Jacksonville Record & Observer 6/20/19

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June 20-26, 2019

Mendenhall Report: JTA looking at development to boost ridership PAGE 5

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JACKSONVILLE

Record & Observer Plan makes available Florida Blue parking lot

Record FROM FARM&TOObserver TRACK JACKSONVILLE

Site next to the Fidelity campus on Riverside Avenue would become available for development.

Wayne Scarborough Jr. transformed part of his JACKSONVILLE family’s West Jacksonville ranch into a venue for professional motocross.

Record & Observer

BY MIKE MENDENHALL

BY SCOTT SAILER

STAFF WRITER

STAFF WRITER

W Record & Observer ayne Scarboro u g h Jr. wishes his dad, Wayne Sr., was alive to see what he has accomplished on his 600-acre family farm in West Jacksonville.

What Scarborough Sr. would see is what national television viewers will watch Saturday: Round 5 of the 2019 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship Florida National.

Scarborough Jr. , who prefers to be called Junior, opened the WW Motocross Park in 2013 on 145 acres at the WW Ranch in the Whitehouse area.

“It takes fans to build this,” Scarborough said an American Motorcy-

JACKSONVILLE

SEE TRACK, PAGE 12

Special to the Daily Record

Above: Wayne Scarborough Jr. shows off the type of motor bikes that will race at his family’s ranch Saturday at the Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship.

Photo by Scott Sailer

Left: Scarborough’s ranch doesn’t just have a motocross track, it also has animals, including cows, chickens, peacocks and a llama.

A deal that would make a surface parking lot, owned by Florida Blue/GuideWell in Riverside and adjacent to land owned by Fidelity National Information Services, available for development has initial approval.

Under a deal approved unanimously Wednesday by the Downtown Investment Authority, Florida Blue would no longer use the 4½-acre riverfront parking lot at 323 Riverside Ave., making it available for development.

Asked via email Wednesday about its plans to build on the Florida Blue site, FIS officials said acquisitions will cause the Fortune 500 company to expand in Jacksonville.

“With our upcoming acquisition of Worldpay (Inc.), we’ll soon be a $12 billion global company with a market cap in excess of $75 billion. As a result, we expect we will have continued growth in our Jacksonville-based employee population prompting us to explore multiple options that can accommodate our growth plans,” said Kim Snider, Fidelity senior vice president of corporate communications.

A spokesperson for Florida Blue said via email Wednesday she could not confirm talks of a deal with FIS about the property.

“There are conversations on several fronts at this time,” said Toni Woods, senior media relations consultant for GuideWell.

SEE LOT, PAGE 8

DOWNTOWN DEVELOPMENT

Mike Balanky says the time to act is now Urges action on surplus city property. PAGE 5 VOLUME 2, NO. 3 • ONE SECTION

WHAT’S TRENDING

Page 2 • Thursday, June 20, 2019

Jacksonville Daily Record/Jacksonville Record & Observer

Big news doesn’t break just 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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Daily Record Daily Record

Jacksonville Daily Record and Jacksonville Record & Observer are a division of Observer Media Group Inc. Established in 1912, the Financial News & Daily Record, now the Jacksonville Daily Record, is published Monday-Friday and is the Official Court Newspaper of the Circuit JACKSONVILLE Court and publisher of public notices in Duval County.

Photo by Karen Brune Mathis

BBVA is the last business remaining at The Jacksonville Landing.

THE JACKSONVILLE LANDING

Buyout deal reached with last business The city reached the lease termination deal it needs to close the last business at The Jacksonville Landing as it prepares to demolish the shopping center.

The city will pay Alabama-based BBVA $450,000 to buy out the remainder of its lease. The bank will vacate the Landing by Oct. 28.

The buyout comes as Hooters, the Landing’s last restaurant, closed. On

Monday, furniture and signage were removed. A sign on the door said it closed June 2.

The city is making plans for a phased demolition, leaving utilities and access for BBVA so the bank can continue to operate.

Seven contractors submitted bids to demolish the Landing with estimated costs ranging from $978,200 to $2.77 million.

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.

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RESTAURANTS Panera, Chipotle, Bento coming to Brooklyn Place The Ferber Co. expects to buy a Brooklyn site this summer and start construction on a building for lease to Panera Bread, Chipotle and Bento Asian Kitchen + Sushi. Ponte Vedra Beach-based Ferber said construction would start immediately after the land purchase and be completed for

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.

tenant openings by summer 2020. The 11,500-square-foot Brooklyn Place will be built on 1.5 acres along Riverside Avenue next to Brooklyn Station on Riverside, which features Burrito Gallery, Burger Fi, Zoes Kitchen, First Watch and The Fresh Market.

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Display & Digital Advertising: Call Jay Lesowitz at (904) 356-2466 or email jlesowitz@jaxdailyrecord.com To find more business events or to submit your event to the the business calendar, visit jaxdailyrecord.com/calendar.

JUNE 27 Industrial-Retail Intersection: The NAIOP Commercial Real Estate Development Association Northeast Florida Chapter presents a panel discussion June 27 about the intersection of industrial and retail real estate needs.

