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The five-point strategy of new Baptist Health CEO PAGE 5
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The new entrance to the Museum of Science & History. See more images at JaxDailyRecord.com
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VyStar gives $2.5 million to MOSH
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Museum is raising money for $80 million renovation.
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Record & Observer BY KATIE GARWOOD STAFF WRITER
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Brothers Robin and Chris Sorensen, co-founders of Firehouse Subs, stand at the restaurant’s first airport location at Jacksonville International Airport. The chain opened the JAX location in 2017 and now has four locations inside airports.
Jacksonville-based chain branching out into airports, hospitals, colleges and more. BY KAREN BRUNE MATHIS EDITOR
F
irehouse Subs wants to be where its customers are – and where they’re going. The competitive world is large and Firehouse Subs, which anticipates $1 billion in annual sales in the next few years, wants to feed it. “People want their food when they
want it and where they want it,” said Greg Delks, vice president of global and nontraditional franchise development at Firehouse of America LLC and a 13-year company veteran. That’s why the Jacksonville-based chain, launched in 1994, is moving into nontraditional markets. It already has opened seven locations among three college campuses and four airports, including Jacksonville.
Mendenhall Report: Arlington plan to fight blight advancing PAGE 2 Mathis Report: Argentina company planning $15M warehouse PAGE 4 Translators help people in court follow the proceedings PAGE 12
“You are talking millions and millions of people who travel and study,” Delks said. It intends to open this spring in Baptist Medical Center, another nontraditional location. That doesn’t mean Firehouse Subs won’t continue opening traditional restaurants in strip shopping centers and SEE FIREHOUSE, PAGE 10
The Museum of Science & History announced VyStar Credit Union as its first corporate pledge in its MOSH 2.0 renovation campaign. VyStar will donate $2.5 million to the Downtown Southbank museum and be the title sponsor of the VyStar Credit Union Cultural Ecosystem. The exhibit will “explore Jacksonville’s roots and the many facets of its identity” through storytelling, music, art and dance. Of the $80 million budget for the MOSH 2.0 project, $20 million will be raised from private donors. MOSH President Maria Hane said Feb. 19 the museum will seek state, local and federal money to complete the project. The $80 million MOSH 2.0 plan was announced in March. Work is planned to begin in 2023. The museum will expand from 77,000 square feet to 120,000 square feet, reorient the entry toward the St. Johns River and incorporate additional exhibits. The expansion will create an outdoor cafe, innovation labs and a rooftop conference center.
KGARWOOD@ JAXDAILYRECORD.COM (904) 356-2466
THE BASCH REPORT
CEO Lisa Palmer on recent store closings Plus: FIS earnings, revenue soar. PAGE 8 VOLUME 2, NO. 38 • ONE SECTION
WHAT’S TRENDING
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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2020
Big news doesn’t break just on Thursday. Here’s a look at some of the top stories published over the past week online at JaxDailyRecord.com and in the Jacksonville Daily Record that you may have missed.
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An artist’s rendering of the new Fidelity National Information Services Inc. headquarters in Brooklyn.
DEVELOPMENT
New FIS headquarters is on track Fidelity National Information Services Inc. filed site plans with the city for a 357,460-square-foot office tower and 1,620-space parking garage — the company’s proposed world headquarters Downtown on Riverside Avenue. The estimated $145 million project in Brooklyn will house more than 1,700 employees, with 500 new full-time
jobs, FIS President and CEO Gary Norcross said Nov. 1. Hines Senior Managing Director Lane Gardner, the project’s development manager, said Feb. 13 that the high-rise at 323 Riverside Ave. is on track for completion in June 2022. The Downtown Development Review Board approved the final design Feb. 13.
Established in 1912, the Financial News & Daily Record, now the Jacksonville Daily Record, is published Monday-Friday and is the Official Court Newspaper of the Circuit JACKSONVILLE Court and publisher of public notices in Duval County. Jacksonville Record & Observer is a free weekly business newspaper available in Downtown Jacksonville and key business nodes throughout Jacksonville. To find a location near you, visit jaxdailyrecord.com/rack-locations. Editorial content focuses on news and trends, with a concentration on development, real estate, construction, law, companies, economic and industry trends and how local and state government affects business.
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Sears closing; Regency Books-A-Million shuttered
Staff Writer / Katie Garwood kgarwood@jaxdailyrecord.com
Sears is closing its store in the Orange Park Mall. It is the chain’s last department store in Northeast Florida. A “store closing” banner is up at the west entrance and a clearance sale is underway. Mall owner Washington Prime Group “is working closely with Sears and other stakeholders regarding future redevelopment opportunities for the Sears space,” mall General Manager Randy Bowman said Feb. 17 by email. Meanwhile, Books-A-Million at 9400 Atlantic Blvd in the Regency Park Shopping Center closed Feb. 16. Two Books-A-Million stores remain
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A new location for World of Nations Celebration at 220 and 230 E. Bay St. The buildings were demolished in 2019, leaving a 5.28-acre lawn. “We like a challenge, obviously. While it will be different than in years past, I think people are going to really enjoy the space,” said Ryan Ali, Sports and Entertainment Office chief. “I think the space will lend itself to a better walkable experience overall.”
CONVENIENCE STORES Wawa plans first store in Nassau County Wawa Inc. is expanding beyond Duval, Clay and St. Johns counties into Nassau. Wildlight LLC proposes a Wawa gas station and convenience store at northeast Florida A1A and Daydream
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DOWNTOWN The annual World of Nations Celebration is moving from its 28-year home at Metropolitan Park to The Ford on Bay site Downtown. The city Sports and Entertainment Office said the Feb. 29 to March 1 celebration of global cultural diversity is moving because of the demolition of the Hart Bridge ramps. The Ford on Bay is the former Duval County Courthouse and City Hall site
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open in Northeast Florida – in the Orange Park Mall and in Jacksonville Beach in South Beach Parkway Plaza. The company also owns 2nd & Charles in The Strand at Town Center. A third retail chain with five stores in Northeast Florida, Pier 1 Imports, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection. It is closing its store at 1071 Atlantic Blvd. in Atlantic Beach.
