Jacksonville Record & Observer 4/11/19

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April 11-17, 2019

Thousands of homes are planned for Skinner land at I-295, Butler PAGE 12

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WHAT’S AHEAD

Plans filed to redevelop Roosevelt Square

JACKSONVILLE

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DOWNTOWN

Dewberry Group plans to rebrand the shopping center as Ortega Park.

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BY KAREN BRUNE MATHIS EDITOR

JACKSONVILLE

Atlanta-based Dewberry Group filed plans with the city to demolish and rebuild space at Roosevelt Square.

The company applied for an expedited mobility fee calculation certificate that shows 101,691 square feet of space will be demolished for construction of 93,275 square feet.

The redevelopment’s address is 4529 Roosevelt Blvd. Mark Dowst & Associates Inc. of Daytona Beach is the agent.

Plans show space to be demolished includes parts of the parking lot.

The new construction primarily involves buildings next to the Publix supermarket and at the southwestern end in front of the Metro Diner-anchored building.

Other new construction is shown around the site.

Dewberry intends to rebrand the 58-year-old shopping center as Ortega Park, add apartments and develop the Ortega Alley retail shops.

The city is reviewing building permits for the project.

Dewberrygroup.com says Ortega Park will grow to nearly 700,000 square feet and include shopping, dining and Class A multifamily units.

Dewberry Group has not commented about the project, but it appears to be an investment of at least $70 million.

Record & Observer A SKYLINE IN TRANSITION By the end of 2019, The Jacksonville Landing may be demolished and the VyStar name will be atop what now is the SunTrust Tower.

From the demolition of The Jacksonville Landing to the groundbreaking for The District on the Southbank, here’s an update where those projects and more stand.

BY DAVID CAWTON ASSOCIATE EDITOR

D

owntown Jacksonville is poised to undergo changes in 2019, with old buildings coming down to make room for what could be skyline-altering development.

The idea of making Downtown Jacksonville a “destination” rather than pri-

State showing strong growth in cannabis industry jobs PAGE 3 The Basch Report: iHeartMedia plans to go public PAGE 8 Savannah’s Tequila’s Town coming to Jacksonville PAGE 11

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marily a daytime office community isn’t new. Mayor Lenny Curry said that is one of his top priorities heading into his second term.

Curry told supporters after his reelection in March they “wouldn’t recognize Downtown Jacksonville in four years.”

Some projects are moving ahead while others remain conceptual or in the SEE DOWNTOWN, PAGE 16

KMATHIS@JAXDAILYRECORD.COM @MATHISKB (904) 356-2466

THE MATHIS REPORT

Second GreenWise planned for St. Johns Plus: Restaurant notes PAGE 4 VOLUME 1, NO. 45 • ONE SECTION

WHAT’S TRENDING

Page 2 • Thursday, April 11, 2019

Jacksonville Daily Record/Jacksonville Record & Observer

Big news doesn’t just break 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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Jacksonville Daily Record and Jacksonville Record & Observer are a division of Observer Media Group Inc. Established in 1912, the Financial News & Daily Record, now the Jacksonville Daily JACKSONVILLE Record, is published Monday-Friday and is the Official Court Newspaper of the Circuit Court and publisher of public notices in Duval County.

Photo by Karen Brune Mathis

Mimi’s Cafe at 10209 River Coast Drive at St. Johns Town Center is now closed, but another Texas-based restaurant operator has plans for the space.

RESTAURANTS

Mimi’s Cafe closes, Ida Claire up next Mimi’s Café closed at St. Johns Town Center as the city reviews plans for the site’s conversion into Ida Claire, South of Ordinary, a Texas-based concept.

Mimi’s acknowledged the closing in a statement. “As we assess where we are best positioned for long-term success as a brand, we made the difficult decision to close this location,” the statement said. “The Mimi’s family wants to thank our guests and team members for the great memories we’ve created together in Jacksonville.”

Dallas-based Mimi’s was approved for construction in April 2005 as part

of the initial phase of St. Johns Town Center. The Mimi’s property is owned by a restaurant investment group.

Ida Claire, whose first location is in Dallas, is part of Front Burner Dining Group LLC. The group also owns Whiskey Cake, Haywire, Legacy Hall, Mexican Sugar, Sixty Vines, The Keeper and The Ranch.

The ida-claire.com site describes the restaurant as “an intriguing, southerninspired destination for relaxing suppers, slow weekend brunching or a meeting hub for business lunches and happy hour.”

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.

STAFF Publisher / Matt Walsh mwalsh@jaxdailyrecord.com

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PRESS RELEASE/INQUIRY

RETAIL St. Johns Town Center lands Sur La Table St. Johns Town Center landlord Simon announced that Sur La Table will open this fall in a 5,054-squarefoot location next to California Pizza Kitchen.

Sur La Table will open in part of the space vacated by Williams-Sonoma.

Founded in Seattle’s Pike Place Market, Sur La Table has expanded to

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.

more than 130 stores across the U.S. It sells cookware, kitchen electrics, tools, gadgets, and tableware sourced from around the world, said the release.

Sur La Table offers hands-on cooking classes. Each year, more than 600,000 people attend Sur La Table cooking classes across the country.

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Work on Lofts at Brooklyn could start by summer

Display & Digital Advertising: Call Jay Lesowitz at (904) 356-2466 or email jlesowitz@jaxdailyrecord.com

With three projects developed or nearing completion in LaVilla, The Vestcor Companies is shifting its focus to neighboring Brooklyn, where it plans to build workforce and affordable housing.

Ryan Hoover, president of Vestcor’s TVC Development Inc., said construction of the 133-unit Lofts at Brooklyn could begin by mid-summer.

“We’re moving full speed ahead,” said Hoover. “We’re in the design stages right now and we’ll head to the DDRB in May,” he said referring to the Downtown Development Review Board.

Hoover provided a rendering of the project, which features the same aes-

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thetic as the previous projects.

“This is an early design,” said Hoover.

“As always, we’ll be looking for feedback from the DDRB when we present to them, so expect some changes,” he said.

Hoover said Vestcor will seek conceptual design approval in May, and final approval from the board in June or July.

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POSTAL INFORMATION Jacksonville Daily Record (USPS 190-620) is published daily except Saturday, Sunday & legal holidays (New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas) by Daily Record & Observer LLC, 10 N. Newnan St., Jacksonville, FL 32202. Periodicals postage paid at Jacksonville, Florida and at additional mailing offices. Under no circumstances will any news or records of Duval County be suppressed for anyone. Information in this newspaper is for our subscribers only and must not be used by anyone for publication purposes.

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Thursday, April 11, 2019 • Page 3

Strong job growth in state cannabis industry Florida’s green wave of hiring According to cannabis information company Leafly, Florida’s industry showed explosive growth in 2018:

9,068

BY MARK BASCH

New jobs created in the cannabis industry in Florida in 2018

CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Job growth may be slowing this year but proponents of one industry are projecting strong growth in employment, particularly in Florida: the legal cannabis industry.

Government agencies do not break down payroll data for the industry but a report last month by cannabis information company Leafly shows explosive growth in 2018, which it expects will continue this year.

Leafly said the industry increased jobs by 44% last year and Florida created the most new jobs, 9,068.

The legal cannabis industry employed a total of 1,290 people in Florida at the beginning of 2018, so that was a growth rate of 703%.

“That hiring surge was spurred in part by a near-tripling of Florida’s medical marijuana patient population, which grew from roughly 65,000 to 165,000 in 12 months,” it said.

The growth came as Florida moved toward removing restrictions on medical marijuana use, after voters passed

1,290

People working the Florida cannabis industry at the start of 2018

703% Growth rate

a constitutional amendment in favor of it in 2016.

Leafly does not expect such big growth in 2019 but it projects Florida will add 5,136 legal cannabis-related jobs, a 50 percent growth rate. That’s based on expectations of 100,000 new medical marijuana patients in the state this year.

Florida’s statewide job growth rate was 2.6 percent from December 2017 through December 2018. The highest growth for any industry mea-

sured by government surveys was 6.7 percent for the real estate and rental and leasing sector.

The government does not collect data on cannabis industry jobs because while many states have eased restrictions, it’s still illegal at the federal level.

“But they are real jobs, held by real Americans supporting themselves, their families, and their communities. Those cannabis jobs count,” Leafly said.

With no payroll surveys to

count cannabis jobs, Leafly partnered with an Oregon firm called Whitney Economics to determine employment, using available data on the industry.

It said 29 states allowed medical marijuana at the beginning of 2018 and four states and the District of Columbia legalized adult use of cannabis.

By the end of the year, five more states legalized medical marijuana and six more states allowed all adult use.

Legal U.S. cannabis sales rose

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34% to $10.8 billion in 2018, it said.

The growing market produced 64,389 new full-time jobs in the industry, bringing total direct cannabis employment to 211,000, it said.

“That growth shows no signs of slowing down,” the report said.

“A majority of cannabis consumers in California have yet to transition from the illicit market to the legal market. Michigan, a state with twice the population of Colorado, is expected to open its first adult-use stores in early 2020.”

The Wall Street Journal reported Friday that cannabisrelated stocks are surging. The ETFMG Alternative Harvest exchange-traded fund, which invests in medical marijuana companies and cannabis producers, is up 44% so far this year, it said.

Besides the push toward more legalization in the U.S., Canada’s decision to legalize marijuana for recreational use also is pushing cannabis-related stocks higher, the Journal said.

Leafly said the U.S. cannabis industry is growing without any help from government sources in areas like tax incentives, which many large businesses demand before bringing jobs to cities.

“Amid the roiling debate over American jobs, the legal cannabis industry remains a substantial and unrecognized engine of grassroots job creation,” it said.

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ECONOMIC TRENDS

Job creation came after Florida moved to remove restrictions on medical marijuana after a voter-approved constitutional amendment in 2016.

Page 4 • Thursday, April 11, 2019

Jacksonville Daily Record/Jacksonville Record & Observer

THE MATHIS REPORT

Second GreenWise planned for St. Johns

KAREN BRUNE MATHIS EDITOR

Natural food market owned by Publix plans store at the Shoppes at World Commerce Center at I-95, International Golf Parkway.

Publix Super Markets Inc. intends to open a second GreenWise natural foods market in St. Johns County.