David Sillick will moderate the panel discussion with Peter Anderson, Pattillo Industrial Real Estate; Luke Pope, JLL; Jason Ryals, Colliers International; and Jonathan Hildebrand, Sleiman Enterprises. The luncheon event starts with registration at 11:30 a.m., followed by lunch at noon and the program at 12:30 p.m. at the Jacksonville Marriott at 4670 Salisbury Road. The cost is $35 for NAIOP members and $50 for guests or nonmembers. Information: naiopnefl. com/event/ JULY 30 JAXUSA Partnership: Jacksonville’s Smart Region is the topic at the JAXUSA Partnership quarterly meeting July 30. Panelists Jacksonville Transportation Authority CEO Nat Ford, North Florida TPO Executive Director

Jeff Sheffield and JEA CEO and Managing Director Aaron Zahn will discuss Jacksonville’s future with smart sensor technology, autonomous vehicles and more. The location is the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront. Individual tickets are $50-$75. Check-in is 11:30 a.m.

The program starts at noon. To RSVP, call 366-6600 ext. 7788.

JULY 31 Destination Downtown Buffalo: JAX Chamber scheduled the 2019 Destination Downtown trip July 31-Aug. 2 to Buffalo, New York. The trip is presented

by VyStar Credit Union whose president and CEO, Brian Wolfburg, a Buffalo native, will chair the trip. The chamber said attendees will learn about Downtown Buffalo’s transformation and its master plan, the 2005 Buffalo Comprehensive Plan. The cost for chamber members is $1,500 for single occupancy and $1,400 for double occupancy. Attendees are responsible for booking and pay for their own flights. Information: Alanna Hurlbert, (904) 366-6627 or alanna.hurlbert@myjaxchamber.com

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Jacksonville Daily Record/Jacksonville Record & Observer

Thursday, June 20, 2019 • Page 3

Balanky: Act now on Downtown development Developer says the city should identify surplus properties for development.

BY KAREN BRUNE MATHIS EDITOR

Developer Mike Balanky urges action – now – on Downtown development.

“There’s got to be a sense of urgency when it comes to real estate development,” Balanky, a Jacksonville native, told the Southside Business Men’s Club last week.

“We’re in a bullish market right now, but it will not last forever. And in real estate development, I believe that time guts a deal,” he said.

Among Balanky’s prominent developments are Deerwood Lake in Southside; the 21-story San Marco Place residential condo tower where he, his wife and his parents live; and the Kings Avenue Station hotel development and proposed tower of up to 40 stories.

He said what’s needed is critical mass, reaching the point where there’s enough development to perpetuate itself.

“Money begets money, development begets development, but you’ve got to have initiatives in place to drive that,” he said.

Balanky believes four components are the drivers: Synergy, vision, opportunity and execution.

“If we can find a way to harness these things together, I think we can really see Downtown Jacksonville become what we all hope and dream it can be,” he said.

Here’s what he means.

Photo by Karen Brune Mathis

Developer Mike Balanky says the city has too many surplus properties that are creating blight and vagrancy.

SYNERGY

Synergy is not waiting on one development to start on another.

Balanky said the Laura Street redevelopment is an example.

He said the “one street at a time” transformation concept also was tried in other cities. “How long ago did we do Laura Street?

Twelve, 15 years ago? That’s pretty much all that’s happened down there for the most part up until the last year or so.”

Another example is the Southbank Kings Avenue Station area, with the Jacksonville Transportation Authority’s Skyway station and parking garage. Balanky developed a twin-flagged hotel development there with a Hilton Garden Inn and Homewood Suites.

He unsuccessfully pitched vacant land there to JEA for its headquarters and now envisions up to a 40-story office, hotel and mixed-use development on the site, along Interstate 95.

“We think by the end of the year we’ll have an announcement to make,” he said.

The garage, hotels and mixeduse tower “will help create synergy with what is going to happen over there,” he said.

It’s next to The District, a proposed 30-acre residential, hotel, retail, entertainment and office center proposed by developer Peter Rummell and business partner Michael Munz. Balanky had been involved before Rummell bought his share.

VISION

Vision requires those who can see and follow through on their plans.

“We need to be able to visualize the right projects Downtown that help create synergy and critical mass,” he said.

Balanky cited the number of Downtown residences that city leaders have long said are necessary to attract stores.

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“We don’t think we’ve got to get to 10,000 residential units before we can get the retail to happen, because a lot of the residential people won’t come if there are no retail services,” Balanky said.

“We’ve got to be able to talk to all of the residential users at once about how we’re going to create this critical mass simultaneously,” he said.

Balanky listed developer Steve Atkins and The Barnett and Laura Street Trio project; Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shad Khan and the Shipyards and Lot J mixed-use proposal; and others for vision with their properties.

OPPORTUNITY

Balanky said public-private partnerships are a key to opportunity.

“When you’re going into an area that you’re trying to reposition, like Downtown that’s struggled and been dormant for a long, long time, it’s risky for developers,” he said.

“So developers need the city to invest in itself by putting some of their own money and skin in the game,” he said.

Balanky said city and public entities own surplus properties – what he called “an amazing amount of available land, available buildings.”

“Jacksonville has got some of the most undeveloped riverfront in any city of its size in the nation,” he said.

“We’ve got to make sure that we do it right because this is a one-time opportunity.”

