April 18-24, 2019
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Record & Observer A milestone day for JU, supporters
NORTHEAST FLORIDA HOUSING MARKET JACKSONVILLE
WHERE ARE THE Record & Observer SIGNS POINTING? Despite slowdown in construction jobs, homebuilders say demand is strong. JACKSONVILLE
Frisch Family Welcome Center to open with help from the city’s longtime business leaders.
Record & Observer Homes under construction in DR Horton’s Alta Lakes community off Alta Drive in North Jacksonville.
JACKSONVILLE
BY KAREN BRUNE MATHIS EDITOR
A business history of Jacksonville is expected to be on hand today as a few of the city’s most formative leaders help to dedicate and open the $4 million Frisch Family Welcome Center at Jacksonville University in Arlington. Beaver Street Fisheries Inc. Chairman Harry Frisch, 95, and his family are the naming rights sponsors for the center at the 2800 University Blvd. Frisch campus. JU Chancellor Emerita Frances Bartlett Kinne, 101, a longtime civic and business leader, is sponsoring the Kinne Welcome Gallery lobby area. The Haskell Co. founder Preston Haskell, 80, and his wife, Joan, sponsored Haskell Commons, an outdoor student lounge area behind the building that faces the Swisher Science Green. The center was developed between the J. Arthur Howard Administration and J. Henry Gooding buildings and will house the admissions office and serve as the entry point for campus tours. The event is at 2 p.m. today. Frisch and Kinne, who are older than 85-year-old JU, are scheduled to speak.
Record & Observer Building permits rise for 7 consecutive years
17,753
9,918
8,870
7,906
6,725
6,076
5,971
4,257
3,151
3,271
3,256
6,830
5,111
Building permits per year in Clay, Duval, Nassau and St. Johns counties from 2005 to 2018
11,127
n
FREE
Florida’s Small Business Person of the Year hasn’t celebrated yet
’05 ’06 ’07 ’08 ’09 ’10 ’11 ’12 ’13 ’14 ’15 ’16 ’17 ’18 Source: Northeast Florida Builders Association Photo by Monty Zickuhr
BY MARK BASCH CONTRIBUTING WRITER
A
s the housing market slowly recovered from the financial crisis a decade ago, construction became a major engine for job growth in Northeast
Florida. When Jacksonville’s job growth peaked at 3.7% in March 2018, construction led the way, growing at 15% and accounting for nearly a quarter of the 25,000 jobs
added in the previous year. However, job growth has cooled in early 2019 and construction employment has taken a sudden downturn. The most recent data from the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity, for February, showed construction jobs dropped by 1.3% in the previous 12 months, the first decline in the industry since 2012. Could this be a bellwether of another housing slump, possibly leading to another recession?
Probably not. Data from the Northeast Florida Builders Association shows the number of building permits issued in Duval, Clay, Nassau and St. Johns counties was slightly higher in the first quarter this year than the first quarter of 2018. That continues a trend of increasing permits that began in 2012. “Everybody is fairly optimistic,” said Sean Junker, president of NEFBA and also president of Providence Homes in SEE HOMES, PAGE 10
Kinne
Haskell
THE BASCH REPORT
CSX earnings beat Wall Street estimates Plus: Advanced Disposal sale. PAGE 6 VOLUME 1, NO. 46 • ONE SECTION
WHAT’S TRENDING
Page 2 • Thursday, April 18, 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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Joe Foster, The Tree Steakhouse managing partner and executive chef, said changes to the restaurant are in response to customer feedback.
RESTAURANTS
The Tree Steakhouse is rebranding The Tree Steakhouse, a Jacksonville institution since 1969, is rebranding. In May, the Mandarin restaurant will become ChopHouse Thirteen. Established by Paul Hanson, first in Arlington and later in Mandarin and at the Beaches, the sole remaining location is at 11362 San Jose Blvd., behind a large oak tree in The Gates of Olde Mandarin shopping center. Joe Foster, managing partner and executive chef, said the change is to reflect the times and respond to customer feedback. Since his group’s 2015 purchase, Foster said the clientele has become younger and has commented on the restaurant’s dated decor. “Since we took over, we’ve flipped the demographic,” Foster said. “The ambiance isn’t suitable anymore.” The restaurant will undergo a makeover along with the name change. It
Jacksonville Record & Observer is a free weekly business newspaper available in Downtown Jacksonville and key business nodes throughout Jacksonville. To find a location near you, visit jaxdailyrecord.com/rack-locations. Editorial content focuses on news and trends, with a concentration on development, real estate, construction, law, companies, economic and industry trends and how local and state government affects business.
MORE FOOD NEWS n Chefs Matthew and David
Medure are launching a new culinary concept, Midtown Table. The restaurant in the Gateway Village at Town Center is expected to open in August. n Beach Road Chicken Dinners, a landmark Jacksonville restaurant for 80 years in the St. Nicholas area, is for sale. n Wawa says it is “keying in” on a particular site Downtown in the Northbank or Springfield area.
will close April 22 and re-open May 1. Foster said the renovation, which could cost up to $75,000, will brighten the restaurant with new floors, walls, TVs, art and furniture.
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DEVELOPMENT Deal withdrawn to redevelop the Berkman II The deal to redevelop the vacant Berkman II building and property will not proceed as planned, according to the group seeking city incentives to develop the project. Barrington Development, through 500 East Bay LLC, proposed to build a 340-room hotel and resort, amusement park and parking garage at 500 E. Bay St. along the Downtown Northbank.
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.
The development group sent a letter to Downtown Investment Authority interim CEO Brian Hughes asking the administration to withdraw City Council legislation approving the deal. Barrington sought $36 million in city-backed financial incentives to proceed with the project it anticipated would require $122 million in private capital to complete.
HEALTH CARE McClung named new leader of Baptist Health Brett McClung is the new president and CEO of Jacksonville-based Baptist Health, effective July 1. The hospital group announced that McClung will succeed Hugh Greene, who is retiring after serving as CEO for 19 years. McClung was executive vice president and chief operations leader for the North Zone of Texas Health Resources, comprising nine hospitals, since 2013. Texas Health Resources is a faith-based, nonprofit health system with 29 hospitals and more than 24,000 employees.
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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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OFFICIAL DESIGNATIONS The Official Court Newspaper of Duval County by Order of the Circuit Court, July 7, 1961.
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Jacksonville Daily Record/Jacksonville Record & Observer
Thursday, April 18, 2019 • Page 3
SBA WINNERS The SBA announced 2019 North Florida district and state winners. They will be recognized at the annual Small Business Week and Lender Awards Ceremony at 11:30 a.m. May 10 at the University of North Florida Adam W. Herbert University Center. For information, visit sbdc.unf.edu. Here are the North Florida 2019 district winners: Jeff Turbeville, CEO, Sunshine Peanut Co., Jacksonville: State and district small business person Frank Brewer, president, Alpha Omega Global LLC, Jacksonville: State and district veteran-owned small business person Dallas Hart, president, Hart 2 Hart Academy Inc., Lake City: State and district rural business owner Courtney Powell, president, Ace Applications LLC, Orlando: State and district minority-owned small business person
Photo by James Crichlow
Laurie Morgan Lee, president, Elevate Business Law, PA , Jacksonville: District woman-owned small business person
Jeff Turbeville built Sunshine Peanut Co. in Mixon Town with his father, who died last year. “I feel extremely proud and blessed because this is not only a ‘title’ to me as an individual, it is a recognition of him, my dad, Sonny Turbeville.”