The Lakeland-based grocery chain wants to anchor the Shoppes at World Commerce Center at southwest Interstate 95 and International Golf Parkway, according to documents filed with the St. Johns County Growth Management Department.

The store would be 25,147 square feet, about the same size as the GreenWise Market that Publix announced in February would be built in Nocatee, 15 miles northeast of the World Commerce Center site.

The Shoppes at World Commerce Center is described on a St. Johns County applica-

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GreenWise Market offers prepared foods featuring antibiotic-free meats, organic cheeses and vegan items that include fresh, handcrafted sandwiches, acai bowls, gourmet pizzas, burritos, bowls, sushi and sausage made in-house.

tion as a 39,147-square-foot retail center on 16.62 acres at northeast International Golf Parkway and Florida 16, west of I-95.

It would comprise the GreenWise and 14,000 square feet of retail space.

That would be the first phase of a 42.65-acre project.

Cantrell & Morgan Inc. of

Jacksonville and Stiles Corp. of Fort Lauderdale are the developers, according to a Cantrell executive.

The Cantrell & Morgan commercial real estate company includes a flyer for Shoppes at World Commerce Center on its website.

As with the Nocatee project, the GreenWise is near an

existing full-size Publix Super Market. Publix operates across Florida 16 at Shoppes at Murabella, also a Stiles project.

Details about GreenWise are included in letters to and from the St. Johns County Growth Management Department.

Miami law firm GreenspoonMarder requested zoning approval for a beer and wine

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alcoholic beverage license for Publix/GreenWise.

GreenWise stores feature a beverage bar of kombucha, locally roasted coffee, wine, local beer and smoothies.

The Jan. 15 letter from GreenspoonMarder said the license would allow on-site consumption and package sales.

The county responded Jan. 22 about “Greenwise Beer & Wine Sales” to confirm that the proposed use for a cafe with beer and wine sales in conjunction with food sales is an allowed use in the World Commerce Center PUD. Publix spokesman Dwaine Stevens said he is unable to comment on locations without a signed lease.

The first new GreenWise Market opened Oct. 4 in Tallahassee.

Four stores are scheduled to open this year in Lakeland and Boca Raton and in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, and Mountain Brook, Alabama.

Opening dates have not been determined for five more stores in Nocatee, Fort Lauderdale, Odessa and in Marietta, Georgia, and Lexington, South Carolina.

Publix had opened three GreenWise stores about a decade ago but revamped the concept.

Publix announced in February that its first Northeast Florida GreenWise market would open in Nocatee Town Center after the shopping center is completed in early 2020.

Jacksonville Daily Record/Jacksonville Record & Observer A full-size Publix operates in Nocatee Town Center, too.

For the Shoppes at World Commerce Center project, England-Thims & Miller Inc. of Jacksonville is the civil engineer.

The master development plan for the 42.65-acre retail center shows the grocery anchor and adjoining shops along with six outparcels of 0.72 to 2.16 acres.

The World Commerce Center planned unit development, led by Jacksonvillebased Steinemann & Co., comprises almost 1,000 acres for housing, light industrial, retail and office space.

It is anchored by Ring Power and Rulon International.

The 104-pump Texas-based Buccee’s gas station and convenience store is planned at the corner of the parkway and I-95.

World Commerce Center is south of the parkway from World Golf Village.

Thursday, April 11, 2019 • Page 5

VanTrust OK’d for $22M speculative warehouse VanTrust Real Estate LLC is moving forward with construction of a 552,170-square-foot speculative industrial building at Imeson Park in North Jacksonville.

The city approved a permit Friday for The Conlan Co. to build the shell building, parking, utilities, roads and landscaping on 29.26 acres at a cost of $22 million.

The address is 10501 Cold Storage Road.

Shell construction means that the interior build-out will be done under a separate permit.

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Kurt D’Aurizio and his wife, Allison, are the owners of 1748 Bakehouse, a planned

bakery and restaurant at 1748 N. Main St. in Springfield.

1748 Bakehouse in Springfield: The 1748 Bakehouse is in review for buildout at 1748 N. Main St. in Springfield.

Styles Smith Plumbing Inc. is the contractor for the $165,000 project.

City Council adopted a resolution in January authorizing a $55,000 city Commercial Development Area Program loan to Born in the South Inc. for renovations. Kurt and Allison D’Aurizio established Born in the South. They plan to convert the former Carl’s Restaurant at Eighth and Main streets into a 1,500-squarefoot, 34-seat bakery and restaurant at an investment of $295,000. It will create six full-time and two parttime jobs. The investment comprises $217,000 in space improvements and $78,000 for machinery, equipment, furniture and fixtures. Funding sources comprise a $160,000 Small Business Administration loan through Florida Capital Bank; $47,000 from the landlord; $33,000 in owners’ equity; and the $55,000 CDAP loan.

Panera Bread in Regency. Panera Bread is renovating its store at 9301 Atlantic Blvd. in the CB Square shopping center at a cost of $128,341.

Davaco Inc. is the contractor for the project to remodel the front of house and bakery point-of-sale area, replace the bakery case at the registers and add a bagel case display, and update finishes in the dining room, where tables and chairs will be replaced.

Restroom sinks also will be replaced.

Springfield United in Springfield. JEA issued a letter of service availability for the proposed Springfield United ice cream shop planned by restaurant owner Andy Zarka at 1401 N. Main St. The building at North Main and East Fourth streets would be converted from a closed service station to the ice cream parlor. Zarka, co-owner of European Street Cafe, said previously he and his wife, Marlo, would open a soft-serve ice cream shop that also sells beer and wine. They plan to lease and convert the 2,000-square-foot building that was developed in 1930.

Soul Food Bistro in Arlington: The city issued a permit for a wall sign for Soul Food Bistro at 9400 Atlantic Blvd., No. 71, in the Regency Park Shopping Center. Custom Graphics & Sign Design is the contractor for the $3,300 project. A banner sign already up at the former Outback Steakhouse in the Regency Park Shopping Center shows that The Potter’s House Soul Food Bistro is coming soon. Potter’s House also is listed on the landlord’s website as the tenant in 7,959 square feet at the shopping center. The business appears to be relocating from a site 4 miles east at 11876 Atlantic Blvd., at southwest Atlantic and Kernan boulevards.

Nothing Bundt Cakes in Mandarin.

The city approved build-out for Nothing Bundt Cakes in the Merchants Walk shopping center at 9925 San Jose Blvd., Suite 3, at a cost of $137,000.

Coastal Contracting of North Florida Inc. is the contractor for the 2,750-square-foot project. The bakeries offer Bundt cakes from bite-size to 10inch sizes. It’s the second location for the franchisee, who is considering St. Johns County for a third.

Popeyes in Arlington: Verdad Real Estate Inc., through VRE Merrill LLC paid $490,000 for land along Merrill Road in Buck Business Park for construction of Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen. Verdad bought the land from Buck Business Park LLC. The American National Bank of Texas made a $1.66 million loan to VRE Merrill, based in Southlake, Texas. Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen plans a 2,265-square-foot, 52seat restaurant and drive-thru on 1.25 acres at 9309 Merrill Road.

Panda Express in Atlantic North: The St. Johns River Water Management District gave notice that it would grant a permit for construction of a Panda Express restaurant on 1.08 acres in the Atlantic North shopping center.

Panda Express proposes to develop a 2,200-square-foot building at 11929 Atlantic Blvd. at northwest Atlantic and Kernan boulevards.

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Page 6 • Thursday, April 11, 2019

Jacksonville Daily Record/Jacksonville Record & Observer

Plan for who’s next, business leaders urged Financial experts say a lack of succession planning is a common mistake that can cause a business to fail.

BY CAREN BURMEISTER CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Business owners often bank on their company as a source of retirement income. But many of them fail to plan for leaving someday, whether it’s through retirement, illness or death.

To help, Hubbard Financial Planners coordinated a workshop, “Business Owners Summit – Avoid Business Killers,” on April 2 at which four financial representatives provided ways to avoid that mistake.

It’s easy to brush off the exit plan when there is a pile of urgent matters to resolve and a sense that there’s always time to take care of it later, the experts said.

But postponing succession planning is one of the most common mistakes that cause businesses to fail, they said.

Without adequate planning, a death, illness or unexpected retirement can trigger a management crisis, family strife and a distress sale at a fraction of the company’s potential value.

To prove their point, the experts played several video vignettes of examples of widows and children fighting over who was most qualified to run the business; widows threatening to sue business partners to get their “fair share” of the company; and companies being forced to sell to pay taxes.

“It’s a recipe for disaster,” said Bill O’Leary, a Jacksonville lawyer who practices legacy planning and led one of the sessions.

Statistically, disability disrupts business leadership more often than death, said Pat Hubbard, the president of Hubbard Financial Planners, who coordinated the workshop.

“Nobody plans this,” Hubbard said. “But folks, this happens every day.”

One if the best succession plans might be to sell the company before retirement, said Cal Heseman, a senior business broker with Gateway Business Advisors.

“The best time to start planning is when you start the business,” Heseman said, noting that burnout is the No. 1 reason businesses are sold.

The sales process can take years and will require a formal valua-

Photos by Caren Burmeister

Bill O’Leary, a lawyer who practices legacy planning, said buy-sell agreements help keep businesses going and prevent family strife when business owners leave the company.

tion, a measure of the company’s financial performance compared to similar companies in its industry.

Until then, business owners can work with a “calculation of value,” a limited review of performance over the past three years.

While not legally binding, it provides a good indication of profit and loss and a range of value, Hubbard said.

To prepare for the sale and attract buyers, owners must consider many factors, including: n Identifying potential buyers and why they’re interested n Considering market timing, competition and markets n Having excellent financial records and clean balance sheets n Reducing debt n Building a strong management team n Producing a diversified base of customers and suppliers n Showing steady financial growth with recurring and predictable revenue To prepare for exit and succession planning, the experts suggest that an owner:

Pat Hubbard, the president of Hubbard Financial Planners who organized the workshop.

Consider his or her goals and when he or she would like to become independent n Draw up a buy-sell agreement that identifies a qualified person to run the business n Share that agreement with key employees, spouses and other family members who will be

Joel Settembrini, Jr.

