A long-vacant school site in Jacksonville's San Jose area is cleared to become new housing. On August 11, 2026, the Jacksonville City Council approved a land-use change and a rezoning for 7401 Old Kings Road South, the 12.41 acre site of the former Kings Trail Elementary School, opening the way for an infill development of up to 110 homes, according to the Jax Daily Record.
Here is what the Council actually approved, who is behind the project, and what an infill approval like this signals for buyers watching where new supply is added inside an established part of the city.
What the City Council approved
The Council took two votes on August 11, 2026. It approved Ordinance 2026-0477 by a vote of 17 to 0 to change the future land use to Medium Density Residential, and Ordinance 2026-0478 by a vote of 18 to 0 to rezone the property to a Planned Unit Development from its former Public Buildings and Facilities designation, per the Jax Daily Record. A Planned Unit Development, or PUD, lets the uses, regulations, and standards be tailored to a specific site rather than following a standard zoning category.
The approval followed the normal path through the city's review bodies. The Planning Commission recommended approval on a unanimous vote on July 23, 2026, and the Council's Land Use and Zoning Committee endorsed the change on August 4, 2026, according to the Jax Daily Record. Neighbors raised concerns during the process, and the reporting notes the Council added buffer provisions along the edges of the site as the plan advanced.
The project and the developer
The application was filed by Dream Finders Homes, which sought to rezone the 12.41 acre parcel and amend its land use so the project could proceed, per the Jax Daily Record on August 11, 2026. The builder's plan describes up to 110 residential cottages or townhomes on the site. The company also said it was considering building the community as an age-restricted community for residents 55 and older, a detail the reporting described as under consideration rather than final.
The parcel has sat unused since the elementary school closed, so this is a case of redeveloping an existing publicly owned site inside the city rather than extending into undeveloped land at the metro's edge. That distinction is part of why infill approvals draw attention: they add homes where roads, utilities, and services already exist.
Why an infill approval matters for buyers
New for-sale supply in Northeast Florida has leaned heavily toward large master-planned communities on the outer edges of the metro, in places like St. Johns County and western Duval. An approval to build up to 110 homes on a closed school site inside an established part of Jacksonville is a smaller and more central kind of addition. For buyers who want to be closer to the core of the city, projects like this one are where a meaningful share of that centrally located new construction is likely to come from over the next several years.
It also fits a broader affordability backdrop. Entry-level homes have grown scarce across the region, a shift we covered in the disappearing starter home in Northeast Florida, and new construction runs on its own seasonal calendar, which we mapped in the best time to buy or sell in Northeast Florida. For current county-level prices and inventory, our Jacksonville housing market tracker keeps the running numbers.
What is confirmed and what is still ahead
A few points are worth keeping straight. The Council approved the land-use and zoning changes on August 11, 2026, which is the step that makes the project legally possible, not a finished plan. The 110 home count, the cottage or townhome format, and the possible 55 and older restriction are the figures Dream Finders has shared so far, and details like the final unit mix, home designs, pricing, and a construction timeline can shift as the project moves from approval into permitting and site work. No sales timeline has been reported.
Anyone interested in a home there will want to watch for the builder's formal announcements rather than assume availability, since the number of homes is limited and, if the age restriction is adopted, eligibility would be tied to it.
Frequently asked questions
What did Jacksonville approve on Old Kings Road South?
On August 11, 2026, the Jacksonville City Council approved a land-use change and a rezoning for the site at 7401 Old Kings Road South, clearing the way for an infill residential development of up to 110 homes, according to the Jax Daily Record.
How many homes will be built at the former Kings Trail Elementary site?
The plan allows up to 110 residential units, described by the applicant as cottages or townhomes, on the 12.41 acre former Kings Trail Elementary School site, per the Jax Daily Record on August 11, 2026.
Who is developing the Old Kings Road South project?
The application was filed by Dream Finders Homes, which sought to rezone the site and amend its land use so the project could move forward, according to the Jax Daily Record.
Will the Old Kings Road South homes be age restricted?
The developer said it was considering building the community as an age-restricted community for residents 55 and older, per the Jax Daily Record on August 11, 2026. That detail was described as under consideration, not final.
When did the City Council vote take place?
The full City Council approved the two ordinances on August 11, 2026, voting 17 to 0 on the land-use change and 18 to 0 on the rezoning, after the Land Use and Zoning Committee endorsed them on August 4 and the Planning Commission recommended approval on July 23.
The market takeaway
A single 110 home approval will not move a regional market on its own, but it is a useful signal of where centrally located supply is being added, and of a city willing to convert a closed public site into housing. For buyers focused on established parts of Jacksonville rather than the far suburbs, infill approvals like this one are worth tracking early, well before homes are listed. Nothing here is a guarantee of availability or price, and plans can change between approval and construction. As always, this is general market information and not investment or legal advice.
If you want a straight read on your own options in this market, talk to our founders or call (904) 351-6461.
Sources: Jax Daily Record, "Council approves San Jose rezoning for infill development, gives neighbors some buffer," August 11, 2026 (link). Jax Daily Record, "Jacksonville City Council committee endorses infill residential development in San Jose," August 4, 2026 (link). Jacksonville Today, "Kings Trail deal in San Jose shows toll of challenging a big developer," August 12, 2026 (link).
This article summarizes reporting and public information about a proposed development and a land-use approval and is for general informational purposes only. It is not financial, investment, legal, or tax advice, and it is not an offer of housing or a representation about eligibility for any program or community. Figures come from the dated third party sources above and can change. Data deemed reliable but not guaranteed. Verify current details with the original sources and a licensed professional before acting.