‘YOU HAVE TO REMAIN FOCUSED’
Brandon Stallings, CEO, SmartBox, Jacksonville: District young entrepreneur
Jeff Turbeville, CEO of Sunshine Peanut Co., is Florida’s Small Business Person of the Year.
Sue Miller, business development officer, Navy Federal Credit Union, Jacksonville: District small business advocate
BY EMILY BLOCH CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Jeff Turbeville was buying raw materials for his company when he got an encouraging phone call — he had been named the U.S. Small Business Association Small Business Person of the Year for the state of Florida as well as for North Florida. But he didn’t have time to celebrate. He had to get back to work. “As an entrepreneur, you have to remain focused on all aspects and facets of your business,” Turbeville said. Turbeville, 50, is the CEO of Sunshine Peanut Co., a wholesale peanut-butter manufacturer
based in the Mixon Town area of Jacksonville, serving schools, prisons and large institutions throughout the country. The food-service company started in 2003, has two 22,000-square-foot facilities and employs 42 people. “Entrepreneurs are the innovators who take risks on ideas, invest in their communities, and create jobs,” Linda McMahon, administrator of the U.S. Small Business Administration, said in a statement. “Their skills and creativity not only support their own families, but they also make our neighborhoods and cities vibrant places to live and work, fueling our overall
economic strength,” she said. Wilfredo Gonzalez, SBA North Florida District director, said Turbeville’s win is deserved. “Jeff and his team have worked diligently and hard over the years, and they are getting recognized for their performance,” Gonzalez said. Turbeville was one of 53 winners named this year from across the country and U.S. territories. For Turbeville, the honor is shared with someone dear. “Last year, my dad, who started the peanut butter business with me … and who I had worked with in the food business side-byside since 1991, he passed away,” Turbeville said. “I feel extremely proud and blessed because this is
not only a ‘title’ to me as an individual, it is a recognition of him, my dad, Sonny Turbeville.” Turbeville described his father as a “partner, mentor and hero” to him and his brother David, who joined Sunshine Peanut Co. in 2014. “This is a family business and he is smiling down on us all at Sunshine right now,” the CEO said. “This one is for him, not me.” Sunshine Peanut plans to expand, according to Turbeville. He is seeking additional capital from Florida Capital Bank. In May, Turbeville will travel to Washington, D.C., for the National Small Business Week awards ceremonies, which take
City of Jacksonville Small and Emerging Business Program: District community partner
place during the 2019 National Small Business Week. As a state winner, Turbeville is eligible to be named Small Business Person of the Year for the country. “I want to take this opportunity on behalf of the entire SBA North Florida team to wish Jeff good luck as he competes for the national Small Business Person of the Year title,” Gonzalez said. “I have not really celebrated yet per se,” Turbeville said. “But I am looking forward to being in Washington, D.C.”
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Jacksonville Daily Record/Jacksonville Record & Observer
Special to Daily Record
A rendering of the proposed The Palms at Gate Parkway, an office-retail and self-storage center.
THE MATHIS REPORT
Ash Properties developing Gate Parkway center
KAREN BRUNE MATHIS EDITOR
The Palms at Gate Parkway is planned for office space, retail, restaurants and a self-storage center.
Ash Properties is working on The Palms at Gate Parkway, a 119,362-square-foot retail and office center at northwest Gate Parkway and Burnt Mill Road, near Butler Boulevard and Interstate 295. The city approved site clearing for the 15.45-acre site at a cost of $10,000. Ash Construction LLC is the contractor for the clearing and the construction. The Palms, at 7490-7570 Gate Parkway, will feature office space, retail shops, restaurants and a self-storage center. Ash Properties applied to the city for a permit to build the four-story, 120,936-squarefoot self-storage building. Ash Construction LLC is the contractor for the $711,936 project.
A site brochure shows three two-story office-retail buildings. Two are about 33,360 square feet and another about 52,386 square feet, along with the self-storage center. The St. Johns River Water Management District is reviewing plans for the project.
Property for fire station sold to city Ash Properties, through The Palms at Gate Parkway LLC, sold property to the city for construction of a fire station along Gate Parkway next to The Palms at Gate Parkway. The sale price was almost $1.76 million. The city budget also allocated $250,000 for a temporary station during con-
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Insight Global to Town Center One Tenant improvements are in review for Insight Global, an Atlanta-based staffing company, on the second floor of Town Center One at 5555 Gate Parkway. The city is reviewing a permit application for a $410,000 build-out of 10,250 square feet on the second floor. Availity LLC, a health care IT company, anchors the building, developed by VanTrust Real Estate LLC. VanTrust has 12,000 square feet remaining for lease in the
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Rezoning at Butler, I-295 for Skinner site
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Jacksonville Daily Record/Jacksonville Record & Observer
Thursday, April 18, 2019 • Page 5
DEVELOPMENT NOTES Load King on West State: Load King Manufacturing Co. seeks to rezone 1.74 acres at 1324 W. State St. to provide parking and a truck turnaround area for its expansion. The Rogers Towers law firm is the applicant. Jacksonville-based Load King wants to buy land from the city to expand. City Council is reviewing Ordinance 2019-135 that requests the city sell two parcels totaling 1.96 acres at Union Street and Myrtle Avenue to Load King for $324,000. Load King designs, makes and installs retail store and restaurant interiors. It owns 8.26 acres at 1357 W. Beaver St. next to the property and wants to expand its manufacturing business.
Special to Daily Record
Ash Properties sold property adjacent to The Palms at Gate Parkway to the city for a fire station.
157,000-square-foot building. Insight Global’s website shows it leases in Suite 220 at 245 Riverside Ave. LoopNet.com shows that the 6,376-square-foot space will be available for lease Oct. 1. Insight Global moved into 245 Riverside in early 2013.
Kernan Courtyard by Marriott in review The St. Johns River Water Management District is reviewing plans for the five-story, 121-room Courtyard by Marriott at northeast Kernan and Butler boulevards. Impact Kernan LLC paid $2.3 million for 2.27 acres to develop a 121-room Courtyard by Marriott hotel. The city also is reviewing civil site plans for the 73,409-squarefoot hotel. AVA Engineers Inc. is the civil engineer. Impact Kernan LLC is led by
managers Kishor Kanji and Dilip Kanji. Impact Properties posted on its website that it anticipates a 2020 opening for the Courtyard by Marriott at Butler and Kernan boulevards.
Rezoning sought for corporate lodging Beaver Dam Development LLC is asking the city to rezone 10.67 acres at 8833 Perimeter Park Blvd. from industrial business park to planned unit development for the WaterWalk corporate lodging development. Ordinance 2019-165 would permit commercial and office uses. WaterWalk, a Wichita, Kansas-based developer of extended-stay hotels and corporate lodging, is working toward a 153-room all-suites project at Perimeter Park, off Southside Boulevard. The city issued mobility fee
calculation and concurrency reservation certificates, and JEA issued a service availability letter, for WaterWalk to develop a 35,000-square-foot project. Plans show two WaterWalk buildings of just more than 15,000 square feet each on 6.05 acres. There is a future phase of 4.64 acres of up to 50,000 square feet of commercial space.
$3M Oakleaf fire station in review The city is reviewing a permit application for Auld & White Constructors LLC to build Fire Station No. 61 at 7985 Old Middleburg Road S., at Collins Road, in the Oakleaf area. It’s a $3 million project comprising a fire station of 8,563 square feet on more than 2 acres.