Network Administrator / Erik Wagner webadmin@jaxdailyrecord.com
Avenue in the Wildlight community east of Interstate 95. Since December 2017, Pennsylvaniabased Wawa has opened 11 locations in Duval and Clay counties and has filed plans for St. Johns County.
THE DAILY BRIEF There’s a shortcut to staying in the loop Don’t miss a story. Subscribe to the Daily Brief and we’ll send our top news to you Monday-Friday morning via email. To sign up, visit JaxDailyRecord.com and look for the “Sign up” box, enter your email and you’ll be set.
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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2020
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Plan to fight Arlington blight winds toward finish
MIKE MENDENHALL STAFF WRITER
Property owners can be reimbursed for improvements to fencing, signage and landscaping. A two-year push by some Arlington commercial property owners to cushion the financial impact of zoning code changes could be settled before March. The Arlington Community Redevelopment Agency board gave final approval for a compliance grant program in January that will reimburse commercial property owners in the Renew Arlington Zoning Overlay for the cost to bring their businesses into minimum compliance. City Council approved updated zoning in June to combat blight in Arlington and create uniformity in building codes to attract development. Arlington is one of the city’s earliest suburbs. It developed in the 1950s after the Mathews Bridge opened over the St. Johns River from Downtown. Three major business cor-
RENEW ARLINGTON CRA The Jacksonville City Council created the Renew Arlington Community Redevelopment Area in 2015. CRAs are special funding districts created to spur economic development in blighted areas.
are generally smaller in size and present a unique challenge to meet the mandatory compliance element requirements of the Zoning Overlay due to the history of road widening and in some instances a change of use in the area from single family residential to office, retail and service establishments.” If Council approves the overlay revisions at its Feb. 25 meeting, the compliance grant will take effect. Overlay commercial property owners will have five years plus 90 days from the day the grant program becomes effective to meet compliance. Kirk Wendland, the city’s director of economic development, explained that city officials have specific ways it
calculates reimbursement for each of the three compliance categories — fencing, signage and landscaping. For example, the city will reimburse $22 per linear foot for wood fencing — the material which meets the overlay’s minimum requirement. If a property owner opts for vinyl fencing, the grant will still reimburse $22 per square foot, but not beyond what it costs to reach minimum compliance. Signage dimensions and the city’s reimbursement payments are based on parcel size. Economic development officials are asking Council for $30,435 to pay a part-time landscape architect to provide business owners with
2019
draft designs for compliance upgrades to landscaping free of charge. According to the substitute bill, overlay properties owners who want to take advantage of the grant will be required to get approval from the city-hired landscape architect before the RADAR team will consider the application. The designs can then be used to obtain bid pricing for the compliance work. Ordinance 2020-0060 would provide funding to pay the landscape architect’s wage, as well as another estimated $4,000 to advertise and market the compliance grant program. In December, the economic development office estimated it would cost $7.33 million to bring the estimated 125 Arlington commercial properties into compliance. That includes the cost to update signage, fencing and landscaping, plus architectural design fees. The grant would pull the money from the Renew Arlington Community Redevelopment Area Fund over the next six fiscal years. The city projects 5% revenue growth in the fund through fiscal year 2024-25, which would bring its balance to an estimated $8.96 million. Wendland said he was able to earmark $1 million in the CRA fund for the compliance grant to start the program. MMENDENHALL@ JAXDAILYRECORD.COM @MIMENDENHALL (904) 356-2466
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THE MENDENHALL REPORT
ridors will be affected by the overlay changes: University Boulevard from the Arlington Expressway to Fort Caroline Road; Merrill Road from University Boulevard to Interstate 295; and a section of Arlington Road from University Boulevard to Rogero Road. District 1 Council member Joyce Morgan, who represents Arlington, wants to make other adjustments to the zoning changes. On Dec. 11, she introduced Ordinance 2019-0879, a revision to the overlay changes, and a substitute bill Feb. 11. The legislation addresses what property owners in the overlay have argued is a problem since final details were released in May — compliance improvements on many properties would trigger a 10-set review by the city. Under the existing building code, if a commercial property undergoes a major renovation greater than or equal to 50% of its assessed value, the buildings on the property would be subject to compliance regulations. In the Renew Arlington revision, city officials propose keeping compliance updates in the overlay separate from the standard building codes. The substitute bill creates a Renew Arlington Design Review Team that will vet Arlington overlay compliance improvements separate from the city’s standard permitting review. The bill says the RADAR team is needed because “the sites within the Renew Arlington Zoning Overlay boundaries
JACKSONVILLE DAILY RECORD / J ACKSONVILLE RECORD & OBSERVER
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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2020
KAREN BRUNE MATHIS EDITOR
Axionlog, a food supply management company, says it will create up to 60 jobs in five years. International company Axionlog requests approvals to develop a warehouse in North Jacksonville with plans for expansion. The city and JEA reviewed preliminary project requests in January, after JAX Chamber announced Dec. 10 that the Argentina-based logistics company would establish a consolidation/distribution facility in Duval County. JAX Chamber said Axionlog would invest $15 million into a facility and create up to 60 jobs in five years. A JAX Chamber jobs report indicates it would
start with 25 jobs. JAX Chamber said Axionlog manages a supply chain in the food sector for Latin American markets. The city issued a mobility fee calculation certificate Jan. 28 for a 37,220-square-foot dry and cold storage warehouse for Axionlog on 8.76 acres along New Berlin and Faye roads. The city calculated a fee of $19,743 to mitigate traffic impacts. AVA Engineers Inc. is the civil engineer. Faye Road Associates, in care of V. Paulius & Associates of Allendale, New Jersey, owns the property. The VPA website says it has designed and built more than $1 billion of storage, distribution and manufacturing facilities throughout the United States, Canada and Eastern Europe for clients that include Fortune 500 companies. Plans show a freezer and dry-storage building along with a 32,000-square-foot freezer storage expansion and 35,535-square-foot dry storage expansion. JEA issued a utility service availability letter Jan. 13 for construction of a warehouse for Axionlog in North Jacksonville. The JEA letter describes the project as a 37,000-square-