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CERTIFIED STATE AND FEDERAL MEDIATOR Qualifications

• Board Certified in Business Litigation by The Florida Bar with 35+ years of litigation and trial experience at Saalfield Shad (2013-present), Smith Hulsey & Busey (1987-2013) and Office of Chief Counsel, IRS (1983-1987).

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Endorsements

Cal Heseman, senior business broker at Gateway Business Advisors, discussed buy-sell agreements at the workshop.

affected n Fund the exit with methods such as life insurance, stock options or deferral plans n Protect the company’s value by incentivizing key employees with benefits, such as deferred compensation, to keep them from leaving n Diversify retirement income:

Company assets should account for less than 25% n Work with a financial representative to reduce tax liabilities through tax bracket management and investments like trusts and life insurance.

The event was at the Northeast Florida Builders Association auditorium.

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Thursday, April 11, 2019 • Page 7

Provided by the City of Jacksonville

The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp has a lease to play at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville through at least 2033.

Jumbo Shrimp keeping an eye on redevelopment Minor league baseball team staying in the loop on plans for Lot J near its home at the Baseball Grounds.

BY MARK BASCH CONTRIBUTING WRITER

The Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp are taking no active role in redevelopment plans surrounding the Downtown sports complex.

But as one of the complex’s primary tenants, the Southern League baseball team is taking an active interest and is optimistic that redevelopment will come to fruition in its neighborhood.

“We’re going to be here for a really long time,” Jumbo Shrimp

Babby

Craw

owner Ken Babby said last week at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville, pointing to a lease extension signed in September that will keep the team at the ballpark through at least 2033.

“More people coming to the sports complex is great for us,” he said.

Babby said he doesn’t have any fresh ideas for the area, which could include development of parking Lot J, which sits between the baseball stadium and the

Jaguars’ football stadium, TIAA Bank Field.

“We’re leaving that for the smart people to figure out,” he said.

While the Jumbo Shrimp isn’t involved in development activities, General Manager Harold Craw said the team is kept in the loop by the city.

“We’re always keeping abreast of what’s going on,” he said.

“We’ll support any growth within the sports complex.”

Babby bought the minor league baseball team in 2015, which was then known as the Jacksonville Suns.

“We didn’t invent minor league baseball in Jacksonville. The Suns were here a long time,” he said.

However, Babby said he continues to look at marketing oppor-

tunities to enhance the ballpark experience for fans. The most noticeable move was the name change to Jumbo Shrimp two seasons ago.

Craw said fans have become used to the new name.

“I do think it’s taken off and it works for us,” he said.

The team came up with the oxymoronic name to represent Jacksonville as a big (Jumbo) small (Shrimp) town.

The team’s manager sees Jacksonville as a growing city. Kevin Randel was a player for the Suns in 2009 and a coach from 2012 to 2014, and he said he’s seen changes since his last tenure in Jacksonville.

“Every time I leave the hotel, I get lost,” he said. “It’s a big town.”

With VyStar Credit Union

starting a 15-year naming rights agreement for the Jacksonville Veterans Memorial Arena and TIAA Bank owning naming rights to the football stadium, the Baseball Grounds is the only facility in the sports complex without a naming rights sponsor.

Craw said with the lease extension, a naming rights deal is something the team will consider.

“Obviously at some point we’re willing to go down that road,” he said. But “we’re in no rush.”

The Jumbo Shrimp’s season opened April 4 at the Baseball Grounds. The final regular season home game is Aug. 27. For more information, visit milb.com/jacksonville.

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Page 8 • Thursday, April 11, 2019

Jacksonville Daily Record/Jacksonville Record & Observer

THE BASCH REPORT

iHeartMedia going public after bankruptcy “Following this strong run, we believe that the stock now reflects the good news in terms of further margin improvement and industry leading OR (operating ratio) performance,” he said.

“Given the move up in CSX stock and OR expectations that reflect a high bar, we believe reward/risk is no longer skewed to the upside and we are lowering our rating from Buy to Neutral.”

According to its website, here’s iHeartMedia’s Jacksonville station lineup:

MARK BASCH CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Company that owns seven radio stations in Jacksonville wants to be called an “audio media” business.

A year after filing for Chapter 11 reorganization, radio station giant iHeartMedia Inc. is emerging from bankruptcy with a plan to go public again.

However, in the 21st century, the company once known as Clear Channel Communications Inc. doesn’t want to be known as a radio company.

The San Antonio-based operator of 848 U.S. stations, including seven in Jacksonville, now describes itself as an “audio media” business.

“Audio is hot, and we are the number one audio media company in the U.S. based on consumer reach,” iHeartMedia said in its registration statement last week for an initial public offering.

“Our product strategy is ‘be where our listeners are with the products and services they expect from us’. Our reach now extends across more than 250 platforms and over 2,000 different connected devices — and that reach continues to grow,” it said.

Besides traditional broadcast radio, iHeartMedia reaches listeners through digital services, podcasts and social media events, it said.

Radio advertising continues to be the company’s largest source of revenue. The registration statement said it sold $1.4 billion in local advertising on its stations last year and $826 million in national ads.

But that doesn’t mean listeners were hearing the ads over old-time radio receivers.

“Technology has expanded the opportunities to listen to the radio in the car, at work and at home, with new devices such as smart speakers, smart-

Name

Station Format

97.9 KISS FM

WKSL-FM

Top 40 and pop

99.1 WQIK

WQIK-FM

Country

93.3 The Beat

WJBT-FM

Hip-hop and R&B

V101.5

WSOL-FM

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97.3 The Game

WFXJ-AM

Sports

107.3 Planet Radio

WWJK-FM

Rock

Rumba 106.9

WQIK-HD2

Spanish

phones, gaming consoles and smart televisions,” the registration statement said.

The company changed its name from Clear Channel to iHeartMedia in 2014, as it rebranded as a multiplatform media company.

Back in the quaint old predigital age when everybody needed antennas to receive over-the-air radio and TV signals, Jacksonville was one of Clear Channel’s most important markets.

Clear Channel was a relatively small company owning a handful of television stations when it bought Jacksonville station WFOX TV-30 (then known as WAWS) in 1989.

When the Federal Communications Commission began relaxing ownership restrictions on radio and television stations in the 1990s, Clear Channel took advantage and began growing into a media giant.

Its growth included taking over management of another Jacksonville television station, WJAX TV-47 (then known as WNFT) in 1995.

Two years later, it became a force in Jacksonville radio by acquiring six stations from Paxson Communications Corp.

At that time, it was somewhat unique to own television and radio stations in the same market and Clear Channel needed, and received, a waiver from the FCC to make the deal.

The publicly traded company agreed to a private equity buyout in 2006 and along with that deal, it put its group of television stations up for sale.

The group including WFOX and WJAX was sold in 2007

(and the Jacksonville stations have gone through several ownership changes since then) and after much haggling, the $17.9 billion buyout of the rest of the company was completed in 2008.

The timing of the buyout was bad for the new owners.

In March 2018, the company filed for Chapter 11 reorganization in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Houston “as a result of our significant amount of indebtedness and the continued effects of adverse market conditions following the 2008 financial crisis,” the IPO registration statement said.

A reorganization plan was confirmed by the court in January and iHeartMedia expects to emerge from bankruptcy by midyear.

The statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission does not say how much money iHeartMedia hopes to raise in the IPO, but it expects to use the proceeds to pay off debt.

CSX downgraded after strong runup CSX Corp. reports its firstquarter earnings Tuesday but even if the Jacksonville-based railroad company has good news, UBS Securities analyst Thomas Wadewitz doesn’t expect it to push the stock any higher.

CSX’s stock produced a total return of 78% in 2017 and 2018 as its new management team came in and it has continued to rise this year, up 20% so far, Wadewitz said in a research note Friday.

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Drone Aviation increases revenue Drone Aviation Holding Corp., which produces tethered aerial platforms for government uses, reported 2018 revenue of $2.7 million, up from just $562,078 in 2017.

“The reason for the increase is that revenues in 2017 were primarily related to refurbish-

The U.S. Department of Defense announced Friday that Jacksonville-based Sauer Inc. was awarded a $9.776 million contract by the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to build a special operations forces live fire maze and tower.

Work on the contract will be done at Fort Bragg, North Carolina, and is scheduled to be completed by April 2020.

Sauer Inc. is a commercial general contracting subsidiary of Pittsburgh-based Sauer Holdings Inc.

Marker has positive cash flow Marker Therapeutics Inc., which is developing cancer treatments but has no products on the market, recorded a net loss of $148 million for 2018.

However, because of additional sales of stock, it had a positive cash flow of $56.6 million for the year.

The company said in a corporate update it expects to have enough cash to meet its operating requirements into the fourth quarter of 2020.

Marker, formerly known as TapImmune, moved its headquarters from Jacksonville to Houston in February. The company has only 11 full-time employees, according to its annual report.

The company still has a small office space at 5 W. Forsyth St. in Jacksonville under a lease that expires in 2022, the report said.

While it’s not selling any products, Marker did recognize $206,000 in grant income for 2018. That money was paid by the Mayo Clinic to the company as part of a U.S. Department of Defense grant to research Marker’s cancer therapies at Mayo in Jacksonville.

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Daytona Beach-based International Speedway Corp. last week reported adjusted earnings of 57 cents a share for its first quarter ended Feb. 28, 3 cents lower than last year and also 3 cents lower than the consensus forecast of analysts, according to Zacks Investment Research.

The company owns 13 motor sports facilities, including the Daytona International Speedway, and its first quarter includes the Daytona 500 race and other events at the facility surrounding the race.

International Speedway said it sold out reserved grandstand tickets for the Daytona 500 for the fourth consecutive year. That helped revenue grow slightly by 1.1% to $150.6 million.

Earnings were impacted by 5 cents a share in costs related to International Speedway’s evaluation of an offer by NASCAR to buy the company.

NASCAR is owned by the family of founder Bill France, and the family also has a controlling interest in publicly traded International Speedway.

International Speedway in November said NASCAR offered to buy the remaining shares of the company not owned by the France family. Other than the costs incurred, the company gave no other update last week on the negotiations.