St. Clare Early Learning Center in Wildlight: The St. Johns River Water Management District gave notice it would grant a permit for the St. Clare Early Learning Center by the Diocese of St. Augustine in Wildlight in Nassau County. The plans show a 16,700-square-foot building on 27.9 acres as well as diagrams for a future school building and sports fields. The center is designed for 170 children from 6 weeks to 4 years old. The project is north of Florida A1A. The diocese said it would break ground in August. Deacon Scott Conway said the diocese eventually would like to build a K-8 school and a high school near St. Clare. CBRE to handle 841 leasing: CBRE announced that it was retained by IP Capital Partners, which owns 841 Prudential Drive, as the exclusive office leasing agent for the 22-story, 495,000-square-foot Southbank building. The CBRE team of Oliver Barakat and Billy Kuntz will handle the leasing. VanTrust Real Estate in Tampa: VanTrust Real Estate, with offices in Jacksonville, was chosen to build the first commercial office building connected to the Tampa International Airport as part of the airport’s planned 35-acre SkyCenter commercial development. Hillsborough County Aviation Authority awarded the contract for the nine-story, 270,000-square-foot Class A office building linked to Tampa International Airport’s main terminal by the SkyConnect train. The authority will occupy three floors of the building and is anticipated to purchase it within seven years. It includes a 1,291-space parking garage, conference center, fitness center, café and access to multipurpose trails that eventually will connect with Tampa Bay’s regional trail network.
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Page 6 • Thursday, April 18, 2019
Jacksonville Daily Record/Jacksonville Record & Observer
THE BASCH REPORT
Lower costs help CSX beat estimates CSX CORP
$3.01 billion First-quarter revenue, up 5%
$1.02
MARK BASCH CONTRIBUTING WRITER
First-quarter earnings per share, 24 cents higher than the first quarter of 2018
Jacksonville-based railroad says it expects revenue to rise by a low single-digit percentage for the full year. CSX Corp. on Tuesday reported better-than-expected first-quarter earnings, as the Jacksonville-based railroad company continues to reduce staff and other operating costs. Earnings of $1.02 a share were 24 cents higher than the first quarter of 2018 and 11 cents higher than the average forecast of analysts, according to Zacks Investment Research. The company’s operating ratio (expenses divided by revenue) was 59.5%, the third time in the last four quarters the key target for CSX was below 60%. “Despite the challenging (winter weather) conditions, CSX set new records in Q1 for just about every service metric,” CEO James Foote said in a conference call with analysts. CSX’s total employment in
59.5%
The company’s operating ratio (expenses divided by revenue)
its operations throughout the eastern U.S. fell by about 500 to 22,001 during the quarter. “CSX operated significantly fewer active trains at higherperformance levels leading to reduced road crew starts and savings in ancillary crew costs, such as crew balancing expense,” Chief Financial Officer Frank Lonegro said. The company is cutting staff mainly through attrition, he said. “As discussed on our fourth quarter call, we expect to absorb normal levels of attrition this year and our firstquarter results indicate we are on track to meet that goal,” Lonegro said. The company employed
about 26,000 people two years ago when the company brought in a new management team led by late CEO Hunter Harrison. Revenue in the first quarter rose 5% to $3.01 billion. Foote said CSX continues to expect Foote revenue to rise by a low single-digit percentage for the full year. “We expect growth to come from merchandise, the core of our franchise,” he said. “The top line outlook, of course, remains dependent
on underlying economic conditions. We are diligently monitoring our markets and are in constant dialogue with our customers but generally, end market demand remains stable.”
$4.9B Advanced Disposal deal faces antitrust review
It looks like it will take nearly a year for Waste Management Inc. to complete its acquisition of Ponte Vedra-based Advanced Disposal Services Inc. After announcing the $4.9 billion merger agreement Monday, the companies said they are hoping to close the deal in the first quarter of 2020.
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Deutsche Bank analyst Debbie Jones said in a research note the long time frame will be needed for a government antitrust review of the merger. “While we have always viewed Advanced Disposal as a potential takeover target for one of the larger solid waste players, we believed that there would be some antitrust challenges in regards to an acquisition by Waste Management,” she said. “That said, antitrust is always difficult to estimate. The timing of the expected deal completion being almost a full year away seems to suggest that there may be some risk.” Waste Management is the largest U.S. solid waste dis-
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Jacksonville Daily Record/Jacksonville Record & Observer posal company with a market share of 28%, while Advanced Disposal is fourth with about 3% of the market, Jones said. There are a large number of small players in the market, she said. Jones said the most significant overlap of the two companies that may face regulatory scrutiny are in the Atlanta and Milwaukee/Chicago markets.
HealthAxis acquires Analytics Partners HealthAxis Group last week announced it acquired Analytics Partners, a Jacksonville-based company that develops data warehouse and business intelligence solutions. Terms of the deal were not announced. Tampa-based HealthAxis supplies health care benefit platform systems. The company said the acquisition of Analytics Partners moves it closer to its goal of providing a complete system for the health care industry.
Activist investors target J. Alexander’s Two activist investors are pushing for a sale of J. Alexander’s Holdings Inc., the restaurant operator formerly controlled by Jacksonville-based Fidelity National Financial Inc. In letters to the board of directors last week, the investors said J. Alexander’s would be better off as a private company and that the company has been hurt by its continued ties to Fidelity, which spun it off as a separate public company in 2015. Ancora Advisors LLC, which owns 8.6% of J. Alexander’s stock, offered to buy the com-
pany for $11.75 a share. In his letter to the board, Ancora CEO Fred DiSanto said the price is 24% higher than the stock’s market price when Ancora first indicated interest in the company in March. “In our view, J. Alexander’s will continue to be undervalued as a public company given its lack of scale, growth and liquidity,” he said. “With a restaurant base of 48 units, J. Alexander’s is simply too small to effectively leverage its corporate overhead and public company costs.” The J. Alexander’s board rejected the offer, saying in a letter the price is too low and “simply too unattractive to entertain.” However, another activist investor, Mario Cibelli, wrote a letter to the board supporting Ancora’s push to sell the company. Cibelli’s firm, Marathon Partners Cibelli Equity Management LLC, controls 6.6% of J. Alexander’s stock. Cibelli’s letter complained about the company’s underperformance and said “the entire Board is comprised of individuals that are or were associated with entities controlled by (Fidelity Chairman) William P. Foley II, and the Company has made no effort to seek new Board representatives who might offer fresh perspectives to the management team.” He called for the board to “initiate a fair and open auction process, and sell J. Alexander’s to the highest bidder.”
Thursday, April 18, 2019 • Page 7
U.S. Navy
Northrop Grumman Corp. last week was awarded a $3.2 billion contract to build 24 E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft. Northrop says 19% of the work to build the plane is done in St. Augustine.
Besides J. Alexander’s, the Nashville-based company also operates the Redlands Grill and Stoney River Steakhouse and Grill. J. Alexander’s reported revenue of $242.3 million and earnings of $4 million, or 27 cents a share, in 2018. The company’s stock has risen from about $9.50 to about $11 in the past month amid the battle with Ancora.
Duos Technologies triples its revenue Duos Technologies Group Inc. last week reported revenue tripled in 2018 to $12 million. The Jacksonville-based company, which provides intelligent security analytical technology solutions, had a net loss for the year of $1.6 million, or 8 cents a share. “Our growth was driven mainly by the increased adoption of our rail inspection portal
technology, which we successfully deployed for several bluechip organizations during the year,” CEO Gianni Arcaini said in a news release. Duos Technologies projects revenue of $14 million to $15 million this year, based on its backlog of contracts. The company said it expects to secure additional contracts in 2019.
