Daily Record Financial News &
Thursday, March 2, 2017
Vol. 104, No. 078 • One Section
35¢ www.jaxdailyrecord.com
City wants to end civil rights suit Would pay $425,000 settlement, $25,000 fine over denying Springfield veterans center
By Max Marbut Staff Writer A settlement of $425,000, a fine of $25,000, a $1.5 million development grant and amending the municipal zoning code. Plus a new policy to make sure it doesn’t happen again. That’s what the city wants to do to make a lawsuit filed in federal court alleging housing discrimination go away. It started with the nonprofit
Ability Housing Inc.’s proposal to renovate a 12-unit apartment building in Springfield to create housing for chronically homeless and disabled people. Ability Housing later said it was for disabled and homeless veterans. When Ability Housing began in March 2014 the permitting process for the project to be funded with a state grant, the city found the project was a new “special use” that was prohibited by the
Springfield historic district zoning overlay. Ability Housing sued the city in November 2015, alleging it violated the Federal Fair Housing Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act for blocking the project that was intended to support people with disabilities. The suit was joined by Disability Rights Florida and the U.S. Department of Justice. After Ability Housing filed the complaint, the city ruled the orga-
nization ineligible to compete for Jacksonville Journey grant funding because of the pending litigation. Three ordinances related to the lawsuit are being considered by City Council to: • Amend the Springfield overlay and city zoning regulations to ensure compliance with federal law • Appropriate $425,000 for a settlement with Ability Housing and Disability Rights Florida to
CSX not likely to need BofA building
cover the organizations’ out-ofpocket legal expenses and a portion of their attorney’s fees • Appropriate $25,000 for payment of a federal civil penalty The city also would be required to designate a fair housing compliance officer to oversee its compliance with federal housing regulations and provide ongoing fair housing and ADA training for city officers, elected and appointed officials and employees with Ability continued on Page 2
In light of CSX Corp.’s intention to cut 1,000 management jobs, it appears the Jacksonville-based company won’t need to lease space in the Bank of America Tower Downtown after all. CSX spokesman Gary Sease did not directly address the question of how the cuts would impact interest in that building, but it seems doubtful a deal would go forward. “Last week’s difficult decision to reduce our management workforce by approximately 1,000 positions has resulted in the need to reassess our Jacksonville headquarters office space needs,” Sease said by email. Most of those jobs will be in Jacksonville and will be cut by late this month. CSX’s management ranks comprise 2,500 people in Jacksonville and 4,500 managers systemwide. Through Jan. 6, CSX confirmed in letters to the city that it wanted to cut costs and move 550 jobs from leased space in Southpoint into the Bank of America Tower. CSX’s world changed Jan. 18 when news broke that Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd. CEO Hunter Harrison was leaving CSX
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Photo courtesy of Jacksonville University
By Karen Brune Mathis Managing Editor
Record gift helps establishes JU’s Keigwin School of Nursing Jacksonville University’s nursing school bears the names of two longtime supporters, thanks to the largest donation in JU’s history. The newly established Keigwin School of Nursing was named in honor of Beverly and Jack Keigwin, pictured with JU President Tim Cost. The couple donated $3 million to the facility in what Jack Keigwin said was one of the most meaningful gifts he and his wife have given. He is a trustee and executive-in-residence at JU. Beverly Keigwin is a former nurse who serves on the external advisory board of JU’s Brooks Rehabilitation College of Healthcare Sciences.
TriBridge building $49M apartments
Bank of American tower
Public
TriBridge Residential started work at the end of February on a $49 million apartment community at Town Center Promenade, opposite St. Johns Town Center. Through TBR Town Center Property Owner LLC, TriBridge paid $6.8 million for about 9.06 acres at 4450 Tropea Way for construction of a 287-unit apartment community. It is expected to be completed in 24 months, said Katherine Mosley, TriBridge Residential vice president of development. TriBridge is partnering with Sefira Capital for the project. Sefira Capital partner Mijael Attias said by email the “tremendous migration and
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job creation” in the area in recent years along with trends for housing needs drove the decision to step into the market. “The site is located in absolutely prime real estate. Within a few steps, there’s access to the most exciting retail and entertainment in Jacksonville,” he said.
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Attias also said the site is near 8 million square feet of office space, the University of North Florida and major roads and interstates. He said those factors make the location a work-live-play environment. Mosley said the community, which has not been named, will include a resort-style pool including a lounge and lap pool with a rain curtain; a fitness center; a dog park with dog wash stations; and an outdoor party porch. Rents will average $1,450 a month. The city issued a permit for site-clearing March 1 at a job cost of $100,000. Mathis continued on Page 3
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