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ments and enhancements of aerostat systems and the revenues in 2018 were primarily from the sale of two aerostat systems,” the Jacksonvillebased company said in its annual report filed with the SEC. Drone Aviation reported a net loss of $8.5 million, or 89 cents a share, for the year.

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Thursday, April 11, 2019 • Page 9

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Jacksonville Daily Record/Jacksonville Record & Observer

DEVELOPMENT TODAY These are the largest commercial building permits by job cost issued Tuesday by the city of Jacksonville.

AMUSEMENT RECREATION Wintjen

Thompson

Brandt

Everly

Hakimian

City of Jacksonville, 320 Jackson Ave., contractor is Holton Construction Inc., 1,044 square feet, new concessions building at Thomas Jefferson Park, $90,000.

Harris

CONDOMINIUMS Knight

Wiss

Johnston

Oliver

The Preserve at St. Nicholas Condominium Association Inc., 3952 Atlantic Blvd., No. 3E, contractor is Alpha Foundation Specialists Inc., foundation repair, $16,875.

Dunn

Promotions, hirings and happenings for business people in Northeast Florida. Send items to ssailer@jaxdailyrecord.com

Brian Wintjen was appointed North Florida regional vice president of Waste Pro USA. Wintjen was general manager at Watson C&D LLC in Archer.

Rich Thompson was named the 2019 chairman of Gator Bowl Sports. Thompson is the head of human resources at The Adecco Group for the Americas, United Kingdom and Ireland. Thompson will head the three Gator Bowl entities: the TaxSlayer Gator Bowl, JaxSports Council and JaxSPports Charities.

Girl Scouts of Gateway Council selected 2019 Women of Distinction honorees as influential business leaders in their communities: Kathleen Brandt, senior vice president and chief information officer at CSX. Lis’e Everly, community volunteer.

Paige Hakimian, with real estate investment firm Hakimian Holdings Inc. Paola Parra Harris, founder and owner of Parra Harris Law, specializing in family law.

Ann-Marie Knight, community engagement officer at Mayo Clinic.

Ellen Wiss, community volunteer.

Davis Johnston joined Jax Federal Credit Union as director of business services and commercial lending to lead the new business lending division. Johnston formerly led Community First Credit Union’s commercial lending division and worked for 121 Financial Credit Union.

Marsha Oliver joined The Players Championship as senior director of community outreach, replacing Community Outreach Director Cathie Hurlburt, who is retiring after 28 years with the PGA Tour. Oliver, former director of public affairs for Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry, will be responsible for enhancing the tournament’s community and charitable impact.

Bill Dunn, vice president of industry relations for Swisher International Inc., retired after more than 45 years in the industry and 37 years at Swisher. Dunn plans to serve as a consultant for Swisher and remain on several industry boards.

Compiled by Scott Sailer

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HOSPITAL, INSTITUTIONAL UF Health North, 15255 Max Leggett Parkway, contractor is Perry-McCall Construction Inc., door relocation, $38,570.

INDUSTRIAL Richard E. Patterson, 3134 Leon Road, contractor is Harrell Construction Co. Inc., 5,000 square feet, repair fire damage, $316,000.

OFFICE, BANK, PROFESSIONAL Dream Finders Homes LLC, 11140 Minnetta Court, contractor is Dream Finders Homes LLC, 528 square feet, install sales office trailer, $23,331.

ROOFING Hanna Eye Care, 1680 Southside Blvd., No. 100, contractor is James Shelton Roofing Inc., roof over existing, $99,700.

San Remo Apartments, 7557 Arlington Expressway, contractor is American Roofing of Jacksonville LLC, roof replacement, $60,000.

The Landings at Belle Rive Condominium Association Inc., 10200 Belle Rive Blvd., contractor is American Roofing of Jacksonville LLC, roof replacement, $38,000.

Compiled by Scott Sailer

Part of power plant to be imploded Friday FROM STAFF

Workers plan to implode part of the St. Johns River Power Park at 8 a.m. Friday as demolition of the North Jacksonville facility continues, JEA announced in a news release.

There will be no road closures or public viewing areas.

The power park is at 11201 New Berlin Road.

The implosion will demolish four selective catalytic reactors next to the coal-fired plant’s boilers.

JEA said work to decommission the plant is 40% complete and anticipates completion by June 2020.

The final implosion planned at the power park of the boilers and 640-foot-tall smokestack is planned for the summer.

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Page 10 • Thursday, April 11, 2019

Jacksonville Daily Record/Jacksonville Record & Observer

Thursday, April 11, 2019 • Page 11

Savannah’s Tequila’s Town coming to Jacksonville Restaurant planned for the Harbour Village shopping center specializes in authentic regional Mexican dishes.

BY DAN MACDONALD CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Tequila’s Town, a family-owned business with two locations in Savannah, plans a June opening of its 4,175-square-foot space in the Harbour Village shopping center at San Pablo Road and Atlantic Boulevard.

While it serves Tex-Mex style dishes familiar to most customers, it specializes in authentic regional Mexican dishes with attention to traditional preparation techniques, said co-owner Melody Rodriguez-Ortiz.

The company has budgeted $120,000 to $150,000 for the build-out of the restaurant space at 13475 Atlantic Blvd. that in the past has housed Pepper’s Mexican Grill & Cantina and Empire City Gastropub.

It is expected to seat 165 guests indoors and maybe another dozen outside.

Owners will employ 20 to 25 workers. The head chef hasn’t been named but will be promoted from one of the sous chefs at the Savannah restaurants.

It serves lunch and dinner and features a tequila bar. Besides its own brand, Tequila Blanco, which is 100% agave, Tequila’s Town specializes in hard-to-find mescal brands.

Special to the Daily Record

Tequila’s Town owners Melody Rodriguez-Ortiz and her husband, Temo Ortiz.

The menu ranges from street food to full dinners. Most dishes are grilled or blackened. Specialties include the Barbacoa taco, which is slow-roasted lamb that is shredded and topped with cilantro and pickled onions.

Huachinango is fried red snapper served whole with head and tail. Ceviche, seafood chunks “cooked” in lime juice, is a popular starter.

Tequila’s Town offers glutenfree, vegan, pescatarian and vegetarian dishes.

“Our tamales are wrapped in plantain leaves. You can taste the plantain,” said Rodriguez-Ortiz.

Mole and guacamole also are made from scratch. Produce is sourced locally when possible, she said.

The kitchen staff makes chick-

Special to the Daily Record

Tequila’s Town has two locations in Savannah, Georgia, and is adding a third in Jacksonville at 13475 Atlantic Blvd. in the Harbour Village shopping center.

en broth from whole chickens that are used for its chicken soup and sauces.

“During allergy and flu season we get plenty of to-go orders for our chicken soup,” RodriguezOrtiz said.

The Tex-Mex offerings include burritos, quesadillas, chimichanga and flautas.

The decision to open in Jacksonville came as a lark, Rodriguez-Ortiz explained. While visiting on vacation, a quick study

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of the city’s Mexican restaurants found much of what Tequila’s Town serves but lacked the authentic Mexican offerings.

The owners looked at five Jacksonville locations before choosing Harbour Village.

Harbour Village is owned by Phillips Edison & Co. The site plan includes Tequila’s Town at the western end of the shopping center.

“We have friends in Jacksonville, so we are familiar with its

large growth and that economic development there is strong.

That’s what attracted us to the city,” she said.

The company will mark its sixth year in June. A fourth restaurant in Pooler, Georgia, is planned to open in August.

The restaurant has won several awards including “Best New Restaurant” from Savannah Magazine and “Best Mexican Restaurant” from both Connect Savannah and Eat It & Like It.

Page 12 • Thursday, April 11, 2019

Jacksonville Daily Record/Jacksonville Record & Observer

RESIDENTIAL REAL ESTATE

Skinner site to include thousands of homes Family intends to sell up to 450 acres of property at I-295 and Butler to a master housing developer.

BY KAREN BRUNE MATHIS EDITOR

Planners envision a walk to the park for residents moving to southeast Butler Boulevard and Interstate 295.

Up to 4,600 residences are envisioned at the quadrant, where the Skinner family applied for a planned unit development to rezone 1,063 acres.

Of that site, the family intends to sell 400 to 450 acres to a master housing developer-builder and wants the community – now known as the Southeast Quadrant – to be a connected, interactive place to live, work and play.

“The Skinners want this to be a family neighborhood,” said Russ Ervin, a principal with ELM- Ervin Lovett Miller - and a member of the team working on the quadrant plans.

Part of that intent includes access to parks and green space, including the central village center, Gum Swamp and pocket parks.

A central park also runs east to west through the heart of the property.

“It is designed for a fiveminute walk to a park,” Ervin said Monday at a public workshop organized by City Council member Danny Becton, whose District 11 includes the quadrant.

Ervin joined land use lawyer T.R. Hainline, a shareholder with the Rogers Towers firm, and civil engineer Hugh Mathews, president and CEO of England-Thims & Miller Inc., to answer questions about the project.

In February, the Skinners said the family submitted an application to city agencies for a planned unit development that proposes “a distinctive character-based approach focusing on development form and pattern.”

“The document reflects the family’s vision for a place with neighborhoods and businesses that will serve and benefit the people of Jacksonville for many decades to come,” it said.

It is the last large piece of property of the family’s original 50,000 acres in South Jacksonville.

The legal and design team is

SOUTHEAST QUADRANT The 1,063.24-acre southeast quadrant at Butler Boulevard and Interstate 295 is proposed for: n 4,600 residential units n 3.5 million square feet of nonresidential area n 30 acres of recreation open space n 150 acres of passive open space n 165 acres of public rights-of-way or private thoroughfares

working with the Skinners on the project, which was approved by the city in 2005 as a planned unit development.

The Skinners seek to update the project, which has changed since 2005 because of surrounding development and the deletion of a site for a high school.

The school board instead placed that school along RG Skinner Parkway.

Hainline said in late 2017, he and Mathews were working with the Skinners to update the property plans.

“The Skinners said, ‘Wait a minute. We don’t want to do something that’s been done before here. This property is our last major holding. It is a legacy for us. We want it to be a legacy.

We want this to be something that Jacksonville hasn’t seen.

We want it to be different.’”

The team includes Town Planning & Urban Design Collaborative LLC of Tennessee.

