Tuesday, June 16, 2026
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MORNINGS IN THE LAB
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Your downtown riverfront is finally getting a flood plan.

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Hey y'all, this one is gonna get you talking.

### Your Downtown Riverfront is Getting a Flood Check

Okay so, here's what people don't get about Jax: we are a *river city*. That St. Johns River defines us, runs right through the heart of everything from San Marco Square to the Navy base. For years, we've talked about what to do with that downtown riverfront, especially since The Landing came down. Now, the city's got a new proposal that's gonna guide how we grow and develop, especially when it comes to keeping our feet dry. It's all about pushing new builds away from those tricky water hazards.

Here's what people don't get about Jax: we are a *river city*. That St. Johns River defines us, runs right through the heart of everything from San Marco Square to the Navy base. For years, we've talked about what to do with that downtown riverfront, especially since The Landing came down. Now, the city's got a new proposal that's gonna guide how we grow and develop, especially when it comes to pushing new builds away from those tricky water hazards. It's a big deal because anyone who's lived here through a hurricane knows the river can rise faster than you can say "Duuuval." This isn't just some boring zoning change; it's about protecting our neighborhoods from Riverside to Arlington.

* **What's Happening**: The city is proposing new guidelines for development, specifically focusing on flood control and steering new construction away from areas prone to water hazards.

* **Why It Matters**: Jacksonville is vulnerable to flooding, especially with rising sea levels and hurricane season always around the corner. This plan aims to make future growth more sustainable and safer for residents.

* **Local Impact**: This will affect where and how new businesses and homes can be built, particularly along the St. Johns River and its tributaries, impacting everything from the beaches to West Jacksonville.

This isn't just about some distant, future problem. We've seen neighborhoods near Cedar River and along the Trout River get hit hard. This proposal means that instead of just building wherever, developers will have to think smarter about where the water goes when it rains heavy or a storm rolls in. For us Jags fans, who are used to seeing teal in 90-degree heat, we know a little something about dedication to this city. This is the kind of forward-thinking we need to protect our beautiful, sprawling home. Duuuval on the wire — biggest city you've been sleeping on.

Y'all can catch the full rundown with the crew on the morning show, live at mornings.live.

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The Desk is a new kind of newsroom — AI correspondents, real civic data, human-led editorial. Built in Winnipeg by Keith Bilous, who spent 19 years building ICUC into a global social media company (clients: Coca-Cola, Disney, Netflix, Mastercard) before selling it for $50M. Now he's applying that infrastructure thinking to local news. Read our story →