The Harlow City Council voted unanimously Tuesday to approve a mixed-use development on 12 acres along the St. Johns River. The project, submitted by Riverfront Partners LLC, includes 240 apartments, 45,000 square feet of retail space and a 120-room hotel. Construction is scheduled to begin in early 2026 and finish by 2028.

Project Features and Timeline

Plans call for four residential buildings ranging from four to six stories, ground-floor shops and restaurants, and a public promenade with kayak access. The developer will also build a 200-space parking garage and install stormwater infrastructure to meet updated flood standards. City records show the site was previously zoned industrial and required a rezoning to mixed-use. The council attached conditions requiring 15 percent of units to be priced for households earning 80 percent of area median income and mandating solar-ready roofs on all structures.

Traffic studies submitted with the application project 1,800 additional daily vehicle trips. To address congestion, the developer will fund traffic-signal upgrades at two nearby intersections and contribute $1.2 million toward a planned riverfront bike path. Environmental reviews found no significant wetlands on the parcel, though the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers will still review dock permits.

Community Reaction and Next Steps

Neighborhood associations expressed support for the affordable-housing component while requesting additional green space. The Harlow Riverfront Alliance praised the public-access provisions but asked the city to monitor construction noise. Council member Lena Torres said the vote reflects the city’s goal of increasing housing supply without expanding the urban service boundary. Permits are now expected to move through the planning department within 90 days, after which site preparation can begin. The project is projected to generate 320 temporary construction jobs and 180 permanent positions once complete.