Northrop gets $3.2B Hawkeye contract The U.S. Department of Defense last week announced a $3.2 billion contract to buy 24 E-2D Advanced Hawkeye aircraft from Northrop Grumman Corp., with some of the production done at the company’s St. Augustine facility. The DOD said work will be done at 17 Northrop Grumman locations, with 19% produced in St. Augustine. Northrop Grumman began
building the E-2D in 2003 and the first flight of the tactical early warning aircraft took off from St. Augustine in 2007. Northrop Grumman is St. Johns County’s largest corporate employer with 1,100 workers, according to the county’s Office of Economic Development. Work on the latest contract is expected to run through August 2026.
BAE wins $8.1M ship repair contract The Department of Defense last week also announced an $8.123 million contract for BAE Systems Ship Repair for work on the USS Wichita. The work for the U.S. Naval Sea Systems Command will be done at BAE’s facilities in Jacksonville. MBASCH@ JAXDAILYRECORD.COM
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COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE
Page 8 • Thursday, April 18, 2019
Jacksonville Daily Record/Jacksonville Record & Observer
Top commercial sales of the week BY SCOTT SAILER • EDITORIAL RESEARCH DIRECTOR
Here are the top 10 commercial real estate sales in Northeast Florida, comprising Baker, Clay, Duval and St. Johns counties. The sales were recorded April 8-12
Walgreens and the Windsor Commons Shopping Center along Hodges Boulevard sold for $21.5 million, a 90.7% increase over its previous sale in 2000.
$21,500,000
$7,454,000
$5,810,000
$5,646,000
$3,975,000
4715 and 47165 Hodges Blvd., Jacksonville, Duval County
4800 Atlantic Blvd., Jacksonville, Duval County
6611 Southpoint Parkway, Jacksonville, Duval County
10621 Monaco Drive, Jacksonville, Duval County
1664 Wells Road, Orange Park, Clay County
Type: Walgreens and Windsor Commons Shopping Center Size: 9.89 acres Buyer: Real Sub LLC Seller: Windsor Commons Shopping Center Inc. Previous sale: $11,275,000 in 2000
Type: Whispering Oaks Apartments Size: 8.3 acres Buyer: Toro Jax Property II LLC, DC Montgomery Property II LLC, DJ Montgomery II LLC, and DiRenzo Real Estate Management II LLC Seller: Mac Whispering LLC Previous sale: $3,500,000 in 2014
Type: Warehouse Size: 13.86 acres Buyer: MHC 3 Orlando FL LLC Seller: Acorn Parkway LLC Previous sale: $2,000,000 in 2014
Type: Highlander Apartment Homes Size: 5.59 acres Buyer: Toro Jax Property III LLC, DC Montgomery Property III LLC, DJ Montgomery III LLC, and DiRenzo Real Estate Management III LLC Seller: Mac Highlander LLC Previous sale: $2,300,000 in 2014
Type: Chili’s Grill & Bar Size: 1.66 acres Buyer: 355 Linden Street Realty Corp. Seller: BR Orange Park FL Owner LLC Previous sale: $2,103,300 in 2018
$3,485,552
$3,100,000
$2,585,000
$1,822,500
$1,750,000
500 Atlantic Blvd., Neptune Beach, Duval County
2656, 2648, 2640, 2632, 2614, 2611 and 2619 Quad Court, Jacksonville, Duval County
7762 Argyle Forest Blvd., Jacksonville, Duval County
6830 Atlantic Blvd., Jacksonville, Duval County
436 Atlantic Blvd., Neptune Beach, Duval County
Type: Commercial Size: 7.85 acres Buyer: TBR Neptune Owner LLC Seller: Neptune Beach FL Realty LLC Previous sale: $5,150,000 in 1983
Type: Seven quadruplex buildings within Villas at Atlantic Beach Size: 1.76 acres Buyer: EM Villas Blue LLC Seller: Villas at Atlantic Beach LLC Previous sale: $1,600,000 in 2016
Type: Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen Size: 1,28 acres Buyer: Sanft and Hollenbach GP Seller: Vre Loch Highlands LLC
Type: Dollar General Size: 1.66 acres Buyer: GCK Properties LP Seller: 6830 Atlantic Blvd. LLC Previous sale: $1,822,500 in 2014
Type: Belmarmi Size: 1.2 acres Buyer: TBR Neptune Owner LLC Seller: Jerrold D. and Rosanna Dixon
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Jacksonville Daily Record/Jacksonville Record & Observer
Thursday, April 18, 2019 • Page 9
Zeras
McCandless
Scarpo
Sessions
Gilmore
McCormack
Kuthiala
Dent
Dragoo
Othmer
Porfeli
Goranovic
PEOPLE ON THE MOVE Promotions, hirings and happenings for business people in Northeast Florida. Send items to ssailer@jaxdailyrecord.com n Ring Power Corp. announced promotions and changes in its Heavy Equipment Management Team: Chris Zeras was promoted from heavy equipment sales manager in Central Florida to vice president of new sales in the heavy equipment division in North and Central Florida. Zeras replaced the retiring Tim Maguire. Dylan McCandless replaced Zeras as heavy equipment sales manager. James Scarpo replaced McCandless as Tampa branch sales manager. Matt Sessions was promoted to Orlando branch manager. n Memorial Hospital Jacksonville added three members to the board of trustees: Artis Gilmore, NBA Hall of Fame member. Vince McCormack, president of Perdue Office Interiors. Dr. Sejal Kuthiala, a board-certified hematologist and oncologist with Cancer Specialists of North Florida. n Paul Davis of North Florida hired four
for its franchise office expansion: Charlotte Dent joined as manager of first impressions. Michelle Dragoo joined as emergency services coordinator.
Doug Othmer was named senior project manager. Lorie Porfeli was named executive assistant, human resources and office manager. n David Jaffee was awarded the 2019 Distinguished Professor Award at the University of North Florida, the highest honor for a faculty member. Jaffee is a sociology professor with expertise in economic sociology, political economy, organization theory, port economy, international development, labor, sociology of higher education, and social and economic crises. n Sandra Goranovic was promoted from finance director to vice president of finance and accounting for the Crowley Shipping business unit at Crowley Maritime Corp. n David Cawton joined the Jacksonville
Transportation Authority as media relations manager and chief spokesperson. Cawton was a reporter for the Jacksonville Daily Record, covering government and business development.