Legislation could be introduced this month to City Council. The process involves public hearings and could be completed by year-end.

Mathews and Hainline said ground could be broken in January. Build-out could take 20-25 years, depending on the market.

Hainline said the plan is “to

actually bring down the density and the nonresidential density a notch.”

Atlanta-based Fuqua Development released plans in March for the 67 acres it intends to buy to create the Exchange at Jacksonville village center.

The Exchange is designed for apartments, offices, retail shops and entertainment, including a food hall, mercantile hall, an upscale theater, brewery, food trucks and an outdoor stage.

Skinner representative A.C. “Chip” Skinner III said previously that the family was working with two buyers and that those property sales could be completed early in 2020.

Fuqua Development is one of them. The master housing developer was not identified, and Mathews said Monday there were discussions with a couple of builders.

Town hall attendees voiced concerns, primarily about traffic generated by the project.

Becton and the team explained that the road system within the project will be designed for traffic “calming” - narrower lanes, landscaping and other elements.

Among road work, Kernan Boulevard is designed to extend south of Butler Boulevard

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through the project and connect with Gate Parkway. The Kernan interchange at Butler will be improved.

Interior roads would include bike and pedestrian connections, and Becton said it would be golfcart friendly and feature 10-foot sidewalks. Mathews said it would be the first community to provide buffered bike lanes.

The team invited people with concerns to attend the public hearings.

Becton said he would post the plans on his website, dannybecton.org.

Hainline explained that the Skinners consider the project a “legacy community” and that the almost 100-page application describes in detail what it envisions.

“There is none like this,” he said. “It has details in it that have been in no PUD that I’ve ever worked on.

“It has renderings and plans and pictures and graphics and limitations and regulations and directions as to what kind of development this is supposed to be, and what the Skinners would like it to be as a legacy.”

The application outlines in detail the types of housing envisioned, and the team explained that the multifamily units will be

closer to the central village center and along I-295 and the housing will become less dense as the property fans out from there.

Mathews said the residences would comprise different looks, feels, lot sizes and densities. In addition to apartments and townhouses, the single-family units would be varied in size and design.

Ervin said the housing stock will include traditional and varied architectural designs and “have the neighborhood feel as if it’s been built more than 60 years.”

Ervin and Mathews talked about elements such as housing facing parks and recessed, alley-loaded or rear-loading garages, in which garages are tucked behind homes, freeing the front for porches and other design features.

The team said it was too early to estimate home prices.

For design ideas, Mathews said the team looked at communities including San Marco in Jacksonville; Baldwin Park in Orlando; Stapleton, Colorado; and in Daybreak, Utah.

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Thursday, April 11, 2019 • Page 13

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Page 14 • Thursday, April 11, 2019

Jacksonville Daily Record/Jacksonville Record & Observer

REAL ESTATE INDUSTRY NEWS

Active adult apartments planned for Nocatee Construction of the community, Olea at Nocatee, is expected to be completed in 2020.

FROM STAFF

Olea at Nocatee, a 175-unit active adult apartment community in St. Johns County, will be built by Pollack Shores Real Estate Group.

Construction for the project at 50 Pine Shadow Parkway in Ponte Vedra will begin this month, with the first residents expected to move in by July 2020.

“There is clear demand for high-caliber active adult communities within Jacksonville, and our unique development will be tailored to the growing population of Class A renters moving to the area,” said Pollack Shores President and CEO Steven Shores in a news release.

The community will offer one-, two-, and three-bedroom units from 625 to 1,535 square feet.

Units will feature granite countertops, stainless steel appliances, wood-style plank flooring, 9-foot ceilings and walk-in closets.

Amenities include a social kitchen, pool courtyard, community garden, dog park, library and a fitness studio with space for group classes.

Offering “a turnkey living experience targeted to the growing senior population,” Olea at Nocatee will have a full-time lifestyle director.

The director will organize and coordinate events such as wine tastings, movie and game nights, lawn games, pet socials, holiday parties, cooking classes, seasonal crafting and more.

The project is the second development within Pollack Shores’ Olea portfolio. The first, Olea at Viera in Melbourne, was announced in December and will open in April 2020.

“Nocatee’s rapid growth and exceptional quality of life make it the ideal setting for our second addition to our Olea

Special to the Daily Record

Olea at Nocatee is a 175-unit active adult apartment community planned for St. Johns County. The first residents are expected to move in by 2020.

Special to the Daily Record

An artist’s rendering of the activity center at Olea at Nocatee. The community will have a full-time lifestyle director to organize activities for residents.

portfolio,” Shores said.

“The Olea brand will continue to be a top focus for Pollack Shores as we expand in key markets across the Sun Belt.”

Nocatee, developed by The PARC Group, was named in January as the seventh-fastest selling master-planned community in the U.S. in 2018 by Robert Charles Lesser & Co. According to the release, “64% of Nocatee residents move from outside the Jacksonville metropolitan area and we expect Olea at Nocatee to capture newcomers who seek flexibility and social experiences,” said Michael Oliver, development manager at Pollack Shores.

“This community is ideal for

baby boomers who want to live an active life close to family and friends.”

Founded in 2006, Pollack Shores operates throughout the Southeast and in Virginia and Texas.

LandSouth expanding its HQ LandSouth Construction announced it is expanding its Jacksonville corporate headquarters at 4233 Pablo Professional Court north of Mayo Clinic.

The company plans to add 5,000 square feet of workspace comprising 21 offices and 10 cubicles.

The project is expected to be

completed by September.

LandSouth is a general contractor that specializes in multifamily, senior living and mixed-use development.

LandSouth said its business has grown more than 35 percent in the past three years and it plans to hire 20 additional workers this year.

“This addition will allow us to grow into the office and bring every headquarters’ team member under one roof which will increase collaboration and communication so we can better serve our clients,” said James Pyle, LandSouth Construction president and CEO in a news release.

Richmond American building at TrailMark Richmond American Homes is building in the TrailMark community in St. Johns County, GreenPointe Communities LLC announced in a news release.

Richmond American is offering three- to five-bedroom floor plans from 2,100 square feet to more than 2,900 square feet. Homes are priced from the upper $200,000s.

TrailMark is off Pacetti Road about 6 miles south of Interstate 95.

Other TrailMark builders include D.R. Horton, Dream Finders Homes, Lennar, MasterCraft Builder Group and Providence Homes.

Berkshire Hathaway ranked No. 23 Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Network Realty was honored among the top 25 affiliates in the Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices network at the company’s annual convention in Las Vegas.

The Northeast Florida real estate firm ranks No. 23 nationally based on total gross commission income.

“Our achievement is directly correlated to the commitment and contributions of our Realtors, employees and leadership team, and we appreciate all they have done to help us achieve this level of success,” said Berkshire Hathaway HomeServices Florida Network Realty President and CEO Christy Budnick in a news release.

Realtors Anita Vining and Tansy Moon also were recognized with Legend awards.

Vining of the San Marco office was honored with a 20-year award and Moon of the Beaches office received the five-year award.

Sawyer’s Place proposed at Corporate Square The 188 townhouses will be priced up to $200,000.

BY KAREN BRUNE MATHIS EDITOR

A 188-unit townhouse project called Sawyer’s Place is proposed on almost 19 acres at Corporate Square near Atlantic and Southside boulevards.

The city calculated a mobility fee of $224,913 to mitigate the project’s traffic impact.

Curtis Hart of Hart Resources is the agent and is developing the project with Jacksonvillebased JWB Real Estate Capital.

Hill, Boring & Associates Inc. is the civil engineer.

M and K Properties of Jacksonville LLC owns the vacant land.

Plans show 27 buildings, comprising 17 buildings of eight

units; six of six units; and four of four units.

“Pricing is in the affordable range,” Sifakis Hart said.

JWB President Alex Sifakis said his group is deciding whether to build on the lots or sell them to another builder.

However, he said the completed units would be priced at $180,000 to $200,000 and range from 1,300 to 1,600 square feet in size. Most would be three-bedroom units.

Sifakis said the land is under contract.

He said his group hopes to close on the purchase and start horizontal construction by year-end, completing it by the summer of 2021. Building construction would start soon after.

JWB buys, develops, rents, sells and manages properties for its portfolio and for investors.

The company focuses on buying and building on infill properties, especially single lots scattered among developed and urban areas. Sifakis said JWB owns close to 900 infill lots.

“It’s getting harder and harder to find those individual lots, so we have been moving more toward land development,” he said.

He considers the Corporate Square land, at southwest Southside and Atlantic boulevards, an infill property and said there is built-in demand because of the development around it.

“They are more complicated to redevelop, but that is what we like to do,” he said.

Complications arise from previous site development.

“For Corporate Square, there

WHAT JWB CONSIDERS AFFORDABLE

President Alex Sifakis considers affordable housing as that priced up to $200,000.

He explained that a $190,000 home purchase price with 20% down is a $770 monthly payment. Adding taxes and insurance boosts that to about $1,035 a month “all in,” he said.

“Typically you want 30% to be the max amount of your income you are spending on housing, so $190,000 would be considered affordable to someone making less than $42,000 a year,” he said.

Sifakis said for a buyer using VA or FHA financing and putting down up to 3.5 percent, the payment would be less than $1,200 a month and that would be affordable to someone making up to $48,000 a year.

are multiple sewer lines and easements running through the property that have to be rerouted or dealt with,” he said.

JWB considers infill redevelopment “a good way to build affordable housing,” which it frames as up to $200,000.

Sawyer’s Place also is a special project for Sifakis. It’s named after his toddler son.

KMATHIS@ JAXDAILYRECORD.COM @MATHISKB (904) 356-2466

Jacksonville Daily Record/Jacksonville Record & Observer

Thursday, April 11, 2019 • Page 15

REAL ESTATE

Top 10 sales of the week

BY SCOTT SAILER • EDITORIAL RESEARCH DIRECTOR

Here are the top 10 real estate sales in Northeast Florida, comprising Baker, Clay, Duval and St. Johns counties. The sales were recorded April 1-5.

Special to the Daily Record

The Sporty’s Riverboat Car Wash property at 520 S. Ponce de Leon Blvd. in St. Augustine sold for $6.4 million, 106% more than the $3.1 million it sold for in 2016.