EXECUTION

From a developer’s perspective, time is a commodity. Vision without execution, Balanky said, is hallucination.

“We’re not going to waste our time on a project if we can’t readily tell exactly what’s in it for us, what it’s going to cost, what it’s going to take to get across the finish line,” he said.

He recommends that government agencies identify the surplus properties they want developed.

“All these surplus properties are costing the city and taxpayers because they’re having to pay insurance and maintenance costs for them to sit there, and they’re creating blight, vagrancy,” he said.

He advocates that commercial real estate brokerage firms be engaged to identify the uses for the properties, and government can create incentives packages for them.

Incentives must have timelines to create urgency with developers.

“The longer we wait, the closer we get toward that next downturn.”

Once a deal is financed and under construction, he said, “you can blow right through a recession.”

Balanky said Downtown development requires a champion, such as City Council member Lori Boyer, who was chosen as the next CEO of the Downtown Investment Authority, or city chief of staff and soon to be Chief Administrative Officer Brian Hughes or Mayor Lenny Curry.

“It is going to take political will,” Balanky said, urging that they “commit 100% to get behind it, to where we let the developers know that there’s political will here.”

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Page 4 • Thursday, June 20, 2019

Jacksonville Daily Record/Jacksonville Record & Observer

THE MATHIS REPORT

Group plans retail development at Pritchard, I-295 RETAIL NOTES

Skinner

KAREN BRUNE MATHIS EDITOR

Skinner Bros. Realty, Silverfield Group say the area is underserved.

Skinner Bros. Realty and The Silverfield Group are under contract to buy property in Northwest Jacksonville for a commercial retail development.

Chet Skinner, Skinner Bros.

Realty vice president, said the groups will form a partnership to buy 6.15 acres at northeast Pritchard Road and Interstate 295 in front of the Perimeter West Industrial Park.

Rooker Properties LLC bought undeveloped sites in the Perimeter West Industrial Park and is building a 155,820-square-foot speculative industrial facility there.

Cason Bufe, Rooker Properties vice president, said the commercial site was under contract but he was not aware of any specific plans by the prospective buyers.

On the southeast side at Pritchard Road and I-295, a 297,000-square-foot speculative building is under construction at Crossroads Distribution

Silverfield

Center by Miles River Partners and two more are planned.

“We just saw this as a good buy-and-hold,” Skinner said.

Skinner and Silverfield applied to the city and to the St. Johns River Water Management District for a mass grading permit. Skinner said the site is low and will need fill dirt to prepare it for development.

“It’s a site that we feel would be a great play for a hotel or a gas station and convenience store or restaurants,” Skinner said.

The Westside Industrial Park and other development is west of I-295 along Pritchard Road.

“We like that area. We like the growth and think that is a good speculative play, but we don’t have anything there yet,” Skinner said.

“We are very much in a due diligence phase.”

Skinner said the goal is to prepare the site for development and sell the land. He envisions the partnership buying the land by the end of October.

Leed Silverfield, president of The Silverfield Group, said that with limited options on the west side of the interchange, and nothing on the east side of the interchange, “we believe the area is currently underserved and could be a great location for a gas station, quick

Demolition in Mandarin: The city issued a permit for Realco Recycling Co. Inc. to demolish a former medical building and restaurant in Mandarin. Realco will take down the 7,800-square-foot building on 1.5 acres at 9826 San Jose Blvd. at a cost of $20,000.

The building, at San Jose Boulevard and Pall Mall Drive, was the former Physicians Medical Center and before that, was Hops Grill & Brewing and Cross Creek Steakhouse. The property owner is 9826 San Jose LLC. RaceTrac was interested in the site but said it no longer is pursuing the location.

Publix in Oak Hill Village: The city approved renovations for Publix Super Markets Inc. at 7628 103rd St. in Oak Hill Village in West Jacksonville. Elkins Construction LLC is the contractor for the $532,294 project to renovate the 40,933-square-foot store.

Warby Parker to Town Center: The city approved the permit for fashion eyeglass retailer Warby Parker to build-out space at St. Johns Town Center. Horizon Retail Construction is the contractor for the $229,910 project to renovate 1,460 square feet at 4712 River City Drive in part of the former WilliamsSonoma space.

Planet Fitness to Regency area: Planet Fitness intends to build-out a gym in the Southside Commons shopping center at 651 Commerce Center Drive, north of Regency

service restaurant or limited service hotel, or some combination thereof.”

“With the recent explosion of industrial growth on both sides of Pritchard Road, we feel it’s poised to benefit from the increased traffic and exposure

Square Mall. The city is reviewing a permit application for a $1 million renovation of almost 29,000 square feet near The Church of Eleven22 in the former Level 8 furnishings store. A site plan on the landlord Sleiman Enterprises site shows Planet Fitness next to Hope’s Closet, a church ministry.

Bellezza Nails to Gateway Village: The city issued the permit for Bellezza Nails Spa to build-out in 2,914 square feet of space at 5010 Gate Parkway, No. 4, in Gateway Village at Town Center. GAP Construction LLC is the contractor for the $180,000 project.

ST. JOHNS COUNTY Circle K to St. Johns Parkway: St. Johns County is reviewing an application for construction of a Circle K convenience store and gas station at southeast St. Johns Parkway and Race Track Road. The 5,187-square-foot project is planned on 1.78 acres.