JaxDailyRecord.com
RESTAURANT NOTES Bread & Board to Town Center: The city issued a permit Feb. 14 for The Bread & Board to build-out in St. John’s Town Center North next to Publix. FLC Contracting LLC is the contractor for the $61,500 project. It is the second location of the 3-year-old food concept launched in the Five Points area of Riverside. The 125-seat, 2,686-square-foot location previously was used by Seasons of Japan and other tenants. First Watch to Baymeadows Park: The city is reviewing a permit application for tenant improvements for First Watch, The Daytime Café, in Baymeadows Park. TWT Restaurant Design, Construction & Development Co. of Tampa is the contractor for the estimated $300,000 project to build-out 3,600 square feet of space at 9271 Baymeadows Road. Baymeadows Park is under development to include a SpringHill Suites by Marriott hotel and a Starbucks Coffee Co. shop. Starbucks to Lakewood: The city issued a mobility fee calculation certificate for Starbucks to build a coffee shop on the site of a closed Shell station at 5640 San Jose Blvd. The city calculated a fee of $59,333 to mitigate the traffic impact of the 2,504-square-foot store on 0.64 acres at San Jose Boulevard and University Boulevard West. San Jose Blvd Realty LLC of Fort Lauderdale is the developer. The closed Shell was 2,291 square feet with eight fueling positions. The city is reviewing a building-permit application that indicates
foot distribution warehouse facility for 30 employees at Faye and New Berlin roads. Plans show 46 parking spaces. Property records show the site is timberland. Axionlog.com says it is a global supply chain manager
a $500,000 project of 2,553 square feet. Starbucks will have a patio and drive-thru. An in-line Starbucks operates across the street. The company has been building stand-alone stores to replace the in-line locations. First Coast Energy L.L.P., which operates Daily’s stores, sold the site to San Jose Blvd Realty in December. McDonald’s at Beach: McDonald’s intends to renovate at 14200 Beach Blvd. at a cost of $300,000. Pottsburg Creek Fish Shack at Beach Boulevard: JEA issued a service availability letter for the Pottsburg Creek Fish Shack at 8550 Beach Blvd. along Pottsburg Creek. The letter describes the addition of a 150-seat restaurant to an existing commercial property. The Touring Co. Inc. is the civil engineer. Popeyes in Macclenny: The St. Johns River Water Management District is reviewing plans for a 2,265-square-foot Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen on 1.31 acres at 812 S. Sixth St. in Macclenny. VRE Macclenny LLC of Southlake, Texas, is the applicant. Kimley-Horn and Associates Inc. is the civil engineer. Waffle House in Clay County: The St. Johns River Water Management District is reviewing plans for a 1,765-square-foot, 38seat Waffle House at 2540 County Road 220 in Middleburg. Taylor & White Inc. is the civil engineer.
with more than 30 foodmarket customers in seven countries in Latin America. It says it operates 11 distribution centers with more than 1,000 employees. It lists McDonald’s, Quiznos, Subway and Dairy Queen among its customers.
Its website shows offices in Argentina, Mexico, Venezuela, Colombia, Chile, Uruguay, Peru and Ecuador. KMATHIS@ JAXDAILYRECORD.COM @MATHISKB (904) 356-2466
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THE MATHIS REPORT
Argentina-based firm plans $15M warehouse in North Jacksonville
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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2020
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Baptist Health CEO’s five-point strategy
Brett McClung started his new job by developing a plan designed to shape the organization’s future. When Baptist Health President and CEO Brett McClung stepped into his role in July, his list of changes for the organization wasn’t long. Serving as executive vice president and chief operations leader of the North Zone of Texas Health Resources, McClung said he was drawn to Baptist Health for its national reputation for quality patient care. “To say yes to Baptist Health was a real easy choice for me,” McClung said. Soon after starting, McClung developed a five-point strategic plan, which he said is designed to help plan for the health system’s future. Those five points are growing for the future, integrating the system, caring for the consumer, advancing the Baptist Health way and advancing
BRETT MCCLUNG Title: President and CEO, Baptist Health Age: 53 Five-point strategic plan: 1. Growing for the future 2. Integrating the system 3. Caring for the consumer 4. Advancing the Baptist Health way 5. Advancing clinical care
Special to the Daily Record
“To say yes to Baptist Health was a real easy choice for me,” says CEO Brett McClung, who started his job in July.
HealthPlace at Nocatee, which will comprise Baptist Health medical offices, a YMCA, a Brooks Rehabilitation office and pediatric rehabilitation services. “As you see more developments, you’ll see us do that more where we’re creating convenience for the customer and we’re trying to build those near neighborhoods, build those in large areas of population where we think we could improve the speed to access and the access to different services,” he said. Adding free-standing emergency departments is part of making health care more convenient. Baptist Health built four in the past several years and will build another if
analytics prove there’s a need for one, McClung said. Baptist operates freestanding ERs at Town Center, Oakleaf, North Jacksonville and Fleming Island. The first free-standing ER in the system was at Fleming Island in the Baptist Clay Medical Campus. In January, Baptist announced it would build a $200 million, 300,000-square-foot hospital on the campus. The plans for that hospital have been finalized for years, but in 2015 when Baptist applied for a certificate of need to build the hospital, it was denied by the state. Those plans came back into play when the CON laws were repealed in July.
“Now we’re building the hospital that we thought was a good idea four years ago, five years ago. It’s still a good idea today,” McClung said. “In fact, we’ve tested that with some of the other things that we were allowed to establish in Clay County and those assets have been extraordinarily busy. Really, we’re underserving that community.” Now that CON laws are repealed, constructing another hospital isn’t out of the question, McClung said. But it will be done only if Baptist sees a need to do so. “We’ll grow for the future,” McClung said. “So if we need to build another hospital, we’ll do that, but we’ll do that thoughtfully every time.”
