-floor event space are planned as part of the initial 200 Block redevelopment phase. Based on project timelines presented to the Planning Board, this building would likely be completed within the project's first four years.

211 St. Johns Avenue

The food hall and five second-floor hotel rooms are included within the primary 200 Block redevelopment area and are expected to be developed during the initial four-year phase.

225 St. Johns Avenue

The proposed hotel rooms, event space, and future commercial use are anticipated to be developed as part of the larger 200 Block redevelopment timeline, which is expected to span approximately four years.

229 St. Johns Avenue

The proposed hotel expansion, including a new third floor and potential entertainment venue, falls within the 200 Block redevelopment phase and is expected to be completed during the project's initial four-year window.

North Second Street Construction Yard

The temporary construction laydown yard is expected to operate during the active redevelopment of the 200 Block properties. Long-term plans for the site have not yet been announced.

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Phase 2: James Hotel District Redevelopment (Estimated 4–10 Years)

300 St. Johns Avenue – James Hotel

The James Hotel redevelopment is considered one of the most complex portions of the overall project due to its historic status, size, and proposed hotel conversion. Project documents indicate that this portion of the redevelopment could occur over a longer timeline extending up to ten years.

301 Reid Street

Development of the vacant lot adjacent to the James Hotel is expected to occur in conjunction with, or following, redevelopment of the James Hotel itself. No specific construction dates have been identified.

320 St. Johns Avenue – Shelley Building

The conversion of upper floors into hotel rooms is also anticipated to occur as part of the broader hospitality expansion surrounding the James Hotel redevelopment. No building-specific completion date has been announced.

 

 

Important Note for Readers

While the overall redevelopment schedule outlines a four-year timeline for the 200 Block and up to ten years for the James Hotel district, no official groundbreaking dates, construction start dates, or building-by-building completion schedules have been publicly released as part of the approved plans. Future phases will likely depend on permitting, financing, tenant commitments, and construction sequencing.

 

SOURCES

Ordinance for PUD Downtown

https://palatkafl.portal.civicclerk.com/event/1427/files/attachment/6050

Application Summary

https://palatkafl.portal.civicclerk.com/event/1427/files/attachment/5995

2nd Reading Staff Report

https://palatkafl.portal.civicclerk.com/event/1427/files/report/1943

YouTube Commission Meeting time 1:55:40 - 1:57:40 

https://www.youtube.com/live/7-rHcnPapE0?si=uFhKmlvUFMATlTsY