NASSAU COUNTY Tractor Supply in Yulee: JEA issued a letter of utility service availability for Tractor Supply Co. to build an 18,800-square-foot building on 4 acres at southwest Florida A1A and Pinewood Drive in Yulee.

Mavis Discount in Yulee: Mavis Discount Tire plans to build a store on 1.14 acres at Florida A1A and Gene Lasserre Boulevard in Yulee in Nassau County.

that comes along with growth,” Silverfield said.

He said there has been interest from users in all three categories but not to the point of sharing names or making an announcement.

Silverfield said the schedule

calls for starting site work after closing on the land in the fall.

Prosser Inc. is the civil engineer and landscape architect.

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Jacksonville Daily Record/Jacksonville Record & Observer

Thursday, June 20, 2019 • Page 5

MIKE MENDENHALL STAFF WRITER

Jacksonville Transportation Authority seeking jointdevelopments on its surplus properties.

Jacksonville Transportation Authority officials are looking at mixed-use development on its surplus properties as a way to increase ridership and they’re searching for partners.

The authority’s main sales pitch: Build near public transit infrastructure.

To make it happen, JTA is in the market for a real estate professional. A request for proposals closes Thursday in support of JTA’s effort to expand its real estate department, focused on finding development partners for six of its surplus properties.

JTA announced its “TransitOriented Development” strategy during its annual State of the JTA meeting in May.

All of Jacksonville’s independent authorities own surplus property. JEA opened sealed bids Tuesday for the former Coggin Pontiac site at 9201 Atlantic Blvd., but bids didn’t reach the $4.04 million appraisal and the public utility rejected the offers.

But the JTA’s plan isn’t to sell its land. It is seeking developers to partner with, calculating that an increase in population density and foot traffic near its First Coast Flyer bus stops, Skyway stations and in areas more dependent on public transportation will bring growth.

“The plan right now is joint development rather than right out selling the property,” said David Cawton, JTA’s media and public relations manager.

“Increasing ridership is at the heart of everything we do right now.”

According to the JTA Real Estate Department, long term leases for joint development would be “preferable.” Officials say it would allow for overall lower project costs and more dense developments. In an email Wednesday, Cawton wrote that JTA has already received “several inquiries from interested parties.” Officials see that as a signal that offers for joint development could soon follow.

Three of the properties are Downtown and Cawton says, like City Hall, JTA is “hyperfocused” on LaVilla.

The authority’s new Jacksonville Regional Transportation Center, opening in the historic neighborhood later this year, also is the bus hub.

JTA officials aim to take advantage of the mix of low-income, workforce and market-rate housing projects completed or in development in the area.

The 2.46 acres at 201 South Union St., where the Rosa Parks Transit Station now sits, will maintain a Skyway station, as well as another bus route after the majority of the traffic is rerouted to the JRTC. In their pitch for 1.54 acres of property on Johnson Street adjacent to the JRTC, authority officials say a mix of residential development and retail can take advantage of “nearly 95 percent” of the city’s transit routes in the hub next door.

Although JTA will be pushing for joint development in most cases, some instances, like the Rosa Parks parcels, could be different, officials said, “due to the size of the property, development product and property features, proximity and use of transit.”

Developers interested in these two properties would be able to work within the LaVilla Redevelopment Strategy — recently released and approved by the Downtown Investment Authority — qualifying some projects for city incentives.

JTA officials also see the

Seeking partners for development The Jacksonville Transportation Authority is looking for developers for six surplus properties it owns.

Address

Size

location

10508 Avenues Walk Blvd 4.09 acres

Adjacent to Avenues Mall

1201 Kings Ave.

8.63 acres

Adjacent to The District in Downtown Southbank

0 Montana Ave.

3.8 acres

Adjacent to The District

0 Johnson St.

1.54 acres

In LaVilla redevelopment district

201 Union St. W.

2.46 acres

Adjacent to FSCJ Downtown campus

813 Golfair Blvd.

N/A

Near Gateway Town Center

transit infrastructure as a tool to increase property values and make for a “more viable development.”

“We think a denser Downtown with people close to work, close to transit hubs will increase ridership,” Cawton said. “We want more people in Downtown, but in order to do that, you have to have access to public transportation. By having these pockets connected to public transportation they won’t have to drive as much.”

A second active RFP is asking for expertise in transit-oriented development to help JTA define guidelines and stipulations for developers it partners with. JTA officials want to

THE MENDENHALL REPORT

JTA sees development as way to boost ridership

ensure any mixed-use development on its property sticks with their goal of bringing riders to JTA. “As far as other areas of concern, we’re going to let the market dictate that — what (the properties) should be. We think good, strong, transitoriented development is mixed-use as it makes sense for those particular neighborhoods,” Cawton said. “We’re not real estate developers, we’re a public transportation authority.”

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Page 6 • Thursday, June 20, 2019

Jacksonville Daily Record/Jacksonville Record & Observer

Top commercial sales of the week

BY SCOTT SAILER • STAFF WRITER

Here are the top 10 commercial real estate sales in Northeast Florida, comprising Baker, Clay, Duval, Nassau and St. Johns counties.

The sales were recorded June 10-14.