BUSINESS STRATEGY
KATIE GARWOOD STAFF WRITER
clinical care. Some of the changes aren’t necessarily visible on the surface, he said. That includes changes to the leadership structure, hiring two new positions – Elizabeth Ransom as executive vice president and chief physician executive and Mary Ellen Schopp as senior vice president and chief human resources officer. Three others were promoted as well. “One of the key priorities for us, which is kind of woven through our plan, is to continue to build the team’s ability to manage change,” McClung said. “This industry is very different today than it was 20 years ago and it will be very different 20 years from now.” In terms of the way Baptist delivers care, not much will change, but the system will focus more on providing virtual access and the overall ease of access to patients. Patients already have the ability to book appointments online through an app. At Baptist Medical Center Nassau, telemedicine capabilities are already running. Patients can get a virtual ICU or subspecialty consultation from a doctor somewhere else in the system. McClung said when people think about Baptist Health, he wants them not only to associate the system with high-quality health care, but also care that’s easy to access. That’s part of the strategy with constructing the Baptist
KGARWOOD@ JAXDAILYRECORD.COM (904) 356-2466
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THE SAILER REPORT
As rents rise, Bank of America sees opportunity
SCOTT SAILER STAFF WRITER
Greg Smith, market president of Jacksonville for Bank of America, says grants and partnerships can help address the need for affordable housing. Greg Smith, market president of Jacksonville for Bank of America, said the bank maintains its commitment to boost affordable housing. The bank nationwide last year committed $5 billion over five years to help more than 20,000 low-to moderateincome earners get on the path toward affordable, sustainable homeownership, Smith said. Bank of America says it helps modest-income borrowers buy homes with grant programs that reduce down payments and provide closing cost assistance. Other options offer low down payments and fixed-rate loans without requiring mortgage insurance. Since 2016, Bank of America
says it has provided $106 million in debt and equity financing over three projects to create 450 affordable housing units in Jacksonville. Smith acknowledges the strength of the residential housing market in Northeast Florida through the growth of new home and apartment construction, rising home prices and increasing rents. Smith said Bank of America takes a disciplined approach to the residential mortgage business. “We advocate an advising approach to homebuying, having a positive conversation with borrowers about what is an affordable mortgage payment that fits their income stream and overall budget,” he said. There remain challenges to buying homes. “Even though our cost of living is still favorable compared to the rest of the state, rents and buying a home are still a challenge for those in our community” earning below median incomes, Smith said. He said that earning “$12 to $15 an hour is challenging to afford an apartment. You are probably only able to pay $600 or so, which can’t get you a two-bedroom apartment.” “You’re going to need more money and that’s either you’re working a lot more hours or you are not in an apartment that really works for a family of three or four.” Apartment demand remains strong, according to the Colliers International 2019 multifamily report for the Jackson-
ville area. The report shows a consistent occupancy rate of 94% for almost the past five years, partly due to increased population, employment and income growth. Average monthly rental rates continue to rise, with rents increasing at a faster rate for older apartments geared toward low-income earners. Overall average monthly rental rates rose 2.3% between 2018-19. Rents for older units built before the 1970s rose 7.7%, while rates were up 3.3% for apartments built during the ‘70s. Newer units saw rents rise from 1.5 to 2.5%. Older apartments continued to rent for less. Vintage 1970s and older apartments leased on average for $884 a month or lower, while newer units charged more. The newest leased for an average $1,260. Smith said that presents an opportunity for Bank of America to focus on programs to stimulate affordable housing. “We partner with the Local Initiatives Support Corp., Ability Housing and others with grants and offer lowerrate financing to bring in more affordable multifamily housing inventory to address the need,” Smith said. The Bank of America Neighborhood Builders program issued $200,000 grants to LISC in 2016 and to Ability Housing in 2017. The single-family housing market cycle has been more disciplined than before
the lead-up to the 2007-09 recession, when more houses existed than could be sold. Current demand has stressed the available housing supply, which can increase prices if demand continues to outpace supply and development costs increase. Northeast Florida Builders Association data shows the number of single-family and townhome building permits issued in Duval, Clay, Nassau and St. Johns counties was 4.3% higher in 2019, with 10,345 permits compared to 9,918 permits in 2018. That continues a trend that began in 2012. Permits are up 143% since then. The Northeast Florida Association of Realtors 2019 annual report shows the overall median home sales price increased 5.4% to $233,990 in 2019 from $222,000 in 2018. Median means half of homes sold for more and half sold for less. The median sales price for single-family homes increased by 3.4% year-over-year from $237,000 to $245,000, while more affordable townhomes and condominiums rose 5.3% from $159,000 to $168,000. Bank of America wants to support access to affordable housing. No one, Smith said, wants to return to the post-recession levels of mortgage default. “We are two or three years past all that,” he said.
Marital/ Family Law
ST RS If this is a fit - for you or someone you know - here’s your chance. On April 9, the Jacksonville Daily Record and Jacksonville Record and Observer will recognize nine of the region’s top entrepreneurs. If you know a business owner who has built a successful enterprise from scratch; has shown consistent growth and profitability over the past three to five years; or who has overcome market and economic obstacles to achieve success, let us know. To nominate someone, please e-mail nominations@jaxdailyrecord.com with the name of the nominee, the business and a brief description of why the person is a top entrepreneur. For more information visit: JaxDailyRecord.com/topentrepreneurs
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BY SCOTT SAILER • STAFF WRITER
File image
The office building at 8775 Baypine Road sold for $3.8 million.
DUVAL
ST. JOHNS
ST. JOHNS
DUVAL
DUVAL
$8,000,000
$6,864,500
$6,864,500
$3,800,000
$2,860,000
Wigmore Street, Jacksonville
Silver Forest Drive, Saint Johns
Silver Forest Drive, Saint Johns
8775 Baypine Road, Jacksonville
Scaup Way, Jacksonville
Type: Industrial Parcel size: Not available Buyer: Keystone Investments II LLC Seller: Georgia Southern and Florida Railway Co.
Type: 74 residential lots in Silverleaf Village Parcel size: Not available Buyer: Riverside Homes of North Florida Inc. Seller: Land Planners Development II Inc.
Type: 74 residential lots in Silverleaf Village Parcel size: Not available Buyer: Ashley Homes LLC Seller: Land Planners Development II Inc.
