Nine Townhomes Proposed for Front Street Parcel Near Fernandina Riverfront

By Mike Lednovich/Editor

FERNANDINA BEACH – A proposal to build nine three-story townhomes on a vacant North Front Street parcel near Alachua Street will make its first appearance before the city's Technical Review Committee on Thursday, marking the latest residential development proposed for Fernandina Beach's historic waterfront district.

The project, known as the Alachua Street Townhomes, is planned for a 0.62-acre parcel at 101 Alachua St. between North Front Street and North Second Street. The property is currently vacant and lies within the Community Redevelopment Area, Main Street district and Historic District. According to documents submitted to the city, the proposal calls for nine townhome units, each with a two-car garage, along with guest parking, landscaping and supporting infrastructure.

The project is being reviewed through the city's "First Step Review" process, an informal meeting intended to identify potential development issues and provide guidance to applicants before formal site-plan review begins. No approvals will be granted at Thursday's meeting.

Concept plans show the townhomes facing North Front Street, with vehicle access from Alachua Street. The development would include eight standard units and one larger corner unit. Plans indicate the homes would be approximately 45 feet tall, the maximum height allowed under current zoning and contain between 3,861 and 4,375 square feet of gross floor area, including garages, living areas and upper-floor bedrooms.

The site plan includes 27 parking spaces, consisting primarily of garage parking for residents plus nine guest spaces. Project documents show a proposed density of 14.5 units per acre, below the maximum allowable density of 18 units per acre.

The property is owned by Downtown Crab LLC, which purchased the parcel in 2020 for $2 million, according to Nassau County Property Appraiser records. The site sits immediately east of the CSX railroad tracks and south of Alachua Street, across from other commercial and mixed-use properties near the downtown waterfront.

The proposal comes from the same development team that previously built a row of townhomes on North Second Street near downtown Fernandina Beach. In 2017, the city's Historic District Council reviewed plans by architect Jose Miranda for a similar seven-unit townhome project on North Second Street between the Palace Saloon and Alachua Street.

While Thursday's review is largely procedural, the project could draw attention because of its prominent location at one of the main entrances into the historic waterfront area. Future reviews are expected to address architectural design, historic compatibility, stormwater management, traffic circulation and other development requirements.

Because a portion of the property lies within Flood Zone AE, project plans note that additional engineering, environmental and regulatory reviews will be required before any final approvals are grantedThe Technical Review Committee meeting is scheduled for 9 a.m. Thursday at City Hall.