$6,408,000

$4,650,000

$4,350,000

$3,235,816

10595 Brightman Blvd., Jacksonville, Duval County

520 S. Ponce de Leon Blvd., St. Augustine, St. Johns County

Cross Town Drive, Ponte Vedra, St. Johns County

9715 Beach Blvd., Jacksonville, Duval County

Crosswater Parkway, Ponte Vedra, St. Johns County

Type: Floor & Decor Size: 6 acres Buyer: Vereit Real Estate LP Seller: F&D JAX LLC

Type: Sporty’s Riverboat Car Wash Size: 0.96 acres Buyer: Coldwater St. Augustine Car Wash LLC Seller: St. Augustine Auto Spa LLC Previous sale: $3,100,000 in 2016

Type: Undeveloped residential Size: Not available Buyer: CRP/Pollack Ponte Vedra Owner LLC Seller: Sonoc Co. LLC

Type: Wawa Size: 1.74 acres Buyer: Trail Plaza Shopping Center LLC Seller: 9731 Beach Blvd.

LLC

Type: Undeveloped residential Size: Not available Buyer: Toll Southeast LP Co. Inc. Seller: Sonoc Co. LLC

$2,826,300

$2,070,000

$2,030,000

$1,757,740

$1,750,000

7643 Gate Parkway, Jacksonville, Duval County

McClelland Road, Jacksonville, Duval County

6914 Norwood Ave., Jacksonville, Duval County

Gate Parkway, Jacksonville, Duval County

1093 U.S. 301 S., Jacksonville, Duval County

Type: Shoppes at Village Walk Size: 1.55 acres Buyer: ACS-Village Walk LLC, CFS-Village Walk LLC, DGS-Village Walk LLC, and KCS-Village Walk LLC Seller: Shoppes at Village Walk LLLP

Type: Timberland Size: Not available Buyer: LGI Homes-Florida LLC Seller: Timber Forest Trail Investments LLC

Type: Hardee’s Size: 1.06 acres Buyer: Star Realco LLC Seller: Raymond J. Guiliano, Trustee of the Marjorie E. Guiliano Exemption Trust Previous sale: $1,243,000 in 2017

Type: Undeveloped fire station Size: Not available Buyer: City of Jacksonville Seller: Palms at Gate Parkway LLC

Type: Burger King Size: 1.39 acres Buyer: Your Lucky Day Family Trust Seller: ND Realty LLC Previous sale: $1,230,000 in 2007

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Financing offered by DHI Mortgage Company, Ltd. (DHIM) 4220 Race Track Road, Suite 900, St. Johns, FL 32259. Branch NMLS #257647 Company NMLS #14622. DHIM is an affiliate of D.R. Horton/Emerald/Express/Freedom Homes. For more information about DHIM licensing and its affiliation with D.R. Horton please visit www.dhimortgage.com/affiliate. Provided for informational purposes only. This is not a commitment to lend. Not all borrowers will qualify. At Closing, Seller will pay a contribution towards Buyer’s Standard Items equal to the total of Buyer’s Standard Items (except as noted herein). “Buyer’s Standard Items” include: the adjusted origination charge (up to $995), transfer taxes, Lender’s title policy, escrow/settlement fees, title fees, appraisal fee (up to $450), survey, pest inspections and other usual and customary closing costs, prorations and prepaids charged to Buyer by other settlement service providers, and up to $100 for any other lender charges. *Closing costs incentive of up to $5,000 is available to all buyers. Buyer must contract and close by 12/31/19 to receive the incentive. Additional closing costs incentive of up to $10,000 is available if buyer funds and closes with seller’s affiliated lender OR another seller “Preferred Lender” however, buyer must use DHIM or another seller “Preferred Lender” to receive the incentive. Buyer must contract by 6/21/19 and close by 12/31/19 to receive the incentive. In no event will Seller contribute more than the maximum allowed by Lender under the loan program selected by Buyer. Some restrictions apply. See sales agent for complete details including a list of all seller “Preferred Lenders. Does not apply to discount points, interest rate buydowns or other prepaids, simultaneous issue fee for title insurance, VA funding fee, conventional Upfront Mortgage Insurance Premium or Upfront Guarantee on USDA loans. Prices and availability subject to change without notice. This is not an offer in states where prior registration is required. You are NOT required to use DHIM or DHI Title as a condition to purchase a D.R. Horton home. You are free to shop around to determine that you are receiving the best services and the best rate for these services. Requesting a loan pre-qualification and making a loan application do not constitute a loan approval or otherwise indicate that a consumer will qualify for a loan. Financing is not guaranteed and not all consumers will qualify. Please see a Loan Officer for financing details. See your New Home Consultant and the home purchase agreement for pricing and features, additional information, disclosures and disclaimers related to this incentive, the home and its features. Void Where Prohibited by Law. *Home and community information, including pricing, included features, terms, availability and amenities, are subject to change and prior sale at any time without notice or obligation. Pictures, elevations, features, sizes and colors are approximate for illustration purposes only and will vary from the homes as built. CBC058997 ©2019 D.R. Horton, Inc. All rights reserved. EXP: 6/21/2019

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Page 16 • Thursday, April 11, 2019

Jacksonville Daily Record/Jacksonville Record & Observer

Downtown: Changes ahead for skyline CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

approval phase.

Two riverfront buildings are being demolished and one of the city’s most recognizable structures, The Jacksonville Landing, likely will meet the same fate this year.

NORTHBANK EAST BAY STREET

Work continues along East Bay Street as crews tear down the old Duval County Courthouse and clear out what’s left of the former City Hall Annex, which was imploded in January.

The $8 million project was expected to wrap up this month, but the contractor, Environmental Holdings Group LLC of Mooresville, North Carolina, asked the city for a three-month extension on razing the former courthouse.

“The courthouse demolition has been more difficult (due to its construction) to demolish mechanically than anticipated,” the document states.

EHG requests an August completion date.

It’s not clear what’s next.

The Downtown Investment Authority agreed to allow staff to partner with a real estate consultant to issue a notice of disposition, which gives interested parties the ability to offer ideas.

The DIA is finalizing a scope of services for the consultant.

When a consultant is under contract, it will work with the DIA to craft the notice of disposition to outline the need for a mix of uses that incorporates the riverfront and is sensitive to existing retail, lodging and residential needs.

The DIA board eventually will review bids from developers, likely score them and either agree to enter negotiations with a firm or seek more ideas.

THE BERKMAN II

East along Bay Street sits what’s left of the Berkman II, a failed condominium project.

Through 500 East Bay LLC, developer Bob Ohde and his group want to transform the concrete and steel skeleton into a hotel and entertainment complex.

Council members are reviewing legislation that would award up to $36 million in incentives for the estimated $122 million development.

Ohde’s team requested a twoweek deferral during council’s approval process in March. Council subcommittees pick up the bill again next week and the full legis-

Photo by Max Marbut

The demolition of the old Duval County Courthouse on East Bay Street is taking longer that the contractor anticipated.

lative body could vote to approve the agreement by May. LOT J, SHIPYARDS AND ELEVATED ROADS

Jacksonville residents have been waiting for an update about the property east of the Berkman II site – the Shipyards and Metropolitan Park.

Since 2013, Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shad Khan has shown interest in the roughly 80-90 acres comprising the riverfront property and Lot J, a parking lot next to TIAA Bank Field.

Khan’s plans could result in $2.5 billion in development, connecting the urban core to the sports and entertainment complex, but obstacles remain.

Through Iguana Investments Florida LLC, Khan unsuccessfully tried to lure JEA to relocate its corporate headquarters to anchor the Lot J phase of development.

The utility selected a site adjacent to the Duval County Courthouse.

The condition of the soil in the Lot J area needs to be addressed and deals are not finalized with state and federal agencies to lift restrictions on the properties.

Work has begun to remove a section of elevated highways connecting the Hart Bridge to Downtown in 2020. The highway bisects the stadium complex and

the riverfront property.

While the mayor’s office maintains the realignment will benefit the Talleyrand port area, Khan and Jaguars President Mark Lamping have said the existing highway hinders connectivity and the potential scale of Khan’s project.

Khan and Lamping could make an announcement about the project’s status during the Jaguars annual “state of the franchise” event this spring.

THE JACKSONVILLE LANDING’S FUTURE

File image

Demolition crews are expected at The Jacksonville Landing this year.

The city owns the 32-year-old riverfront mall after it settled a yearslong lawsuit with Sleiman Enterprises Inc. subsidiary Jacksonville Landing Investments LLC. The agreement, approved by council in March, used $15 million to buyout JLI’s long-term lease, placed $1.5 million into the city’s Capital Improvement Program budget for demolition and set aside another $1.5 million to help relocate existing tenants.

The site could be leveled by midsummer, even though no redevelopment plans are available.

With the staff of The Florida Times-Union moved to the Wells Fargo Center, demolition could be next for the newspaper’s former home on Riverside Avenue.

The mayor’s office insists there’s interest and that any plan would be vetted to ensure the property is developed for “the highest and best use.”

Curry’s office would prefer to see the site split between public green space and a mixed-use development, similar to design renderings released in 2018.

Brian Hughes, Curry’s chief of staff, said recently he expects council members, the administration and the DIA to solicit, review and reach consensus on a plan by year-end.

Meanwhile, on the other side of Independent Drive, VyStar Credit Union continues to remodel the former SunTrust Tower, which it bought in July for its headquarters and will name VyStar Tower.

After that work is finished, construction of a Hyatt Place hotel will begin at Hogan Street and Independent Drive ahead of a late-2020 opening.

THE FLORIDA TIMES-UNION PROPERTY

File image

Jaguars owner Shad Khan may release more information about his plans for the Lot J and Shipyards projects near TIAA Bank Field during his “State of the Franchise” meeting later this spring.

The Florida Times-Union staff relocated early this month from its 52-year riverfront home at 1 Riverside Ave. to the Wells Fargo Center Downtown.

The paper’s departure leaves two empty buildings controlled by the paper’s former owners, Morris Communications Co. LLC. The Morris family likely will demolish the black-and-white office tower and the concrete production building that housed the newspaper staff and the printing presses.

Redevelopment plans could include a hotel, apartments and dining, and could result in the “daylighting” of McCoys Creek, which is covered by structures on the property.