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These are the largest commercial building permits by job cost issued Tuesday by the city of Jacksonville. APARTMENTS Eagles Pointe Apartments, 3501 Townsend Blvd., contractor is Prospect Construction and Development Group Inc., two permits for renovation, $82,076. CONDOMINIUMS Fountain Gate Condominium Association Inc., 9360 Craven Road, contractor is Florida Certified Contractors Inc., two permits for stucco replacement, $20,000. DAYCARE T’s Learning Center, 8595 Beach Blvd., No. 201, contractor is Girald Building, interior renovation, $39,789. GOVERNMENT City of Jacksonville, 2732 Talleyrand Ave., contractor is Warden Contracting Corp., renovation of Fire Station No. 11, $90,051. City Rescue Mission, 426 S. McDuff Ave., contractor is Ideal Conditions & Air Conditioning Inc., 384 square feet, laundry room addition, $80,000. HOSPITAL, INSTITUTIONAL Herschel Animal Clinic, 4030 Herschel St., contractor is J. Lane Construction LLC, 2,554 square feet, renovation, $364,875. Brookdale Senior Living, 4455 Merrimac Ave., contractor is Hypower Inc., install generator, $189,740. OFFICE, BANK, PROFESSIONAL VyStar, 100 W. Bay St., contractor is Dana B. Kenyon Co., 8,600 square feet, asbestos abatement, $25,884. ROOFING Anchor Glass Container Corp., 2121 Huron St., contractor is Barrier
Specialty Roofing & Coatings Inc., roof replacement, $320,000. City of Jacksonville, 8275 Western Way Circle, contractor is Register Roofing & Sheet Metal Inc., Fire Station No. 44 roof replacement, $98,269. Brookdale Senior Living, 9601 Southbrook Drive, contractor is Guy Brothers Roofing Co. Inc., roof replacement, $80,000. Volaris West Kernan Apartments, 12517 Beach Blvd., contractor is A.R.C.I. Ltd. America Roofing, five permits for new building roofs, $58,660. Vecellio and Grogan Inc., 779 Talleyrand Ave., contractor is Alan Taylor Roofing LLC, four permits for roof replacements, $35,334. SERVICE STATION, REPAIR GARAGE Daily’s, 4986 Kernan Blvd. S., contractor is C&R General Contactors Inc., 8,874 square feet, two permits for new convenience store and car wash, $575,000. RaceTrac Petroleum Inc., 8715 Baymeadows Road, contractor is Coastal Construction & Petroleum Services Inc., 5,633 square feet, demolish vacant Wells Fargo Bank branch, $90,000. SIGNS McKesson, 6651 Gate Parkway, contractor is Harbinger LLC, two permits for wall signs, $14,000. VidaCann, Premium Cannabis Products, 5298 Sunbeam Road, No. 6, contractor is Coastline Wholesale Signs & LED Displays LLC, two permits for wall signs, $4,400. J Town Wings and Philly, 9802 Baymeadows Road, No. 3, contractor is Coastline Wholesale Signs & LED Displays LLC, wall sign, $2,300. Compiled by Scott Sailer
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Page 10 • Thursday, April 18, 2019
Jacksonville Daily Record/Jacksonville Record & Observer
Jacksonville home renters are paying more, getting less BY MARK BASCH CONTRIBUTING WRITER
File image
Sean Junker, president of NEFBA and Providence Homes, said homebuilders are having trouble finding skilled workers.
Homes CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
Jacksonville. “Traffic continues to be very good,” he said, from his contacts with others in the local homebuilding industry. “They’re happy with the spring so far.” Junker said he is surprised to see construction jobs declining because homebuilders actually are having problems finding qualified workers. “There continues to be a shortage of skilled labor,” he said. Construction of single-family homes may be declining in Duval County, with building permits for them down 12.7% in the first quarter this year. But new housing communities are growing to the south, with single-family permits in St. Johns County up by 10.2%. “That area has really progressed in the number of homes being built,” said Melanie Green, communications director for the Northeast Florida Association of Realtors. The downside to the growth in St. Johns has been the new homes are priced higher, Green said. “A lot of first-time buyers are priced out of those homes,” she said. A study by real estate data firm realtor.com shows the disparity of highpriced and low-priced homes for sale is a national issue. The inventory of homes for sale above $750,000 rose by 11% in the past year but the inventory of homes priced below $200,000 dropped 9%, it said. The national median home listing price rose 7% in March to reach a record high of $300,000, realtor.com said, driven by the increase in high-priced homes. “Entry-level inventory scarcity continues,” it said in a news release. “The continued, albeit slowing, rise in the national median home price in the midst of a market slowdown is likely driven by inventory growth in the highend of the market.” Home prices have been rising in the Jacksonville area. NEFAR reported the median sales price of homes in the area
HOME SALE TRENDS
The Northeast Florida home sale market in the first quarter of 2019 compared with 2018: New listings 10,552
4.8%
Closed sales 6,230
0.4%
Median sales price
$220,000 2.3%
Percent of 95.1% 0.4% original list price received Inventory 9,162 of homes for sale in March
Jacksonville home renters are paying more but getting less space for it, according to two studies by apartment search website HotPads. HotPads said the median rent in Jacksonville was 4.8% higher in the first quarter this year than the first quarter of 2018, up from rent growth of 3.3% in the fourth quarter. Another HotPads survey found that Jacksonville residents paying the median rent of $1,405 a month could get an apartment with 1,380 square feet. The same rent would have paid for a 1,615-squarefoot unit five years ago. Jacksonville is following national trends. The median rent nationally pays for a home that is 15% smaller than the same rent would have bought five years ago, the study said. “Cities across the country have seen incredible rent growth in the past five years while new construction has gotten smaller, leading renters to look for units with less and less space to stay
within their budgets,” HotPads economist Joshua Clark said in a news release. At least Jacksonville renters get more bang for their buck than residents of other big cities. A study last week by Rentcafe found a Jacksonville household spending 30% of household income could afford an 838-square-foot apartment, based on median monthly income. By comparison, a household looking to spend 30% of income on rent could only afford a space of less than 300 square feet in Manhattan, Brooklyn and Boston, it said. Another survey by rental search site Apartment List also found units more affordable in Jacksonville than other cities. Apartment List determined that Jacksonville residents would have to earn $21 an hour to afford a median-priced onebedroom apartment. That was less than Jacksonville’s median income, and also less than renters in 54 of the 100 largest U.S. cities need to make to afford that apartment. MBASCH@JAXDAILYRECORD.COM
3.7%
Source: Northeast Florida Association of Realtors
grew by 2.3% in the first quarter this year to $220,000, with the price reaching $229,900 in March. But the supply of housing inventory for sale is low, at 3.6 months. Normally, the Jacksonville market would be considered balanced when there is a five- to six-month supply, Green said. “The low inventory has been an ongoing key factor in the market for the past couple of years,” she said. Analysts are expecting homebuying demand to strengthen in the months ahead, with expectations of mortgage rates falling. The lower rates contributed to a 7% rise in loan applications in March for new home purchases, the Mortgage Bankers Association reported. “The confluence of declining mortgage rates with the spring buying season is supporting stronger housing demand and activity. Additionally, the drop in average loan size suggests that builders are tilting production to lower-priced homes, which continues to see the tightest inventories and strongest home-price growth,” MBA Chief Economist Mike Fratantoni said in a new release. “With a strong job market, rising wages and lower mortgage rates, housing demand remains strong,” he said. MBASCH@JAXDAILYRECORD.COM
The natural disaster factor: Where the metro area ranks BY MARK BASCH CONTRIBUTING WRITER
When buying a home, you’ll have a number of costs to consider, including the mortgage payment, utilities and upkeep. But online real estate brokerage company Redfin released a study last week that brings another factor into the equation: the potential cost of a natural disaster. Redfin came up with a “Natural Disaster Hazard Score” for the 50 largest U.S. metropolitan areas and Jacksonville ranked basically in the middle, as the 27th safest city. The company ranked each city for five types of natural disasters: earthquakes, fires, floods, tornadoes and hurricanes. Using data from the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Redfin came up with a score from 1 to 100 in each category, with 100 being the most dangerous. New Orleans was deemed the most dangerous city for hurricanes, so its hurricane score was 100. Los Angeles has the highest risk for both earthquakes and fires, so it received a score of 100 in both of those categories. Jacksonville, as one might expect, scored zero for earthquakes. The biggest risk is for hurricanes, according to Redfin, where it received a score of 74.