Type: Office Parcel size: 5.81 acres Buyer: Prudential Investment LLC Seller: LSOP 3 FL 6 LLC
Type: 53 residential lots Parcel size: Not available Buyer: Richmond American Homes of Florida LP Seller: Heron Cove Reserve LLC
DUVAL
ST. JOHNS
ST. JOHNS
ST. JOHNS
ST. JOHNS
$2,275,000
$2,157,300
$1,915,000
$1,786,050
$1,700,000
11554 Davis Creek Court, Jacksonville
County Road 210 West, St. Augustine
Pioneer Village Drive, Nocatee
Crosswater Lake Drive, Nocatee
8000 U.S. 1 S., St. Augustine
Type: Office/warehouse Parcel size: 2.46 acres Building size: Four buildings totaling 21,062 square feet Buyer: ECS Jacksonville Properties LLC Seller: ROK Properties NP LLP
Type: 26 residential lots in Beacon Lakes Phases 2A and 2C Parcel size: Not available Buyer: Dream Finders Homes LLC Seller: Heartwood 23 LLC
Type: 28 residential lots in Crosswater Village Phase 2 Parcel size: Not available Buyer: Providence Construction Co. Seller: Sonoc Co. LLC
Type: 21 residential lots in Crosswater Village Phase 3 Parcel size: Not available Buyer: Jax Construction Holdings LLC
Type: Agriculture Parcel size: 120.22 acres Buyer: BAB of St. Augustine Seller: Point on Realty Previous sale: $1,550,000 in 2013 Seller: Sonoc Co. LLC
COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE
Top commercial sales of the week Here are the top 10 commercial real estate sales in Northeast Florida, comprising Baker, Clay, Duval, Nassau and St. Johns counties. The sales were recorded Feb. 10-14.
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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2020
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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2020
JaxDailyRecord.com
MARK BASCH CONTRIBUTING WRITER
As major retailers continue to file for bankruptcy and close stores, shopping center developers like Regency Centers Corp. already have been managing a difficult environment for the past couple of years. But Jacksonville-based Regency, which focuses on shopping centers anchored by supermarkets, might be facing new challenges in 2020. Recent Chapter 11 filings by specialty grocers Lucky’s Market and Earth Fare portend a shake-up in the industry as those chains close their stores. However, Regency CEO Lisa Palmer says well-run grocery chains will weather the storm. “We really want to make sure that we’re aligning ourselves with the better operators, with strong balance sheets and with the ability to reinvest back in their business,” Palmer said last week during Regency’s quarterly conference call with analysts. “Certainly, smaller operators and especially those with higher leverage are facing more of an uphill battle, no question,” she said. “It doesn’t mean that all regional, smaller grocers are not going to be able to survive and thrive in this environment. But they have to have the ability to reinvest back in the business in the in-store experience as well as technology, delivery and everything that’s happening in the world of grocery.” Regency operated 419 properties across the country at year-end, many of them anchored by large chains such as Publix, which has 68 stores in Regency shopping centers. The company listed one
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Regency Centers CEO Lisa Palmer expects “muted growth” as major retailers continue to close stores.
Earth Fare and three Lucky’s stores in its portfolio. Regency’s properties were 94.8% leased at the end of 2019. The company recorded fourth-quarter funds from operations (earnings excluding noncash charges) of $1 a share, 2 cents higher than the fourth quarter of 2018, with sameproperty net operating income (NOI) growth of 1.9%. “While we’re really proud of these accomplishments, we acknowledge that, disappointingly, we did not exceed expectations in 2019, both ours and yours, specifically for same-property NOI growth,” Palmer said. “Leasing velocity in the first half of last year as well as store closures and bankruptcies drove us to the lower end of our same-property NOI growth range.” With major retailers continuing to close stores, Regency is projecting earnings to be flat or slightly higher this year. Palmer said those projections are “below our standards on both an absolute and relative basis” but she expects the “muted growth” to be temporary. “As I look to 2021 and beyond, I’m confident that we will soon be meeting our objectives of 3% plus sameproperty NOI growth and 4% plus earnings growth,” she said.
Fidelity earnings increase 51% Fidelity National Financial Inc. last week reported a big jump in fourth quarter earnings and revenue. The Jacksonville-based
title insurance company had adjusted earnings of 95 cents a share, up from 63 cents in the fourth quarter of 2018, with revenue rising almost 40% to $2.36 billion. The earnings were 14 cents higher than the consensus forecast of analysts surveyed by Zacks Investment Research. The report came a week after Fidelity announced a deal to acquire annuity and life insurance company FGL Holdings to diversify its business. Fidelity said FGL’s businesses tend to do well in interest rate environments that are negative for the title insurance business. That could come in handy this year because Fidelity is expecting the title business to slow down. “We expect mortgage originations to moderate through the year from the very strong levels enjoyed in 2019 as refinance volumes naturally ease,” Chairman Bill Foley said in a news release. “We will remain vigilant on expenses as we manage this expected slowdown in volumes,” he said.
FIS projects 2020 earnings growth Fidelity National Information Services Inc., or FIS, last week reported slightly lower fourth-quarter earnings. But the Jacksonville-based banking technology company is expecting its 2019 acquisition of payments technology company Worldpay Inc. to increase earnings this year. FIS reported adjusted earnings of $1.57 a share, 3 cents lower than the previous year, in its first full quarter of opera-
tions since acquiring Worldpay. With the addition of Worldpay, revenue jumped 54% to $3.34 billion. FIS officials said in the company’s conference call it is ahead of schedule in integrating Worldpay’s operations. Chief Financial Officer Woody Woodall said FIS had been projecting the merger to be “mildly dilutive” for 2020 earnings but because of the integration progress, FIS now expects Worldpay to increase the company’s earnings. FIS is projecting 2020 earnings of $6.17 to $6.35 a share, up from $5.61 in 2019.
