Daily Record Financial News &
Friday, September 11, 2015
Vol. 102, No. 215 • One Section
35¢ www.jaxdailyrecord.com
More retail, housing at Town Center
Another development, called Town Center Exchange, is proposed near St. Johns Town Center that would generate more multifamily, commercial and hotel space. Town Center Exchange will yield about 35.7 acres for development across Town Center Parkway from the open-air shopping center. As proposed, the project will include up to 200,000 square feet of enclosed retail and commercial uses, up to 100,000 square feet of office space, up to 200 hotel rooms and up to 400 apartments and 40 townhouses.
The Town Center Exchange land, owned by members of the Skinner family, is up for rezoning by City Council. Ordinance 2015-584 asks council to rezone about 63.3 acres along Town Center Parkway, between Midtown Parkway and Brightman Boulevard, opposite the St. Johns Town Center. Of that, 27.6 acres is lake property, which means about 36 acres can be developed. Signs posted on the property identify Core Property Capital as the developer and The Shopping Center Group as the contact for a mixed-use development.
Core Property Capital, with offices in Atlanta and Naples, is a real estate investor, asset manager and developer. Representatives did not return two phone calls Thursday. Its website says Core Property Capital Fund has completed more than $1.3 billion in commercial real estate deals since 2009, totaling more than 3 million square
feet of retail space and about 3,000 multifamily units. The Shopping Center Group, based in Atlanta, is a retail real estate adviser that works with landlords, developers, investors, financial institutions and retailers. Tom Mundy with The Shopping Center Group is identified on the sign as the contact. He did not return a telephone call or email Friday morning. According to the ordinance, the property’s land use is proposed as 10.3 acres for multifamily; 15.45 acres for commercial; 2 acres for hotel rooms; and the rest
for recreation and open space, rights-of-way and the lake. HE Otter LLC and Charles Brightman Skinner Jr., as trustee of the Charles Brightman Skinner Jr. Trust, own the land. HE Otter LLC is led by Susan S. Thomas, a member of the Skinner family. “It seems to be consistent with what is already there,” said council member Scott Wilson, whose District 4 includes the property. However, he said he has not made a decision about the ordinance because he hasn’t reviewed all of the details. Wilson chairs the council Land Mathis continued on Page A-4
History coming to mayor’s office Petways provide lead gift for work
Patrons of last year’s Jaxtoberfest raise their glasses during the event at the Shipyards. This year, the two-day festival is moving to the St. Johns Town Center because of environmental issues and resulting testing on the Downtown property.
Photo by David Pearce
By Max Marbut Staff Writer
Jaxtoberfest leaving Downtown Shipyards not available to use this year
By David Chapman Staff Writer When it was created in 2013, one of the goals of Jaxtoberfest was to draw tourism to Jacksonville through a signature Downtown event. With German-inspired food and drink and events like bratwurst-eating contests and pumpkin bowling, the family-friendly event drew 25,000 its inaugural year. That was at the Shipyards, the same place the two-day festival was held a year later when it drew about 50,000. It was growing, further attaining that goal of helping spotlight Downtown, said Mike White, whose Client Focused Media helps put on the event. In its third year, however, there won’t be steins overflowing or wiener dog races along the St. Johns River next month. The venue will be the St. Johns Town Center. “We were told a couple of months ago
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we couldn’t use the Shipyards,” White said. The site has been undergoing environmental tests, with arsenic, lead and other contaminants found at the former shipbuilding site. Those environmental issues mean the city will not use the site as a programmable space for special events, according to Dave Herrell, the city’s sports and entertainment officer. “The public’s safety is always our top priority with the events we produce, manage and permit,” he said in an email. The site will still be open for parking for events like Sunday’s Jacksonville Jaguars game. Additionally, since the last Jaxtoberfest, there also has been movement about the future of the property. A development group created by Jaguars owner Shad Khan secured the right to negotiate developing the site, with the goal being a mas-
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sive mixed-use property. Those talks with the Downtown Investment Authority and the city are still ongoing. “The Shipyards is evolving,” said Randy Goodwin, founder of PRI Productions, which also puts on Jaxtoberfest. “We knew this wasn’t a permanent location for it.” Goodwin said the event “wasn’t birthed just to be there” and he and White knew at some point they’d have to find a new location. White said the decision on the Shipyards being unusable left them with about 60 days to find a new spot. Some in the community stepped up, but there were too many logistical hurdles to overcome. Almost immediately, Jaguars President Mark Lamping offered to let the festival come to EverBank Field. Goodwin’s production company has a long working relationship with the team. White said after those talks started, it Jaxtoberfest continued on Page A-3
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In addition to new furniture, floor and wall coverings and an upgrade to 21stcentury technology, when Mayor Lenny Curry’s new office is finished, there will be more to learn at City Hall about local history. The project, budgeted for at least $80,000, was originated by a lead gift to the Jacksonville Historical Society from Tom and Betty Petway, said society Executive Director Emily Lisska. The couple, who supported Curry during his mayoral campaign, specified that the gift be used only to enhance City Hall in general, the mayor’s office space in particular, and the society’s ability to share Jacksonville’s story. Once Curry was a candidate, Petway, members of his family and companies tied to them were substantial donors, Gabriel giving more than $340,000 to the campaign. City Chief General Counsel Jason Gabriel said the gift was fully reviewed and meets all protocols specified in the Ordinance Code. “The gift was accepted on behalf of the city. It was not a gift to the individual,” he said. The executive suite on the fourth floor is a popular stop when Lisska guides visitors on tours of the building. “The mayor’s office is the highlight of the City Hall tour for most people. It’s where so much of Jacksonville’s history has happened – and where much of Jacksonville’s future history will occur,” Lisska said. The society’s board of directors determined that the project met the guidelines
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consecutive weekdays