Jacksonville’s score was 45 for fires and 26 for tornadoes. The city scored only a 5 for flooding, which is surprising considering the river flooding that occurred in the wake of Hurricane Irma in 2017. Although Los Angeles scored the worst in two categories, it was ranked only the second-riskiest city by Redfin behind Washington, D.C. The nation’s capital was deemed at risk in all five categories with the biggest risk for hurricanes, with a score of 82. The safest city for national disasters is Providence, Rhode Island, according to Redfin. It scored Providence at zero for four of the five categories, with only a score of 44 for hurricanes. The risks are important factors to consider when pricing a home purchase, said Redfin chief economist Daryl Fairweather in a news release. “There could be hidden costs associated with natural disasters,” he said, which can include insurance and the cost of evacuating your family in an emergency. “Some homes in more hazardous areas might seem more affordable if you are just looking at the sticker price, but they may end up costing more when risks related to natural disasters are factored in.” MBASCH@JAXDAILYRECORD.COM
Bugs hungry for your home: A look at the risk of termites is hiring a Sales Manager to: Review and manage sales for full range of our products/services and identify ways of increasing our market share. Review current sales and develop sales strategies. Develop and implement new sales initiatives, strategies and programs to increase sales. Compare competitors’ products, sales policies and practices to ensure our market competitiveness. Review sales data pertaining to existing customers to identify their specific needs and preferences, current and potential sales volume. Negotiate sales contracts, terms and payment, and manage process of tracking deliveries and payments. Prepare sales reports. Education Required: Bachelor’s degree in Sales, Marketing, Business or International Business. Experience Required: 24 months in job offered or as Sales Manager, Area (Sales) Manager, or closely related sales management position. ALTERNATE Education and Experience Required: Associate’s Degree in Sales, Marketing, Business, or International Business plus 24 months in job offered or as Sales Manager, Area (Sales) Manager, or closely related sales management position. Job Location: 2703 Phillips Highway, Jacksonville, FL 32207 Mail resume to Granite Depot of North Florida, attention Mr. Neto, CEO to the address provided above.
BY MARK BASCH CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Termites can cause much angst for homeowners, and two national pest control companies recently offered differing views on how much Jacksonville area homeowners should worry. Terminix ranked Jacksonville 15th in its list of the 50 most termite-infested metropolitan areas in the U.S., while Orkin ranked Jacksonville much lower, at 38th. Terminix ranked cities based on termite treatments per household in 2018. Orkin’s list is based on both residential and commercial treatments from February 2018 through January 2019. The companies said favorable weather brings more termites, with coastal and southern cities most at risk.
Mobile, Alabama, topped Terminix’s list while Miami ranked first on Orkin’s list. “With warm spring weather just around the corner, those living in areas that experience damp and humid conditions are more susceptible to the impact of termites and should be mindful of early infestation warning signs,” Terminix Residential President Matthew Stevenson said in a news release. “Most species of subterranean termites swarm in the spring and summer, a time frame when homeowners are more likely to notice signs of an infestation,” Orkin said in a news release. “Drywood termites typically swarm during the late summer or fall months, from August through November,” it said. MBASCH@ JAXDAILYRECORD.COM
Jacksonville Daily Record/Jacksonville Record & Observer
Thursday, April 18, 2019 • Page 11
Why SMC?
“
My most valuable resource I have met through SMC has been other loan officers ironically! Who would have thought? It’s great to be friends and learn from your competition! – Aaron Bacus, Breakfast Chairman 2019
2019 Calendar of Events April 18 • THURSDAY
Model Meet-Up
9:00-10:00am | Arthur Rutenberg Model, Eventide at Ponte Vedra
May 10 • FRIDAY
May SMC Breakfast Friday, May 10th
8:00-9:30am | UNF/University Center Guest Speaker: Noel Blaha, Asst. GM, Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
Sponsored by:
SMC Breakfast
8:00-9:30am | UNF/University Center Guest Speaker: Noel Blaha, Asst. GM, Jacksonville Jumbo Shrimp
May 14 • TUESDAY
SMC Education
11:30am-1:00pm | NEFBA Roofing Insurance & Wind Mitigation
Noel joined the Jumbo Shrimp after working 10 seasons with the Charleston (S.C.) RiverDogs as director of marketing, promotions director, box office manager and media relations assistant. With the RiverDogs, Noel helped oversee the 2012 South Atlantic League Home Run Derby from the flight deck of the USS Yorktown – a promotion that won two Minor League Baseball Golden Sponsored by: Bobbleheads. Noel also helped the RiverDogs win the 2013 Larry MacPhail Award for Minor League Baseball’s top promotional effort.
May 16 • THURSDAY
Model Meet-Up 9:00-10:00am | MasterCraft Model, Trailmark
#ICYMI (In Case You Missed It) March Breakfast, featuring Toby Hoff, Regional Director at Metrostudy
June 6 • THURSDAY
SMC Social
BEST IN THE
Details TBD
NATION
June 7 • FRIDAY
SMC Breakfast
8:00-9:30am | UNF/University Center Guest Speaker: Jerry Holland, Property Appraiser
SMC Board Members Celebrate Ranking #1 SMC in The Nation SMC Education Chair, CC Underwood leads “Spring into Summer with New Construction”
June 12 • WEDNESDAY
SAM Tram
eTown Community
June 20 • THURSDAY
Model Meet-Up Details TBD
Please prepay for all events on our website nefba.com
Toll Brothers at The Settlement at Twenty Mile Hosts Realtors and Site Agents for SMC Model Meet Up
The Nationals, National Association of Home Builders (NAHB)’s largest and most prestigious awards competition has recognized US, NEFBA’s very own Sales & Marketing Council as the Best SMC in the Nation and awarded with the Gold SAM award. Established in 1982, The Nationals celebrates North America’s best in new-home sales and marketing, and recognizes outstanding achievements within the industry.
Contact Michelle Glass at mglass@nefba.com for Information on involvement and sponsorship opportunities!
MISSION
To enlighten, motivate and educate NEFBA members through dynamic programs and networking opportunities so more new homes are sold.
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Page 12 • Thursday, April 18, 2019
Jacksonville Daily Record/Jacksonville Record & Observer
THE MEDENDHAL REPORT
JAX Chamber says it’s working on 30 projects
MIKE MENDENHALL STAFF WRITER
“I’m trying to work hard to bring lots of people to buy lots of houses,” JAX Chamber President Daniel Davis tells NEFBA. JAX Chamber President and CEO Daniel Davis said he sees a shift coming in the center of entertainment Downtown to the Shipyards, including Bay Street. The catalyst: The Jacksonville Jaguars’ commitment to developing parking Lot J at TIAA Bank Field and the surrounding areas, including the Shipyards. “You’re going to see a lot of development take place in the Shipyards. There is no looking back,” Davis said. “The Jags are full steam ahead working on final details with the city, and that should be coming soon as well,” he said. Jaguars owner Shad Khan and President Mark Lamping are expected to announce development plan updates today at the State of the Franchise.