Mixed forecast for Black Knight Black Knight Inc. last week reported higher fourth-quarter earnings but gave a mixed forecast for its 2020 results. The Jacksonville-based mortgage technology company had adjusted earnings of 54 cents a share, 4 cents higher than the previous year, and said revenue rose 5% to $300.1 million. Black Knight is projecting 2020 adjusted earnings of $1.97 to $2.06 a share, compared with $1.99 in 2019. In the company’s conference call, Chief Financial Officer Kirk Larsen said Black Knight expects earnings and revenue growth to be lower in the first half of the year due in part to the timing of implementation of some contracts. But it expects growth to accelerate in the second half of 2020. Black Knight and FIS were spun off from Fidelity National Financial.
Staffing firm GEE Group reports loss GEE Group Inc. last week reported a net loss of $3.6 million, or 27 cents a share, for its first quarter ended Dec. 31. Revenue fell 2.6% to $37.6 million. Despite the loss, the Jacksonville-based staffing company said its operational improvement plan is having a positive effect on its financial performance. “We have put in place an aggressive top and bottom line budget which we expect will have a very positive impact on revenue and adjusted EBITDA (earnings before interest, taxes,
depreciation and amortization),” CEO Derek Dewan said in a news release.
ParkerVision sues Intel over patents ParkerVision Inc., which has several patent infringement lawsuits pending against major communications device manufacturers, filed another lawsuit last week against processor maker Intel Corp. The lawsuit, filed in Texas, alleges Intel is using patented technologies developed by Jacksonville-based ParkerVision in its products without authorization. ParkerVision has other legal actions against major technology companies including Apple Inc., LG Electronics Inc. and Qualcomm Inc. The company has no products on the market and is focused solely on patent infringement lawsuits.
CSX raises its dividend by 2 cents CSX Corp. last week said its board of directors authorized an increase in its stock’s quarterly cash dividend from 24 cents a share to 26 cents. This is the fifth time since 2015 the Jacksonville-based railroad company raised the quarterly dividend by 2 cents.
Duos Technologies trading on Nasdaq Duos Technologies Group Inc.’s stock began trading on the Nasdaq Capital Market last week. The Jacksonville-based company last month implemented a 1-for-14 reverse stock split to lift its stock price and qualify for the Nasdaq listing. The reverse split raised Duos’ stock price to about $7 in the days leading up to the new listing. However, as the company announced the move to Nasdaq, it also said a secondary offering of 1.35 million shares was priced at $6. So, the stock dropped to $6.05 on its first day of trading on Nasdaq on Feb. 13. Duos had been trading on the OTCQX market. The stock is trading on Nasdaq with the same ticker symbol, “DUOT.” MBASCH@ JAXDAILYRECORD.COM
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The Jacksonville-based shopping center company has one Earth Fare and three Lucky’s Market stores in its portfolio.
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THE BASCH REPORT
Regency watching grocer bankruptcies
JACKSONVILLE DAILY RECORD / JACKSONVILLE RECORD & OBSERVER
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Firehouse CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
other locations. There are 1,184 Firehouse Subs, including the nontraditional units, in 45 states. It also has locations in Puerto Rico and Canada, where it intends to add a few more units. What it does mean is there’s opportunity beyond the norm, not only with airports, colleges and medical centers but with travel plazas, high-rises, military bases and casinos. “It’s just another chapter in the growth of our company,” Delks said. A CAPTIVE AUDIENCE
Sam Oches, editorial director of Food News Media, calls it a smart move. North Carolina-based Food News Media publishes foodservice magazines that include QSR and FSR, reporting about quick-service and full-service restaurants. “These kinds of locations have a ton of potential,” Oches said. “If you think about travel-related nontraditional locations, you have a constant flow of customers who are usually hungry. You have a captive audience,” Oches said. Opening on college campuses feeds customers and builds future business. “These students need to eat and they’re here for a few years and they commit loyalty to a brand,” Oches said. Firehouse Subs is working with companies that place restaurants into nontraditional locations. Delks said Aramark, Sodexo, Compass Group and HMSHost are licensees who operate the locations and pay royalties to Firehouse Subs.
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“You need a partner that understands that complexity and knows how to manage it,” Delks said. A ‘CONTROLLED BURN’
Firefighters and brothers Chris and Robin Sorensen founded Firehouse Subs with one store in Mandarin. It has grown into an awardwinning brand that Newsweek named No. 1 in the fast-casual restaurant industry in 2019. The Sorensens refer to the privately owned company’s 26-year growth as a “controlled burn.” They also built the Firehouse Subs Public Safety Foundation, which has granted more than $48 million in 49 states and Puerto Rico to support first responders and public safety organizations. Firehouse Subs are fast-casual restaurants, making subs to order in 4 to 5 minutes, Delks said. They are not quick-service, 30-second sandwiches. The menu includes hot specialty, custom-made and local favorite subs as well as salads and a children’s menu. Firehouse also caters. Menu items include the Smokehouse Beef & Cheddar Brisket and the signature Hook & Ladder, comprising smoked turkey breast, Virginia honey ham and melted Monterey Jack cheese served “fully involved” with toppings and condiments. The Firehouse Subs system was built on franchises with owneroperators investing in territories to develop and run restaurants. Firehouse Subs wants to make sure franchisees can draw from a good market. The firehousesubsfranchising.com site shows an initial single-unit franchisee fee of $20,000. The average turnkey investment is about $350,000. “Our strategy is we will never
JaxDailyRecord.com
be one of those brands that has a restaurant on every corner, so there is only a finite number of territories available,” Delks said. Delks’ role includes looking beyond the traditional system. “Nontraditional is a natural fit to go where franchisees cannot get into,” he said. Firehouse Subs also will test new products. “There are modifications to our menu that will be innovative,” Delks said. All must pass the RAC — Robin and Chris — test, Delks Delks said. “Chris and Robin Sorensen are involved in all aspects of the business and they are absolutely involved in the taste profiles and the makes of the sandwiches.” Oches at Food News Media said Americans love sandwiches, generating ongoing demand. “The culture the Sorensens have built into the brand is consistent and smart. … I like this brand a lot,” he said. Industry observer Jim Stallings, founder of the Jacksonville-based PS27 Ventures entrepreneurial investment group, considers the move into nontraditional markets as “logical and smart.” “Firehouse is following the playbook of successful consumer brands today, they are following their most loyal customers into new segments and offering their own product,” Stallings said. “Brand loyalty and customer experience are keys to growth.” KMATHIS@ JAXDAILYRECORD.COM @MATHISKB (904) 356-2466