File image

Padgett Premiere Property I LLC paid $2.86 million for the two-story, 49,338-square-foot Oak Grove Plaza building in Deerwood Center.

$13,475,000

$7,415,000

$2,857,142

$2,156,000

$2,016,000

1917 and 1097 Wells Road, Orange Park, Clay County

10523 Deerwood Park Blvd., Jacksonville, Duval County

7595 Baymeadows Way, Jacksonville, Duval County

10445 Atlantic Blvd., Jacksonville, Duval County

5824 Justina Court, Jacksonville, Duval County

Type: Home Depot and retail Size: 11.36 acres Buyer: Wells Road Investments LLC Seller: Creek Drive Partners LP Previous sale: $10,132,500 in 2014

Type: Personal storage Size: 2.82 acres Buyer: Life Storage LP Seller: Broward Southside LLC

Type: Deerwood Center office Size: 7.39 acres Buyer: Padgett Premiere Property I LLC Seller: Somera Road Baymeadows Road LLC

Type: Denny’s Size: 1.2 acres Buyer: 10445 Atlantic LLC Seller: Houser Properties Inc. Previous sale: $1,985,000 in 2011

Type: Multifamily Size: 0.76 acres Buyer: Justina Rd Apartments LLC Seller: Justina Apartments LLC Previous sale: $880,000 in 2016

$1,750,000

$1,725,000

$1,725,000

$1,500,000

$1,460,000

10417 Atlantic Blvd., Jacksonville, Duval County

Beach Boulevard, Jacksonville, Duval County

Beach Boulevard, Jacksonville, Duval County

2887, 2877 and 2883 Post St., Jacksonville, Duval County

11616 San Jose Blvd., Jacksonville, Duval County

Type: Tire Kingdom Size: 0.67 acres Buyer: TKJ LLC Seller: Z. E. Taheri Revocable Trust

Type: Undeveloped commercial Size: 0.23 acres Buyer: Fraydun Manocherian Seller: Beach Boulevard Development Inc.

Type: Undeveloped commercial Size: 5.44 acres Buyer: Church of Our Savior, Anglican Inc. Seller: Fraydun Manocherian

Type: Apartments Size: 0.44 acres Buyer: DHC Post Street Holdings LLC Seller: La Prima Holdings LLC Previous sale: $856,000 in 2015

Type: Jimmy Johns Size: 0.45 acres Buyer: UZI Enterprises LLC Seller: JJOA Properties LLC Previous sale: $1,200,000 in 2018

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Page 8 • Thursday, June 20, 2019

Jacksonville Daily Record/Jacksonville Record & Observer

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE Promotions, hirings and happenings for business people in Northeast Florida. Send items to ssailer@ jaxdailyrecord.com The Dalton Agency hired six people in its Jacksonville office: Connor Dolby joined as a social media content creator, responsible for motion graphics, video and interactive content. Dolby recently graduated from the University of North Florida.

Alex Kirkland is a public relations account executive, responsible for developing programs and partnerships in the area of hospitality and travel.

Kevin Rhodes is associate creative director, responsible for leading campaigns. Rhodes was an associate creative director at St. John & Partners.

Evan Turnbull is a social media manager, responsible for managing content development and audience engagement. Turnbull formerly was a content marketing specialist at Milo Wifi.

Sophia Ward joined as an account coordinator, responsible for supporting the public affairs and B2B accounts. Ward is a former intern at Dalton and graduated from the University of North Florida.

Banks Willis was named vice president of corporate reputation, developing strategic communications and public affairs. Willis was most recently a senior vice president at Spectrum - GLOBALHealthPR. Catie Curvel was promoted to vice president of marketing at We Insure.

Curvel is responsible for directing marketing campaigns and recruiting new franchise owners. She joined We Insure in 2017 as director of marketing.

Curvel Rob Levine was appointed CEO of First Coast No More Homeless Pets.

He was chief development officer with FCNMHP since 2016. Levine’s prior positions were as regional CEO of the American Red Cross in South Florida and an executive with the National Basketball Association.

Compiled by Scott Sailer

DEVELOPMENT TODAY These are the largest commercial building permits by job cost issued Tuesday by the city of Jacksonville.

Wells Fargo Center, 1 Independent Drive W., contractor is Brothers Group Construction Co., 5,512 square feet, tenant build-out of southeast corner of sixth floor, $47,700.

CHURCH, OTHER RELIGIOUS Islamic Center of Northeast Florida Inc., 2333 St. Johns Bluff Road S., contractor is Prism Design & Construction Inc., 1,800 square feet, new pavilion, $120,000.

ROOFING

HOSPITAL, INSTITUTIONAL UF Health Pediatric Multispecialty Center, 841 Prudential Drive, No. 900, contractor is Adams Interior Contractors Inc., 15,583 square feet, ninth floor tenant build-out, $825,000.

OFFICE, BANK, PROFESSIONAL CSX Transportation, 3019 Warrington St., contractor is Duckworth Construction Co., 11,351 square feet, interior renovation, $1.42 million.

Beach Food Post Inc., 3631 Blanding Blvd., contractor is Florida Roofing Experts Inc., roof replacement, $30,000.

U-Haul Moving & Storage of Jacksonville Heights, 9422 103rd St., contractor is BRC Roofing & Construction Inc., roof replacement, $17,565.