Davis made his comments during a speech Friday to about 90 members of the Northeast Florida Builders Association Sales & Marketing Council. His remarks focused on key factors that JAX Chamber is pushing to attract, grow and retain top talent in Jacksonville’s workforce. Davis referenced the desire of franchise leaders to build an entertainment area near Daily’s Place Amphitheater at TIAA Bank Field. Mark Lamping reiterated Khan’s commitment to build a mixed-use development at parking Lot J during an April 11 speech to University of Missouri alumni, despite city utility JEA declining the site for its new headquarters. “That’s going to be the new place that when visitors come to town, we would say this is where you need to go,” Davis told the NEFBA audience. “Right now, it’s a little difficult because there’s no one place that you can send them, and I think those will probably create that opportunity.” Davis teased 30 unannounced projects the chamber has in development, which he called “very, very strong” and some that are “imminent.” “I’m trying to work hard to bring lots of people to buy lots of houses,” said Davis, who was executive director of NEFBA before he took the chamber’s top job in 2013. Davis said projects span many industries, specifically mentioning financial services
as residents. “Highly trained — know how to show up on time — folks that we can make part of our workforce,” Davis said. “But we also have to grow high talent in all sorts of industry.” In his remarks to NEFBA, Davis directly linked workforce to creating residential options Downtown. Davis estimates there are about 4,600 people living Downtown, and workforce housing projects are leasing out within 30 days of opening their doors. Davis said the redeveloped Barnett National Bank Building, which will add about 100 apartments Downtown, drew about 800 applications. Steve Atkins with SouthEast Development Group is the Barnett developer. Davis said developers like Atkins are experiencing demand in Downtown housing from a range of demographics, from millennials to empty nesters looking for walkability as part of their lifestyle. “The young talent coming out of universities today want to live in an urban environment, they most likely don’t want to drive a car, they want to be able to live, work and play within walking distance,” Davis said. “Actually, residential in Downtown is super hot and there is no vacancy.”
Photo by Mike Mendenhall
JAX Chamber President and CEO Daniel Davis told the Northeast Florida Builders Association Sales & Marketing Council that the top question from economic development prospects is whether Jacksonville can fill the jobs. He says it can.
and health care. “Some of them are game changers for Jacksonville,” he said. “You’re going to see activity in Downtown over the next couple months, in my opinion, and I think you’ll see some groundbreakings coming up soon,” Davis said. “I cannot wait to see the transformation over the next five years in Downtown.” The JAX Chamber CEO praised Jacksonville’s existing workforce and characterized it as strong, but Davis said the “battleground” for economic development over the next five years will be attracting talent and growing the talent pool “organically.” The chamber anticipates Jacksonville having the jobs to fill. In an interview after the breakfast at the University of Northern Florida Adam W. Herbert University Center, Davis said the
chamber estimates Jacksonville is on track in 2019 to keep or exceed the pace of 2,500 to 3,000 new jobs generated annually in recent years. “Everywhere I go, that’s what people are talking about. Every time I talk to a potential company that’s looking to come to Jacksonville what do you think is the first question they have?” Davis said. “The first question is, ‘Do you have the workforce that can fill my 500 jobs I’m going to bring?’ And we absolutely do.” A big plus for local workforce, Davis said, is the military personnel stationed in Northeast Florida who want to continue to call Jacksonville home after their service ends. Davis said about 3,000 of the 100,000 Jacksonville-area military men and women complete their service annually, and the city retains about 80%
MMENDENHALL@ JAXDAILYRECORD.COM @MIMENDENHALL (904) 356-2466
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Jacksonville Daily Record/Jacksonville Record & Observer
Thursday, April 18, 2019 • Page 13
BY SCOTT SAILER • EDITORIAL RESEARCH DIRECTOR
Here are the top 10 single-family residential real estate sales in Northeast Florida, comprising Baker, Clay, Duval and St. Johns counties. The sales were recorded April 8-12
$7,700,000 835 Ponte Vedra Blvd., Ponte Vedra Beach, St. Johns County Type: Single-family Lot Size: 1.33 acres House size: 6,137 square feet Buyer: Clay B. Tousey Jr. as Trustee of the Amalfi Land Trust Seller: John J. and Julie K. Schickel Previous sale: $4,000,000 in 2014
About the property: This oceanfront home, built in 1962, was the top seller in the area last week. It features four bedrooms, 5½ baths, 9,475 gross square feet and a pool and hot tub. The concrete and stucco home features a concrete tile roof and wood and ceramic tile floors. It sits on 200 feet of beachfront property with a dune walkover,
$1,200,000
5032 Ortega Forest Drive, Jacksonville, Duval County
205 Sophia Terrace, St. Augustine, St. Johns County
Type: Single-family Lot Size: 0.83 acres House size: 5,180 square feet Buyer: Ellen S. and Steven C. Begley Seller: Lori A. and Moss S. Wells
Type: Single-family Lot size: 0.91 acres House size: 4,746 square feet Buyer: Scott Carruthers as trustee of the D&K Family Trust Seller: Gregory and Karen Bennett
$1,375,000
$1,100,000
3061 S. Ponte Vedra Blvd., Ponte Vedra Beach, St. Johns County
132 Strong Branch Drive, Ponte Vedra Beach, St. Johns County
Type: Single-family Lot Size: 0.4 acres House size: 3,031 square feet Buyer: Terry L. and Sharon K. Fowler Seller: William A. and Judy Wren Previous sale: $1,450,000 in 2005
Type: Single-family Lot size: 0.58 acres House size: 3,738 square feet Buyer: J. David and Paula D. Nardon Seller: Stephen F. and Cynthia K. Mona Previous sale: $900,000 in 2008
$1,065,000
$1,265,000
$1,750,000
$1,600,000
$1,450,000
5395 Commissioners Drive, Jacksonville, Duval County
25 Dolphin Drive, St. Augustine, St. Johns County
641 Ponte Vedra Blvd., No. 641A, Ponte Vedra Beach, St. Johns County
14346 Cottage Lake Road Jacksonville, Duval County
Type: Single-family Lot Size: 0.98 acres House size: 4,635 square feet Buyer: Jaroslaw T. and Malgorzata A. Dabek Seller: Billy J. Walker and Trustee of the Billy J. Walker Living Trust
Type: Single-family Lot Size: 0.18 acres Size: 3,136 square feet Buyer: Kenton A. Morrison Sr. Seller: Elizabeth C. and John D. Puckett
Type: Condominium House size: 2,228 square feet Buyer: Linda B. Stein Seller: Jeffrey L. Parker Previous sale: $500,000 in 2001
Type: Single-family Lot Size: 0.4 acres House size: 3,960 square feet Buyer: Ibraham Fahdi and Nadine Hatem Seller: Joe and Mary P. Pientka
4952 Prince Edward Road, Jacksonville, Duval County Type: Single-family Lot size: 1 acre House size: 4,142 square feet Buyer: Sarah Crass Seller: Tricia N. Brady and Christopher P. Stephens Previous sale: $1,070,000 in 2013
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Page 14 • Thursday, April 18, 2019
Jacksonville Daily Record/Jacksonville Record & Observer
THE MARBUT REPORT
Jacksonville’s ‘Leaders in the Law’ MAX MARBUT ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Four to be recognized by the Florida Association for Women Lawyers. Four members of the Jacksonville Women Lawyers Association will be recognized by the Florida Association for Women Lawyers as members of the statewide organization’s 2019 class of “Leaders in the Law.” The recognition is intended to promote women who have not necessarily reached the peak of their careers, but who have made contributions to their community through their legal service or volunteer activities and serve as positive role models for FAWL members. Kelly Karstaedt is a founding shareholder at Karstaedt & Stanko, chair of the Jacksonville Bar Association Bar Bulletin Committee and executive director of the Jacksonville Justice Association and the American Board of Trial Advocates Jacksonville chapter. Kelli Lueckert, a partner with AndersonGlenn, is secretary of JWLA, chair of the Jacksonville Bar Association Law Week Committee and a member of The Florida Bar Prepaid
Photo by Max Marbut
From left, Jacksonville Women Lawyers Association members Kelli Lueckert, Kelly Karstaedt, Ingrid Suarez Osborn and Francine Palmeri are selected by the Florida Association for Women Lawyers as 2019 Leaders in the Law. Osborn was nominated for the award by the St. Johns Association for Women Lawyers.
