THURSDAY October 4, 2018
For Jacksonville millennials, student loans aren’t their biggest debt PAGE 4
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Daily Record JACKSONVILLE
SAVINGRecord Daily The tile entrance to the building is being restored.
Falling apart and nearly knocked down to make way for a parking lot, the historic Downtown structure is being restored for luxury apartments.
JACKSONVILLE
City looks to stem internet cafe boom
ELENA FLATS Daily Record JACKSONVILLE
Council member plans to introduce legislation in an attempt to keep more from opening. BY DAVID CAWTON STAFF WRITER
Of the hundreds of internet cafes that have opened in strip malls across Jacksonville, only 90 have obtained a certificate of use, according to the city of Jacksonville. The Planning and Development Department is working with City Council to find a solution to their growth. Council member Al Ferraro intends to introduce legislation this month that would place a six-month moratorium on issuing certificates of use for anyone trying to open an Ferraro internet cafe. “We may not be able to shut them down, but we can stop more from opening up until we have a handle on it,” he said. Ferraro, who represents District 2 in East Jacksonville, said he’s tired of seeing internet cafes opening “on every corner.” “We’re not trying to hurt the legitimate businesses,” he said. “Just the ones which are running away and taking advantage of the system.” Ferraro and other council members said the internet cafes are operating as adult arcades, which are illegal in Florida. Internet cafes, which allow people to purchase time to access
Daily Record JACKSONVILLE
Photos by Karen Brune Mathis
Elena Flats at 122 E. Duval St. opened about 1909 and over the years served as apartments and a rooming house before falling into disrepair and facing demolition. It is being renovated by investors Jack Meeks and JoAnn Tredennick.
BY KAREN BRUNE MATHIS EDITOR
I
t’s been inhabited by college students, a future deputy sheriff and businessmen as well as by rooming-house tenants paying $125 a week. They all played a part in the life of Elena Flats, which opened about 1909 with four apartments after the Great Fire of 1901 destroyed much of Downtown. In its 109 years, uses ranged from a boarding house to a 25-unit rooming house to nothing but a vacant, deteriorating building. It came close to demolition for use as a parking lot, but now it’s being restored at a projected cost of $2.8 million to offer four luxury apartments to be rented for
about $2,500 a month. Investors Jack Meeks and JoAnn Tredennick bought the almost 7,000-square-foot building at 122 E. Duval St. in 2015 and hope to complete renovations and restoration of the historic structure next year. “They built after the fire for the professional class,” Tredennick said. “This was pretty high-end.” Architects Melody and Bill Bishop are working with Meeks and Tredennick on the project. Bill Bishop, a former City Council member, said the building was “one vote away from the wrecking ball” when Meeks and Tredennick stepped in. SEE ELENA FLATS, PAGE 8
From left, architect Bill Bishop, building owner JoAnn Tredennick and architect Melody Bishop are working on the project to restore the Elena Flats.
SEE CAFES, PAGE 8
LAW & THE COURTS NEWS INSIDE n Lawyers face
punishment n Firm celebrates 40 years
The Bar Bulletin: Official publication of the JBA PAGE 14
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VOLUME 105, NO. 226 • TWO SECTIONS