Compiled by Scott Sailer

Lot CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

According to the city property appraiser web portal, the parking lot’s assessed value is $6 million.

At its monthly board meeting at City Hall, the DIA approved transferring a nearby city-owned parcel of land at the intersection of Forest and Park Street to GuideWell/ Florida Blue at the appraised value.

“I would say, there is an extremely high degree of probability that that parcel on the riverfront would not continue to be a surface parking lot. If for some reason the ownership changed, it would be precluded from being a surface lot,” Brian Hughes, chief of staff to Mayor Lenny Curry and the DIA’s interim CEO, told the DIA board.

The DIA also agreed to extend a $3.5 million grant to build a $22.5 million parking deck — making Florida Blue’s riverfront property available for development. The new parking deck also would be available to the public after 6 p.m. weekdays, holidays and weekends. Hughes said this will address one of the top issues facing city parks and commercial retail in the area.

“That would allow them to take the parking obligations from the riverfront to the new deck, with the potential for that parcel to be developed,” Hughes said.

Money for the $3.5 million Florida Blue grant will be diverted from incentives earmarked as part of an agreement between the city and Barrington Development for the troubled Berkman II Downtown highrise project.

“The Berkman II developers, while this board moved that development agreement, they have very overtly stated they don’t intend to take the development agreement before City Council,” Hughes said. “They’re going to be reworking their plan for that property. It will change, so I don’t see any issue with committing that pool of money for this project since we will likely have an entirely different reworking of potential Berkman II components.”

The new parking structure’s design will need approval from the Downtown Development Review Board and the incentive deal will now move to the council for approval before the parking structure proposal can move forward.

DIA board member Oliver Barakat said Wednesday he hopes DDRB members and project architects will consider including first-floor retail on the parking structure, as he doesn’t see ground-level parking at “gateway” intersection into Downtown the “highest and best use.”

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Jacksonville Daily Record/Jacksonville Record & Observer

Thursday, June 20, 2019 • Page 9

No plans yet for Truist Jacksonville offices

MARK BASCH CONTRIBUTING WRITER

BB&T and SunTrust, who are planning to merge, have a combined 38 branches in the area.

Truist Financial Corp. revealed the site for its new headquarters office in Charlotte, North Carolina, but the company is not ready to announce any decisions on its Jacksonville offices.

In case you missed it last week, Truist is the name chosen by SunTrust Banks Inc. and BB&T Corp. for the company after their planned merger.

As they announced the name, they also announced plans to locate their headquarters in a 47-story tower in Charlotte.

The two banks have a combined 38 branches in the Jacksonville metropolitan area, according to the latest Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. data, and both have presences Downtown.

BB&T’s main local office is in the BB&T Tower at 200 W. Forsyth St., while SunTrust recently moved out of an eponymous 23-story building at 76 S. Laura St. to the nearby Bank of America Tower at 50 N. Laura St. Some overlapping offices will be closed when the merger is completed, expected later this year, but representatives of both companies said by email last week that no plans have been made for their Jacksonville operations.

“No determinations have been made as far as office space. Until the merger is approved we are two separate companies,” SunTrust spokesman Thomas Crosson said.

“Our combined leadership team is working together to determine the structure of the new organization, but it’s really too early to make any comments about our facilities,” said BB&T spokesman David White.

File image

BB&T CEO Kelly King and SunTrust CEO Bill Rogers announce the new name of their merged company.

Office space was one of many details the companies needed to negotiate after agreeing to the $66 billion merger in February. Atlantabased SunTrust and WinstonSalem, North Carolina-based BB&T did announce at the time they would put the headquarters of the merged bank in Charlotte and come up with a new name.

“The hope is that a new name will help foster a new culture and a fresh start for the merged firm. Yet, the move comes with risks in terms of cost and confusion,” Wells Fargo Securities analyst Mike Mayo said in a research note after the name was announced.

“There is likely to be a lot of second-guessing on the name, evidenced by a series of unsolicited comments to us since the name came out,” he said.

Janney Montgomery Scott analyst Christopher Marinac said it’s not uncommon for banks to come up with a new identity after a merger.

“These changes may seem strange at first but with time are accepted and become normal,” Marinac said in his research note.

Marinac maintains a positive outlook for the merger.

“Investors must focus on the financial impact,” he said.

Target issue not related to Worldpay Robert W. Baird analyst David Koning said he was shopping at Target last weekend when he learned about the

retailer’s massive cash register outage that prevented customers from checking out.

Naturally, Koning’s thoughts turned to Worldpay Inc., the payments technology company that is being acquired by Jacksonville-based Fidelity National Information Services Inc., or FIS. Target issued a statement saying it was an “internal technology” issue that was fixed by its own technology team, but Koning still decided to check.

“We reached out to Worldpay, and it said it was not its issue, and its systems were up the whole time,” Koning said in a research note.

“We like the FIS/WP combo,” he said.

SunTrust Robinson Humphrey analyst Andrew Jeffrey also said in a research note last week that he likes the $34 billion acquisition of Worldpay, which FIS hopes to complete in the third quarter.

“We like the combination and believe Fidelity will exceed its $400 million three-year cost synergy target,” he said.