Legal Services Committee. Ingrid Suarez Osborn is an attorney with the U.S. Department of Housing and Urban Development, JWLA board member and director of programs, secretary of the St. Johns Association for Women Lawyers and editor of the FAWL Journal. Francine Palmeri is corporate counsel and compliance officer at
Workplace Solutions Inc. and FAWL Jacksonville Chapter representative. In addition, JWLA has been selected for the annual large chapter Membership Recruitment Award. The awards will be presented June 26 at FAWL’s annual Awards & Installation Celebration in conjunction with The Florida Bar Annual Conference in Boca Raton.
Annual Pajcic & Pajcic yard golf is April 27 With The Players Championship in the books for 2019, attention now can turn to Jacksonville’s other links classic, “The Yard Course & Back 9 on Montgomery & Richmond.” The annual yard golf event and riverfront lawn party is sponsored by the
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Jacksonville Daily Record/Jacksonville Record & Observer
Thursday, April 18, 2019 • Page 15
Pajcic & Pajcic law firm. From 3-8 p.m. April 27, participants will tee off either at Steve and Anne Pajcic’s home at 1917 Montgomery Place or at Michael Pajcic and Katie DeBriere’s home at 3900 Richmond St. Attorneys may enter for $50, everyone else for $25, including food and drinks. Children are free. The event is again offering a $6,000 prize for a hole-in-one hit from the elevated green on No. 6. All registrations, sponsorships, hole-in-one prizes and donations are matched by Pajcic & Pajcic and benefit Jacksonville Area Legal Aid. More than $150,000 was raised last year and there have been four aces on No. 6 in the past three years.
Area attorneys are “Dancing with the Stars” The Jacksonville Children’s Chorus programs and scholarships will be the beneficiary of money raised at Jacksonville’s “Dancing with the Stars” and members of the local legal community will be among those competing. Giselle Carson, a shareholder with Marks Gray, will compete with her professional dance partner, Larry Audije. Managing partner of The Freed Firm, Crystal Freed, will dance with Muhidin Divovic. Attorney Jeanne Miller, president and CEO of the Jacksonville Civic Council, was scheduled to compete, but had to withdraw after she was injured in an automobile accident. Her daughter, Sarah Marie Miller, a student at Bishop Kenny High School who will be attending Berry College in the fall, will dance with professional partner Samuel Penalba. Votes cast by the audience will determine which team will receive the mirror ball trophy that has been presented by A Social Affair dance studio each year since 2005 to Jacksonville’s favorite dance team. The competition begins at 8 p.m. April 27 at the Lazzara Performance Hall at the University of North Florida Fine Arts Center. General admission tickets and VIP packages are available. Visit jaxdwts. com for reservations.
Davis Law Firm moving to East Adams Street The Davis Law firm is moving out of shared workspace at 50 N. Laura St. and into a building purchased for $517,000 by founder Todd Davis. He said he plans to invest about $200,000 to renovate and upgrade the two-story, 5,865-square-foot building constructed in 1966 at 231 E. Adams St. “We’ll have all new plumbing, HVAC, walls, floors and roof,” he said. Davis and four associate attorneys will work in offices on the top floor while the ground floor is turned into a mediation center with several large and small meeting rooms and teleconference technology, he said. Then the firm will move into the renovated space while the second floor is upgraded. The firm practices business and civil litigation representing plaintiffs in consumer protection and insurance coverage issues. Davis said he decided to remain
Special to the Daily Record
Attorney Giselle Carson and her professional dance partner, Larry Audije, are rehearsing at A Social Affair dance studio for “Dancing with the Stars” to benefit the Jacksonville Children’s Chorus.
Downtown not just for proximity to the Duval County Courthouse, but also because of the projects anticipated along the Northbank at the Shipyards, the former Berkman II and the old City Hall and courthouse sites. “With everything that’s being planned here, I’m happy to be a small part of the development. It’s good to get in when we did,” he said.
Applicants sought for Duval County bench The 4th Circuit Judicial Nominating Commission has been asked by Gov. Ron DeSantis to provide qualified nominees to fill the vacancy on the Duval County Court created by the appointment of Judge Meredith Charbula to the circuit court. Applications may be downloaded at floridabar.org by clicking on the Members section on the homepage and then Appointments/Applications, JNC Applications & Judicial Vacancies. Completed applications must be submitted via email no later than 5 p.m. April 29 to pkilbane@ullmannbrown. com. The commission will schedule interviews May 8 in the chief judge’s chambers at the Duval County Courthouse. Proceedings of the commission are open to the public except deliberations after the interviews.
ASA Alex Block promoted to Juvenile Division Assistant State Attorney Alex Block was promoted from the County Court Division to the Juvenile Division. Block is a Jacksonville native who Block received a bachelor’s in finance and J.D. from Florida State University. She is a former certified legal intern with the 4th Circuit State Attorney’s Office. MMARBUT@ JAXDAILYRECORD.COM (904) 356-2466
Photo by Max Marbut
The Davis Law Firm will move into this building at 231 E. Adams St.
IN THE LAW
Page 16 • Thursday, April 18, 2019
Jacksonville Daily Record/Jacksonville Record & Observer
CHELSEA HARRIS
CHELSEA HARRIS Trial attorney at Coker Law
BY MAX MARBUT • ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Age: 37
Chelsea Harris is a trial attorney at Coker Law and vice chair of the Jacksonville Bar Association Law Week Committee.
Education: University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill, psychology major, Spanish minor; Florida Coastal School of Law, J.D.
What inspired you to become a lawyer? When I was in fifth grade, we had a class project wherein all the students in the class acted out a book we read. I was assigned to act out the part of one of the attorneys in the book. Ever since that project, I wanted to be an attorney. While growing up, our family friends that lived across the street were attorneys. They allowed me to intern in their law office during high school and I continued to intern with another family friend during summers in college.
Hometown: Pinehurst, North Carolina Family: Husband, Joel Harris (also an attorney at Coker Law) and three children – Elle, Kiely and CJ, and our golden retriever, Sunny
Someone who inspires me: My “tribe” of girlfriends inspire me every day. These ladies have excelled in their careers, love and support their families and love and support my family and me. How do you relate your undergraduate degree to your practice of law? I majored in psychology in undergrad. I think that assists when working with clients – how to discuss issues in their case (both positive and negative) and how to present information to different clients. It also helps during trial in the attempts that we make to “read” a jury and when selecting people for our juries, as well as deciding the best way to present information to a jury. How did you decide your practice area? And why have you chosen that? I was a classically trained ballerina growing up and my parents analogize my chosen career to my love for being on stage. I started my practice at the State Attorney’s Office for the 4th Circuit. I loved being in front of a jury and presenting my cases on behalf of the state. I
Favorite book: “Nobody’s Cuter Than You: A Memoir” by Melanie Shankle
Special to the Daily Record
decided to make the switch to civil law and I recently switched from civil defense work to working at Coker Law, doing plaintiff work. What community service have you pursued and why that? I am the vice chair of the Jacksonville Bar Association Law Week Committee. I think that Law Week is a great opportunity to become more involved in the JBA, as well as in the community. There are several events that the committee assists in
What’s your advice for new lawyers? Find a mentor, someone you can learn from that you trust. The practice of law is constantly changing. I have always been of the mindset that we are constantly learning as we are practicing and that we can always learn something new from the attorneys practicing around us.
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