NONTRADITIONAL LOCATIONS Here’s where Firehouse Subs has opened or is considering as nontraditional restaurant locations. AIRPORTS Firehouse Subs operates in four airports - Jacksonville, Orlando, Minneapolis-St. Paul and Newark. “It’s a great marketing tool because there are people who come from all over the country,” said Greg Delks, vice president of global and nontraditional franchise development at Jacksonville-based Firehouse of America LLC. He expects to open in one or two more airports this year and to serve subs in seven to 10 airports in the next few years. COLLEGE CAMPUSES College students often are on campus food plans paid by parents. “If you get on campus and they become fans, then you have them for life,” Delks said. Firehouse Subs sells on three college campuses: Western New England University in Springfield, Massachusetts; Grambling State University in Louisiana; and The University of Texas at Dallas. Delks expects to open three to five more on campuses this year, including at the University of Florida in August. MEDICAL CENTERS The expansion into medical centers starts by early April when Firehouse Subs opens in Baptist Medical Center on the Downtown Jacksonville Southbank. Firehouse Subs will open a
3,000-square-foot, 84-seat restaurant where Chick-fil-A closed. TRAVEL PLAZAS Delks is working with a company that can place Firehouse Subs into service plazas along toll roads, where drivers typically stop to fuel, use the facilities and grab a meal to go. “The way our subs are packaged, they are a great travel companion.” HIGH-RISES High-rise office towers offer a view along with an opportunity. “They may have a food court on the 35th floor so workers don’t have to go streetside to get a meal,” Delks said of a hypothetical skyscraper. “It opens a whole new vertical for us.” MILITARY BASES Delks calls military bases a huge opportunity. The complexity is the security of access and background checks, which adds to expense. Also, deployments can affect sales. CASINOS Delks said he isn’t referring to the traditional casinos but those on Native American properties. “That’s an opportunity that I’ve been working for over three years,” he said. Another new sales avenue are grab-and-go options at colleges, airport kiosks and other locations.
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BUSINESS IN BRIEF ley Air Force Base, Virginia, awarded G.M. Hill Engineering Inc. of Jacksonville a $1.3 million contract for roof retrofitting and replacement services. New branch: Community First Credit Union opened Feb. 11 at 1425 Atlantic Blvd. in Neptune Beach. Community First bought and renovated the former bank branch on the 2-acre property. The new building offers drive-thru teller windows and an ATM. The new building replaces the credit union’s branch at 1650 San Pablo Road. John Hirabayashi is Community First CEO and president. Cowork location to open: LionShare Cowork will open a second location this summer in the former 11,614-squarefoot Retro Fitness location in Harbour Village at 13475 Atlantic Blvd. It will offer event space, multiple conference rooms, phone booths, a podcast room, more than 30 daily desks and about 40 private offices. LionShare Cowork also operatees at 14333 Beach Blvd., Suite 33.
FEB. 25 Jerry Rice at Florida Forum: The Women’s Board of Wolfson Children’s Hospital 2019-20 Florida Forum series will feature Super Bowl champion Jerry Rice to conclude its 2019-20 series Feb. 25 at the Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts. Forum sponsors are Wells Fargo, Florida Blue and Landstar. For information, visit thefloridaforum. com or call (904) 202-2886. FEB. 27 VanOsdol, Wallace to JAXUSA: Ascension Florida President and CEO Tom
VanOsdol and JAXUSA Partnership President Aundra Wallace will discuss the region’s growth in health care and it relation to economic development at the JAXUSA Partnership first quarter luncheon Feb. 27 at the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront. Check-in starts at 11:30 a.m. followed by the program from noon-1:30 p.m. Tickets are $50 for JAXUSA investors; $65 for JAX Chamber members; and $75 for nonmembers. For registration or information, visit myjaxchamber.com or email rachel.harris@ myjaxchamber.com.
PEOPLE ON THE MOVE Promotions, hirings and happenings for business people in Northeast Florida. Send items to ssailer@jaxdailyrecord.com Bridgett Loafman was appointed chief human resource officer at JAX Federal Credit Union. She oversees human resources policies and operations for the credit union and its Loafman 135 employees, who serve more than 37,500 members across Duval, Clay, St. Johns, Baker and Nassau counties. Nancy Powell was named to the newly created position of executive director at Scenic Jacksonville Inc. She will be responsible for helping the organization establish operations, membership, advocacy and outreach. She served four years on the board and completed a twoyear term as board chair of Riverside Avondale Preservation. Heather Corey was named CEO of JDLC Nurse & Learn, taking over after Amy Buggle retired after 30 years as the founder and director. Elizabeth
Goodrich was promoted to office manager. Glenn Newton joined the Betty Griffin Center as director of development. Newton was an independent marketing and development consultant. Fintainium added three executives: Stephan Braun joined as general manager of trade finance. Nicholas Moussab joined as senior vice president of business development. Moussab was director of corporate sales with AvidXchange. Joseph Voica was named president, responsible for market strategy, sales and customer support and management. Voica was chief revenue officer and executive vice president of sales and marketing at Merchant e-Solutions Inc. Kristy Meeler, managing principal of Avondale Wealth Advisors, was named JAX Chamber Councils president for 2020. She will serve on the JAX Chamber board of directors.
Meeler
DEVELOPMENT TODAY These are the largest commercial building permits by job cost issued Tuesday by the city of Jacksonville. CHURCH, OTHER RELIGIOUS Trinity Baptist Church of Jacksonville Inc., 800 Hammond Blvd., No. 1, contractor is Jason Hursey Construction Inc., concession stand and clubhouse foundation, $150,000. OFFICE, BANK, PROFESSIONAL Lippes Mathias Wexler Friedman LLP, 10151 Deerwood Park Blvd., No. 300, contractor is Duckworth Construction Co., 28,340 square feet, tenant buildout, $500,583.