However, Jeffrey is maintaining a “hold” rating on FIS stock.

“We are less bullish on projected organic revenue growth acceleration,” he said. “Any top-line disappointment will limit upside, in our view.”

Ameris wins approval for Fidelity Southern deal Ameris Bancorp last week said in a Securities and

railroading, is the operating model implemented by CSX’s new management team two years ago.

While PSR has increased operating efficiencies, Mehrotra sees opportunities for revenue gains.

“CSX has reorganized its sales efforts to go after merchandise volume opportunities that didn’t exist prior to the company’s restructuring actions,” he said.

“We also think the Intermodal business is much better positioned to capture growth the next time truckload capacity tightens.”

Rayonier AM Sauer gets second announces new CFO big Marine contract Jacksonville-based Rayonier Advanced Materials Inc. last week announced a realignment of some top executives, including naming a new chief financial officer.

Frank Ruperto, who had been CFO since November 2014, is assuming the role of senior vice president of its high purity and high yield cellulose business.

Marcus Moeltner, who joined Rayonier AM in November 2017 as vice president of corporate development and planning, was promoted to chief financial officer and senior vice president of finance.

The U.S. Department of Defense last week announced Jacksonville-based Sauer Inc. was awarded a $28.3 million contract by the U.S. Naval Facilities Engineering Command to build an outdoor infantry immersion trainer at Marine Corps Base Camp Lejeune, North Carolina.

The facility will be used for small-unit rehearsal training and squad leader decisionmaking assessment.

Work on the facility is expected to be completed by October 2020.

This is the second recent big Marine Corps contract for Sauer. The specialty contractor in April was awarded a $19.6 million contract for airfield security upgrades at Marine Corps Air Station Cherry Point in North Carolina.

Analyst cuts CSX estimates Deutsche Bank analyst Amit Mehrotra last week cut his earnings forecasts for Jacksonville-based CSX Corp., because of general trends in the railroad industry.

“We are cutting our Rail estimates across the board, which shouldn’t come as a surprise given weak volume numbers,” Mehrotra said in a research report.

He cut CSX’s earnings estimate for 2019 by 8 cents a share to $4.36 and his 2020 earnings estimate by 6 cents to $4.86.

With the slight cut in earnings projections, Mehrotra cut his price target for CSX’s stock from $89 to $87. But that still would be a gain from the stock’s recent trading price in the upper $70s.

“We remain positive on CSX despite market participants feeling that much of the PSR gains are now in the rear-view mirror,” he said.

PSR, or precision scheduling

International Baler sales increase Jacksonville-based International Baler Corp. reported higher sales for its second quarter ended April 30, resulting in a small net profit.

Sales rose from $1.96 million in the second quarter of fiscal 2018 to $2.91 million in this year’s second quarter, according to its quarterly report filed with the SEC. Although the company shipped more balers, it also incurred higher selling and administrative expenses.

However, International Baler still ended the quarter with net income of $1,865, compared with a loss of $52,472 in last year’s second quarter.

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Exchange Commission filing it has received all required regulatory approvals for its acquisition of Fidelity Southern Corp.

Completion of the deal is expected on July 1.

Ameris announced the deal in December to buy Atlantabased Fidelity Southern (which is not related to Jacksonvillebased Fidelity National Financial Inc.) for stock valued at $751 million at the time of the agreement.

After the merger, Ameris Bank’s headquarters will move to Atlanta, but the executive offices of the parent company will remain in Jacksonville.

Page 10 • Thursday, June 20, 2019

Jacksonville Daily Record/Jacksonville Record & Observer

SCOTT SAILER STAFF WRITER

County looking for solutions on how to attract affordable housing.

While development in Northern St. Johns County is still strong because of the proximity to Jacksonville’s employment base, things are improving for the rest of the county.

The county is seeing increased residential development and job growth in its central and southern portions along the Florida 16 and 207 corridors, says Suzanne Konchan, director of the St. Johns County growth management department.

“Now it is becoming more balanced,” even though the numbers are still more robust in the north, she said.

“We are seeing not only an uptick in residential, but an uptick in commercial and office development,” Konchan said. “Fast-food retailers are coming to all of our interchanges, including Florida 16

in a big way.”

Residential growth in St. Johns also is attracting retail development.

“The general sense of people who live here in St. Johns County is we are underserved in terms of retail,” she said. “A lot of people drive out of the county to do their shopping so we are thankful to see more retail coming in.”

Konchan said the county would like to have more office and industrial development.

She said a lot of county property is zoned for industrial with the entitlements in place, and she has been fielding more questions about it lately.

Konchan said the county was thankful for construction of the new PGA Tour corporate office, the expansion of Northrop Grumman and the addition of a rail hub at Northeast Florida Regional Airport.

The county promotes specific types of development by ordinance, administered by the county Economic Development Department. It provides incentives that focus on target industries bringing high paying jobs to the county by acting like a rebate on impact fees based on the new jobs created.

Residential growth has created a draw for more retail. It is a continuous circle of development.

Konchan said the county is meeting with developers, land use attorneys and homebuilders for ideas on how to attract affordable housing and is exploring tools to create a

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variety of housing types.

She said the county has programs allowing developers to offer affordable homes to build denser communities, but developers aren’t taking advantage.

