WEDNESDAY May 22, 2019
Public legal notices begin on page 3A
jaxdailyrecord.com • 35 cents
Daily Record JACKSONVILLE
THE DISTRICT
THE MATHIS REPORT
Daily Record
Development’s CDD approves public infrastructure funding
JACKSONVILLE
The $600 million Downtown Southbank development selects Haskell to oversee infrastructure construction.
Daily Record Daily Record JACKSONVILLE
Residents speak out against Trails
BY MIKE MENDENHALL STAFF WRITER
Developers of The District, the $600 million mixed-use development on the Downtown Jacksonville Southbank, now have the money to begin work on public infrastructure at the site. The five-member board for the project’s Community Development District voted Monday to approve a special debt assessment of $44.5 million on the development’s property owners. The action allows the board to bond for $31.3 million to begin the infrastructure work. Owned by developers Peter Rummell and Michael Munz through Elements of Development Jacksonville LLC, the 32-acre mixed-use development is planned for completion in 2022. The Downtown Investment Authority approved the development deal in April 2018 that includes the creation of the CDD as well as a Recaptured Enhanced Value grant of up to $56 million. As part of the deal, Elements and the CDD will split the cost of public infrastructure improvements in The District, including roadways, parking facilities, utilities, environmental improvements, landscaping, signs and lighting. The city’s portion of the infrastructure improvements is a separate $23 million project that will be taken on by the same general contractor. The infrastructure debt taken on by the CDD can be repaid through either property taxes in The District or through a direct fee paid by current and future property owners. That method has yet to be determined. When complete, The District will comprise 1,170 residential units, both for sale and lease; 200,000 square feet of office space; more than 200,000 square feet designated for retail; a hotel; riverfront bars and restaurants; a 125-slip marina; and a 3.5-acre riverfront park with an extension of the Southbank Riverwalk. Much of the Southbank property
KAREN BRUNE MATHIS EDITOR
JACKSONVILLE
the construction of a 220-space parking lot at the adjacent Duval County School Board Building. Phase 1B, Schilling said, will bring improvements to Prudential Drive which is the main point of access to the development. According to a land swap agreement with Duval Schools to obtain an existing parking lot, The District planners are required to building a new lot before commencing on the wider development. Construction on the parking lot is scheduled to begin no later than July 30 and will take up to 90 days. Meanwhile, Schilling told board mem-
Rural Southwest Jacksonville residents concerned about the proposed Trails development that could bring 5,000 homes to the area told city staff Monday why they opposed the project. “Why did I decide on this land? It’s in the country,” said property owner Cheryl Gildner, the first of several speakers at the Citizen Informational Meeting at the Ed Ball Building Downtown. Gildner said she looked at several locations before buying in Jacksonville. Property records show she bought about 10 acres in September on Diamond Ranch Lane. No votes were taken at the informational meeting, where Jacksonville Planning and Development Department staff listened to neighbors before writing a staff report. The report is due May 31. “We are not ready for this at all,” said Forest Trail Road resident Jess Knauf, referring to how the development could affect flooding and wildlife. “You’re all fixing to destroy a beautiful area of Westside,” said Douglas Wilson, a resident along Normandy Boulevard. A Facebook page for Citizens
SEE THE DISTRICT, PAGE 2
SEE MATHIS, PAGE 2
Photo by Mike Mendenhall
Project Engineer William Schilling Jr. of Kimley-Horn shows plans for a new parking lot adjacent to the Duval School Board Building at The District’s Community Development District meeting Monday.
obtained for The District is on the former site of JEA’s Southside Generating Station. Dallas-based Preston Hollow Capital LLC purchased the site last year on behalf of Elements. Elements is paying for the property through a $20 million mortgage with Preston Hollow. Also Monday, the board hired Jacksonville-based Haskell to oversee infrastructure construction. The CDD and Haskell will now begin contract negotiations before work begins in July. Project engineer William Schilling Jr. of Kimley-Horn said permits for construction of Phase I of the project have been submitted to the city. Phase 1A will be
The development is proposed for rural Southwest Jacksonville.
Wanamaker selected Clay County manager The Clay County Board of Commissioners chose Hanania Automotive Group executive Howard Wanamaker, right, as the next Clay County manager. The board voted 3-2 to choose Wanamaker. It will begin contract negotiations with him. “This is a critical time in the county’s future and the board believes Mr. Wanamaker is the person that can guide us as our community experiences the rapid commercial and residential growth we are expecting,” Clay County Board of Supervisors chair Mike Cella said. Wanamaker served 26 years in the U.S. Navy and was commanding officer at Naval Air Station Jacksonville from 2013-16.
VOLUME 106, NO. 132 • NINE SECTIONS