“ Difference We Make a
BUSINESS CALENDAR
Community First Credit Union, 701 W. Adams St., contractor is Auld & White Constructors LLC, 28,000 square feet, interior demolition, $125,000.
“One of the attractions for me to join the Observer Media Group’s advertising sales team … in a word … was opportunity. “I feel like an entrepreneur, because I control my own destiny. “I get a lot of great support from the leadership team to help me grow. “But it’s up to me to determine how successful I want to be. I am in charge of building my own business, of creating relationships with my customers and taking care of them, helping them grow their business and building a relationship of trust. “It’s up to me to make a difference. I like that challenge. It’s exciting.” Richeal Parisi Multimedia Advertising Executive Sarasota Observer
Be a part of our success. Join the Observer Media Group’s multimedia advertising team at the Jacksonville Daily Record.
Please send resume and cover letter to: Matt Walsh 10 N. Newnan St. Jacksonville, Fla. 32202 jobs@yourobserver.com
SIGNS Flagler Cove, 13296 Didymus Drive, contractor is Seminole Masonry LLC, monument sign, $19,000. Lexus of Orange Park, Pre-Owned, Service, 7040 Blanding Blvd., contractor is McNeil Signs Inc., six permits for wall signs, $10,900. Compiled by Scott Sailer 328890-1
Among military contracts issued in Northeast Florida: n Naval Facilities Engineering Command, Norfolk, Virginia, awarded Haskell of Jacksonville a $25.6 million firm-fixed price contract for the construction of a single-story steel frame welding and light/heavy body shops facility at the Marine Corps Logistics Base Albany. Work will have an expected completion date of April 2022. n Military Sealift Command in Norfolk, Virginia, awarded Crowley Government Services in Jacksonville a $20.8 million firm-fixed-price contract to continue the operation and maintenance of five Tactical Auxiliary General Ocean Surveillance vessels and two missile range instrumentation ships. The work is expected to be completed by July 21. n U.S. Marine Corps Installations and Logistics of Albany, Georgia, awarded Acuity Design Group Inc. in Jacksonville a $1.8 million contract for installation management support services. n The Virginia Air National Guard, Lang-
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THURSDAY, FEBRUARY 20, 2020
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THE MARBUT REPORT
Don’t speak English? There’s help in court
MAX MARBUT ASSOCIATE EDITOR
4th Judicial Circuit provides qualified spoken language court interpreters. Imagine having to appear at a hearing or in court and not being able to understand what was being said by the judge, the attorneys or other people in the room. That happens regularly at the Duval County Courthouse, but it’s not a hindrance to justice because the 4th Judicial Circuit provides qualified spoken language court interpreters. They are trained to help people with limited English proficiency understand and participate in the proceedings. “We have interpreters in court every day,” said Martha Pintado, court interpreter coordinator. The language most often interpreted is Spanish, but people fluent in Arabic, Chinese, Vietnamese, Russian and other Eastern European languages also are available. “We’re a melting pot in
Photo by Max Marbut
From left, 4th Circuit Human Resources Manager Debra Marchant, Court Interpreter Coordinator Martha Pintado and court interpreters Davor Zidovec and Adriana Gonzalez.
Jacksonville, a refugee city,” Pintado said. The court works with 12 agencies that provide spoken language interpreters. The service is provided by the state in accordance with Title VI of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Florida law and the Florida Rules of Judicial Administration. Under rules adopted by the state Supreme Court, interpreters must ensure that the proceedings in English reflect precisely what is said by a non-English speaking person and they must place the nonEnglish speaking person on an equal footing with those who speak English. The confidentiality of
privileged information must be upheld and interpreters are required to understand and uphold attorney-client privilege. Interpreters are assigned most often in proceedings such as circuit and county criminal court, juvenile delinquency and dependency, paternity, domestic violence injunctions and mental health and incapacity hearings. Interpreters also may help people understand documents. “We can read the form to them, but we don’t give legal advice,” said Adriana Gonzalez, owner of Language Connections LLC interpreting and translating services. Under the rules, an interpret-
er may convey legal advice from an attorney to a person only while that attorney is giving it. An interpreter should not explain the purpose of forms, services, or otherwise act as counselors or advisers unless they are interpreting for someone who is acting in that official capacity. The interpreter may translate language on a form for a person who is filling out the form, but may not explain the form or its purpose. Interpreting in court can involve translating documents, helping an attorney communicate with a client and interpreting a judge’s instructions to the jury, said Davor Zidovec, who is certified to interpret
Spanish, Bosnian, Croatian and Serbian. Becoming a registered interpreter, a candidate is evaluated by a board of judges, court administrators and federally and state-certified court interpreters. To become registered with the state, prospective court interpreters must attend a twoday orientation session and then pass written and oral tests, as well as a background check. To become certified, an interpreter must complete 20 court-appointed interpreting assignments of no less than 40 hours total, complete 16 hours of continuing education within two years of being registered and also pass additional tests for proficiency. Gonzalez and Zidovec agree that “you won’t get rich being a court interpreter,” but it’s important work to help people as they interact with the legal system. “Every day is different and we learn a lot about life experiences. It can be a hard job, but it’s rewarding,” Gonzalez said. The court also provides, with at least five days notice before a scheduled event, interpreter services for deaf people in accordance with the federal Americans with Disabilities Act and state law. Email crtintrp@coj.net to arrange for an interpreter or for more information. MMARBUT@ JAXDAILYRECORD.COM (904) 356-2466
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Mon-Thur 11-5 • Fri - Closed • Sat 11-5 • Sun 1-5 800-728-1934 x8007 • www.WatersideatSanPablo.com For Direct Sales Inquiries Call Steve Williams 904-241-8687 *See Agent for Details
Subject to credit approval. CenterState Bank, N.A. NMLS# 403455
322819-1
For financing information, contact Paul Miller (NMLS# 121182) at CenterState Bank Mortgage. Cell: (904) 334-8080 | Email: paul.miller@centerstatebank.com www.csbankmortgage.com/paul-miller