THE SOUTHBANK

Along the Downtown Southbank, the city awaits groundbreaking at The District, a mixeduse project led by developer Peter Rummell and public relations executive Michael Munz.

The city approved an $82 million incentives package for it in 2018.

Plans include a hotel, apartments, townhomes, condos, retail, office, a “greengrocer,” public park space and a marina.

It has not been disclosed what brands are partnering with The District other than the AC Hotels

by Marriott, which developers announced last year.

Munz said previously the group is finalizing agreements and that horizontal work could begin this summer.

Other residential developments are moving ahead on the Southbank with three apartment complexes.

Those apartments likely will serve some of Baptist Medical Center’s employees as the hospital system continues to stretch its footprint along the Southbank with new buildings to treat cancer patients, children and families.

DCAWTON@ JAXDAILYRECORD.COM @DAVIDCAWTON (904) 356-2466

Jacksonville Daily Record/Jacksonville Record & Observer

Thursday, April 11, 2019 • Page 17

Pickert appointed to ABA House of Delegates THE MARBUT REPORT

MAX MARBUT ASSOCIATE EDITOR

He’ll help shape national legal advocacy and policy.

Terrell Hogan law firm partner Alan Pickert was selected by the Jacksonville Bar Association board of governors to represent the local legal community in the American Bar Association House of Delegates.

He succeeds Gunster, Yoakley & Stewart shareholder Michael Freed on the Pickert policymaking body of the national Bar association.

“The ABA is the voice of the legal community on national issues. I’d like to continue the good work Mike did,” Pickert said.

The House convenes twice a year at the ABA annual and midyear meetings. Action taken by the delegates on specific issues becomes ABA policy.

“It’s important for us to be represented and connected with the national legal community. It gives the JBA input into advocacy,” said JBA Executive Director Craig Shoup.

Pickert, who was the association’s board of governors president in 2005-06, is the JBA’s third representative on the House of Delegates, joining past presidents Freed and A. Hamilton Cooke, the first local delegate who was appointed in 2008.

Register now for annual federal practice seminar Registration is open for the 16th annual Honorable Ralph W. “Buddy” Nimmons Jr. Federal Practice Seminar, from 11:45 a.m. to 5 p.m. April 29 at the Bryan Simpson U.S.

Special to the Daily Record

Jurists and lawyers help feed Northeast Florida Judges, magistrates and attorneys reported to the Feeding Northeast Florida food bank warehouse Saturday to sort and pack groceries that will be given to hungry people. In about three hours, the group inspected and sorted 5,369 pounds of food, representing nearly 4,500 meals for families in need.

Courthouse.

This year’s program: n Holding the balance steady and true: An unclassified look at the FISA Courts. U.S. 9th Circuit Judge Richard Tallman serves on the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Court of Review, which hears appeals of decisions related to espionage and counterterrorism investigations under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act of 1978. He will present an overview of the structure of the U.S. intelligence community, describe FISA’s review procedures and discuss the judiciary’s oversight role within FISA’s framework and under the Constitution. n Police body-worn cameras: Benefits, limitations and legal implications. University of South Carolina School of Law professor Seth Stoughton, a nationally recognized expert on police body-worn cameras, will discuss the emerging technology. n Back to the basics: 20+ writing tips for the modern lawyer. Help from U.S. Magis-

trate Judge Patricia Barksdale. n Hot topics in trial practice.

Evidentiary issues regularly present themselves in civil and criminal trial practice, from improper impeachment and hearsay to digital evidence and the admissibility of social media evidence. U.S. District Judge Timothy Corrigan, 4th Circuit Chief Assistant State Attorney Mac Heavener and civil attorney Kirsten Doolittle will lead a discussion on how to navigate the pitfalls.

Participants will receive 5.0 hours of CLE credit, including 1.5 hours of technology credit (pending approval by The Florida Bar).

The seminar is $85 for Federal Bar Association members; $55 for government, nonprofit and CJA panel attorneys; $25 for judicial law clerks past their first year; and complimentary for judges and first-year judicial law clerks. Others are welcome to attend for $135.

The program includes lunch catered by The Bread & Board, materials and all presentations.

Visit jaxfedbar.org to register.

The volunteers were provided lunch and a T-shirt funded by a diversity grant from The Florida Bar. The service project was organized by the Jacksonville Bar Association, D.W. Perkins Bar Association and Jacksonville Women Lawyers Association.

May 17 is Bench & Bar Conference

Coker Law adds litigator Harris

The Jacksonville Bar Association Judicial Relations Committee will present the 2019 Bench & Bar Conference from 11:30 a.m. to 5 p.m. May 17 at the Duval County Courthouse.

The program will cover topics such as cybersecurity, immigration issues, bankruptcy law, substance abuse, competency and victims’ rights.

Panel discussions will be led by judges, attorneys and other subject matter experts.

Bar association members may register by May 3 for $126 and $140 after May 3; guests may register for $180.

Registration includes 5.0 hours of CLE credit, pending approval by The Florida Bar, welcome bag, lunch and two drink tickets and appetizers at a networking social after the program.

Visit jaxbar.org for details and reservations.

Trial attorney Chelsea Harris joined the Coker Law firm, focusing on representing plaintiffs in personal injury, automobile crashes and premises liability.

She previously was a shareholder with the Kubicki Draper law firm, defending insurance companies, and was an assistant state attorney in the Harris 4th Judicial Circuit.

Harris received a bachelor’s in psychology with a minor in Spanish from the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and a J.D. in 2006 from Florida Coastal School of Law. MMARBUT@ JAXDAILYRECORD.COM (904) 356-2466

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Page 18 • Thursday, April 11, 2019

Jacksonville Daily Record/Jacksonville Record & Observer

How drones are changing aviation law Government expects 2 million of the small, unmanned aircraft will be registered by the end of the year.

BY MAX MARBUT ASSOCIATE EDITOR

The Federal Aviation Administration calls them small unmanned aircraft systems. More than 1 million hobbyists and commercial operators call them drones.

Attorneys who practice aviation law call them the source of the most substantial change in that area of law since 1929 when the U.S. Air Commerce Act was adopted.

In January 2018, more than 1 million recreational drones were registered with the FAA. The aviation agency estimates that by the end of 2019, there will be more than 2 million registered drones.

“It’s a brave new world for the regulators, for the lawyers and for the system,” said Robert Spohrer, president of the Spohrer Dodd law firm and board-certified in aviation law.

Drones are considered aircraft under federal law. They are regulated by the FAA, which has since 2015 required drones that weigh more than 250 grams (about 9 ounces) to be registered.

Registration is easy and inexpensive by filling out an online form and paying $5 for a threeyear registration for a drone that weighs up to 55 pounds.

“The FAA depends on owners to register, although there’s no teeth in the registration requirement,” Spohrer said.

With the number of small unmanned aircraft increasing, the FAA is facing challenges as the government attempts to keep up with changes in drone technology that make them easier to operate and therefore appealing to more potential buyers who will be performing more flights in more areas.

“It took the FAA several years to come up with some basic rules governing recreational and commercial drone operation. By the time they came out with the rules, a lot of the rules were obsolete because the technology had improved so much,” Spohrer said.

Safety rules published by the FAA include that drones should be flown no higher than 400 feet above the ground and must

Photo by Max Marbut

Attorney Robert Spohrer says the growing popularity of recreational drones impact aviation law and he anticipates that will create a “brave new world.”

remain within the visual sight of the operator while in flight.

Drones may not be flown over groups of people, over stadiums or sports events, near emergency response events such as fires or near other aircraft.

Attorney Ed Booth, a partner at Boyd & Jenerette who also is board-certified in aviation law, said there is little the FAA can do if someone fails to register a drone or fails to follow the rules.

“The FAA clearly doesn’t have the resources to enforce the regulations,” he said.

Both attorneys point out that while there hasn’t been an accident caused by misuse of a drone that led to litigation, it’s a matter of time until there is an incident, based on how easy it is to buy a drone.

Entry-level drones may be purchased for less than $100; more technically complex models can cost $1,000 or more.

“You can buy a drone at a toy store,” said Spohrer.

Using a drone as a hobby and

causing property damage or injury likely could be covered by homeowners liability insurance, said Booth.

“You are responsible for what your drone does just as you are responsible for what your dog does,” he said.

A bigger issue could arise if a drone strayed or was intentionally guided into the airspace around an airport.

Spohrer said that aircraft are most vulnerable to a mishap during takeoff and landing, the period of flight when the aircraft and a drone would be most likely to share airspace based on altitude.

“Can a drone take down an airliner? No one knows, but it certainly could happen,” said Booth.

A study of how drones may interfere with commercial aviation was conducted at EmbryRiddle Aeronautical University and published in 2018 in the International Journal of Aviation, Aeronautics and Aerospace.

Researchers installed a drone detection device on a building

near Daytona Beach International Airport and, over 13 days, recorded recreational drone activity in the vicinity.

Launch locations, altitudes and routes of 192 flights by 72 drones were detected.

Flights were conducted at altitudes up to 1,286 feet, more than three times the maximum allowed

by FAA regulations for drones, and well into the altitude range for general aviation and commercial aircraft taking off and landing.

Of the 192 flights, 177 (93%) were conducted within FAAdesignated warning or restricted areas near the airport or one of several helicopter launching and landing sites in the area.

The study found that 21.5% of the total flights exceeded the altitude limit prescribed by the FAA within warning or restricted zones and those drone flights “presented an unmitigated risk to nearby manned aviation operations.”

In addition, two flights recorded during the study “indicated uncomfortably-close operations

that ultimately could have resulted in a collision,” according to the report.

In one case, the drone came within 1,000 yards of two aircraft, one of which was at the same altitude as the drone. In the other, a drone came with 500 yards of an approach path at an altitude through which the aircraft intended to land.

“I’m concerned about aviation safety in general. This is adding another dimension to the risks involved. It’s just a matter of time until there is some type of accident,” said Spohrer.

While he specializes in representing clients who have been damaged by an incident involving aircraft, Booth said he expects the enforcement of government regulations may bring him clients.

“If the FAA gets the proper funding to police the airspace, I’ll be defending people,” he said.

MMARBUT@ JAXDAILYRECORD.COM (904) 356-2466

COMMENTARY

The value of being heard: Listening can be key to diversity Celebrate Diversity Month is an opportunity to reflect on gains — and what still needs to be done.

BY MIKE FREED GUNSTER, YOAKLEY & STEWART SHAREHOLDER

Since April is national Celebrate Diversity Month, it is the season to celebrate diversity – a worthy aspiration indeed.

Unfortunately, once a cause rises to the level of having its own month, it risks having its significance lost in the notoriety.

Celebrations themselves can be so festive and joy-focused that participants may fail to give proper tribute to the cost to achieve that being celebrated.

And that can distract from the work that remains to be done.

With that in mind, let me offer context and highlight some work that remains: Diversification of a group can be a step in a positive direction.

But by itself, it accomplishes little.

In fact, merely diversifying a body can be detrimental if it causes only tokenization or minimization or if leads an organization to the false conclusion that it has resolved systemic racism, sexism or ethnocentrism.

It is only when an organization embraces an inclusive culture that true and sustainFreed able gains are made. This happens when people with divergent qualities and experiences not only are recruited, but actively engaged, valued and heard.

As attorneys, we know well the value of being heard. We love to be heard, we are paid for it, we crave it and we demand it.

This is particularly so for those who are in charge. It is no coincidence that we equip our judges

with wooden hammers to bang if they are not being heard.

But what about those who are hammerless?

The lawyer’s paradox, regrettably, is that we seek first to be understood rather than to understand. We talk before we listen. Indeed, sometimes we do not listen at all.

This paradox often leads us to overlook and ignore the very people we invite into the room under the auspices of diversity. It can stifle and frustrate the invitee, and it deprives the organization of a full perspective of views and opinions.

So, in this season in which we celebrate diversity, I propose that we commit to unwind-

ing the paradox – to seek first to understand rather than to be understood. It is only when we do so that we begin to include instead of simply diversifying.

Listen. It’s the sound of diversity.

MIKE FREED IS A BOARDCERTIFIED BUSINESS LITIGATOR IN GUNSTER, YOAKLEY & STEWART’S JACKSONVILLE OFFICE. HE IS A SPEAKER ON MYRIAD TOPICS AND HAS APPEARED ON NATIONAL RADIO AND TELEVISION PROGRAMS INCLUDING THE TODAY SHOW, 20/20, GOOD MORNING AMERICA AND NATIONAL PUBLIC RADIO.

Jacksonville Daily Record/Jacksonville Record & Observer

Thursday, April 11, 2019 • Page 19

Partner at Cobb & Gonzalez

BY MAX MARBUT • ASSOCIATE EDITOR

James Gonzalez recently formed Cobb & Gonzalez PA with his law partner, Christopher Cobb. The firm specializes in business and construction law.

Who or what inspired you to become a lawyer? My father was my motivating factor. He and I would watch hours of the old black-and-white Perry Mason television shows and constantly watch legal movies.

Jokingly, he would always comment on my desire to argue with him. Yet, we would spend most of the time discussing the intricacies of my argument before he ultimately denied my request. Most of all, he inspired me to work hard and be the best at whatever I endeavored. He was the epitome of “lead by example.”

How did you decide your practice area?

And why have you chosen that? During my undergraduate years, one of my best friends offered me a job working in the construction industry, installing electrical finishings for new homes. As he ascended through the ranks of various large home builders, I went to law school. During that time, we discussed the challenges he faced in the construction industry and the strategies upper management implemented to remain relevant in a fast-paced and competitive market. I enjoyed the industry so much that I turned my legal focus to business and construction law.

What has been the biggest change in your practice area since you passed the Bar? Moving from a paper-intensive industry to a digital industry. The cloud has revolutionized the practice of law. Now, like never before, lawyers have the ability to easily access information to assist and collaborate with

Family: Wife Kristin. Two children, Andres, 4, and Isabel, 2, and an American bulldog named Chavi.

Favorite book: “The French Laundry” by Thomas Keller Books I’m reading now: “The “Curious George” collection, volumes 1-20. I think I am on my 12th reread.

Special to the Daily Record

clients as well as address most litigation processes from a variety of mobile devices.

It has made our practice area much more efficient.

What do you think will be the next biggest change in your area of law? Designbuilds are becoming more prevalent. This method incorporates both the design and construction of a project into one-stop shopping for the owner/developer. The design-build method of construction has proven to reduce overall costs and completion times.

If I could change anything in the legal system, I would: Continue to improve technologies relating to privacy and data security and the ESI discovery process.

What community service have you pursued and why that? Many years ago, my father lost his life to pancreatic cancer. Since moving to Jacksonville in 2009, I have tried to be as actively involved in the Pancreatic Cancer Action Network as time would

CORPORATE ATTORNEY Jacksonville mid-size law firm seeks to expand its Corporate, Securities and M&A Practice Group with the addition of a highly qualified and motivated attorney with at least 8 years’ experience in corporate transactions, mergers and acquisitions.

Candidates must have served as lead counsel on mergers and acquisitions and private placement offerings.

To be considered, candidates must have a significant portable book of business. BMD offers competitive salaries and benefits commensurate with years of experience and transferable book of business.

permit. Founded in 1999, the nonprofit is dedicated to fighting the world’s toughest cancer. Pancreatic cancer is the third leading cause of cancer-related death in the U.S., killing more people than breast cancer. The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network strives to attack pancreatic cancer on all fronts; via research, clinical initiatives, patient services and advocacy. I have assisted in planning the organization’s annual 5K fundraiser, the Jacksonville PurpleStride. I have also sat as the organization’s North Florida affiliate chair.

Most importantly, I have had the opportunity to meet and work alongside some amazing people. The fight to find a cure is an uphill battle. However, given the dedication, courage and work ethic displayed by the Jacksonville affiliate and the rest of the organization, it is only a matter of time before we end this terrible disease.

Websites and apps I can’t live without: Windfinder, the most accurate tidal information app I have found; and Epicurious, hands down the best website for investigating new recipes.

Favorite nonwork activities: Fishing, golfing, cooking, building Jeeps and woodworking

What’s your advice for new lawyers? Grab as much knowledge as you can from your colleagues. Also, try to find a good mentor.

They are worth their weight in legal, business and life advice.

LITIGATION ATTORNEY Jacksonville mid-size law firm is seeking to hire an associate attorney with 1-2 years of litigation experience in commercial litigation, business law, employment law and/or construction law.

The position will primarily involve litigation as part of BMD’s Business and Employment Law practice which appears before state, federal and administrative forums.

Candidates must havee a strong academic background and effective communication, research and writing skills.

BMD offers competitive salaries and benefits commensurate with years of experience.

Please send cover letter, resume and writing sample to Megan Mattocks at memattocks@bmdpl.com.

Please send cover letter, resume and writing sample to Megan Mattocks at memattocks@bmdpl.com.

LISTEN. SOLVE. EMPOWER.

Education: University of South Florida, business law; Villanova University Charles Widger School of Law, J.D.; Villanova University School of Business, MBA Hometown: Clearwater

Someone, other than my spouse, who inspires me: Even 16 years after his passing, my father continues to inspire me daily. He taught life lessons, provided the framework for fatherhood and instilled values that I live by to this day. But for my father, I would not be the person I am today.

How do you relate your undergraduate degree to your practice of law? I received a degree in business finance from the University of South Florida. My degree was the culmination of business course studies at five different colleges over the course of 4½ years. As I moved to a different school each year, I was able to learn from new professors, work with cutting-edge businesses and develop new and lasting friendships with classmates. Today, I am fortunate to work with clients from various commercial, financial, business and construction industries. I draw on the constantly changing environment that enveloped my undergraduate career and the dynamic in constantly meeting new people from varying backgrounds to assist me in understanding my clients’ positions and provide thorough legal recommendations.

Age: 38

LISTEN. SOLVE. EMPOWER.

IN THE LAW

JAMES GONZALEZ

JAMES GONZALEZ

Page 20 • Thursday, April 11, 2019

Jacksonville Daily Record/Jacksonville Record & Observer

APRIL 1 – 30, 2019

To celebrate more than 40 years of Building Dreams, Enhancing Lives, we’re hosting the fourth annual World’s Largest Showcase of Homes in our cities across the country!

From April 1 – 30, we invite you to visit any of our beautiful models or Quick Move-in Homes in Jacksonville to see current innovations in design and get inspired with home décor ideas.

And, while you’re delighting in our award-winning homes, be sure to register for a chance to win one of these exciting prizes:

GRAND PRIZE

FIRST PRIZE

SECOND PRIZE

$5,000 BEST BUY GIFT CARD

$2,500 BEST BUY GIFT CARD

$500 BEST BUY GIFT CARD

Also, just for visiting and registering with our Sales Consultant, we’ll donate $5 to Ronald McDonald House Charities of Jacksonville!

Visit our website to find a community near you in Jacksonville!

See a David Weekley Homes Sales Consultant for complete details. Not valid with any other offer or previously written contracts. Visitors must register in person with a David Weekley Homes Sales Consultant in a participating city between April 1, 2019, and April 30, 2019 (the Program Period), and will be entered into a drawing to win one of three prizes: one (1) $5,000 Best Buy Gift Card, one (1) $2,500 Best Buy Gift Card and one (1) $500 Best Buy Gift Card. Only one registration or entry per family. Employees of David Weekley Homes and their immediate family members are not eligible to win. Drawings will be held May 10, 2019, and winners will be contacted by a David Weekley Homes Representative to make arrangements to receive Gift Cards. Cash will not be given in lieu of Gift Cards. No purchase necessary to win. $5 donation to Ronald McDonald House Charities of Jacksonville will be made for Visitors who register at a David Weekley Homes model or Quick Move-in Home in the Jacksonville area during the Program Period. Registration limited to one per family. Maximum donation amount to Ronald McDonald House Charities not to exceed $44,230. David Weekley Homes reserves the right to terminate the program or change rules at any time. See a David Weekley Homes Sales Consultant for details. Prices, plans, dimensions, features, specifications, materials, and availability of homes or communities are subject to change without notice or obligation. Illustrations are artist’s depictions only and may differ from completed improvements. Copyright © 2019 David Weekley Homes - All Rights Reserved. CBC1257289 Weekley Homes, Jacksonville, FL (JACA103783)