Because the median income in St. Johns County is high, a home could sell for more than $280,000 and still be considered moderately priced by the state.

“We are not seeing the market offer below the $200,000 price point,” Konchan said.

“Our discussion focus is targeted [on that] as well as the rental market and low-income rental market, which is a tough nut to crack.”

The county is considering incentive-based zoning or an affordable housing zoned district to allow for smaller lot sizes and different development standards without requiring developers to under-

“We are definitely seeing the market embracing the apartment product here, which is good, we need it,” she said.

Most of the 4,500 new homes built in the county last year were planned and entitled before the recession. Now inventory is low and developers are seeking comprehensive plan amendments and rezonings on new properties.

“About 80 to 90% of those projects go through without much fanfare, but there is 10 to 20% where there is community interest, strains on infrastructure or outstanding issues” that generate a lot of attention Konchan said.

Age-restricted community proposals have increased in the past three years. Some are whole neighborhoods and others are pockets in communities, Konchan said.

The Greenbriar Downs community changed to agerestricted in response to school capacity in Northwest St. Johns.

She said in the Northwest all the schools are at or over capacity and school impact fees in the area can range from $12,000 to $20,000 per home.

With the rising cost of housing and new jobs comes the demand for places for workers to live. Konchan said she has been investigating affordable housing now more than she has in her 10 years with the county.

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Suzanne Konchan is director of the St. Johns County growth management department.

go entitlements for planned unit developments.

One example would be a community with deed restrictions that would establish a cap on home appreciation. Also, homeowners could only sell to someone who met qualifications for affordable housing.

People buying those homes would have “no other option at that price point. Either you buy that home, you get to build equity and have some appreciation, or you don’t live here.”

Konchan said that type of housing program is available in other parts of the country, like San Francisco, where low-price housing options do not exist.

But a program like that may not be right for St. Johns County, she said.

Konchan said another way to improve affordability is through code adjustments.

“Our code allows homes to have a second unit for immediate family members,” she said.

“We are looking at whether it is appropriate for the county to look at lifting that restriction” so people can rent it and contribute to available affordable housing.

Konchan said the county’s apartment rental market, with low vacancy, is attracting new construction. “A few more than we have had in years,” she said.

Impact fees and density caps were barriers to apartment construction in the St. Johns, so in 2018 the county scaled back impact fees so smaller units pay less.

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THE SAILER REPORT

St. Johns County seeing growth in more places

Jacksonville Daily Record/Jacksonville Record & Observer

Thursday, June 20, 2019 • Page 11

BY SCOTT SAILER • STAFF WRITER

Here are the top 10 single-family residential real estate sales in Northeast Florida, comprising Baker, Clay, Duval, Nassau and St. Johns counties. The sales were recorded June 10-14.

$2,120,000 917 S. First St., No. 1202, Jacksonville Beach, Duval County Type: Marbella condominium Condo size: 4,435 square feet Buyer: Michael T. and Michelle H. Oakes Seller: Kimberley B. and James E. Graham Previous sale: $2,100,000 in 2018

About the property: Oceanfront penthouse condominium with three-bedrooms, 3½ bathrooms and 1,000 square feet of terraces. Features include a pool, gym and garage parking.

$940,000

2216 Alicia Lane, Atlantic Beach, Duval County

239 S. Ponte Vedra Blvd., Ponte Vedra Beach, St. Johns County

Type: Single-family Lot size: 0.12 acres House size: 2,945 square feet Buyer: Stephanie D. and Thomas C. Moewe Seller: Pamela R. and Virgilio G. Depadua Previous sale: $715,000 in 2001

Type: Single-family Lot size: 0.46 acres House size: 2,302 square feet Buyer: Heather M. McMaster and Andrew C. Ferguson Seller: Linda M. Soud Previous sale: $320,000 in 1993

$995,000

$929,000

3020 Lake Shore Blvd., Jacksonville, Duval County

13814 Saxon Lake Drive, Jacksonville, Duval County

Type: Single-family Lot size: 1.29 acres House size: 4,597 square feet Buyer: Gloria A. and William R. Kliesing Seller: Matthew E. and Rita N. Kenyon Previous sale: $175,000 in 1985

Type: Single-family Lot size: 0.6 acres House size: 4,005 square feet Buyer: Ralph T. Sherman Trust 2000 Declaration of Trust and Maria O. Sherman 2000 Declaration of Trust Seller: John H. and Sharon R. Nielsen Previous sale: $915,000 in 2014

$1,760,000

$1,535,000

$1,215,000

$993,711

$912,320

2297 Oceanside Court, Atlantic Beach, Duval County

5370 Commissioners Drive, Jacksonville, Duval County

109 Paddock Place, Ponte Vedra Beach, Duval County

1660 Atlantic Beach Drive, Atlantic Beach, Duval County

1703 Atlantic Beach Drive, Atlantic Beach, Duval County

Type: Single-family Lot size: 0.26 acres House size: 3,404 square feet Buyer: Omar and Jeanette T. Mahmoud Seller: Juan C. and Cecilia M. Quintana Previous sale: $148,500 in 1998

Type: Single-family Lot size: 0.78 acres House size: 4,260 square feet Buyer: Frank J. and Janina M. Pinon Seller: Lavon and Michael R. Craig

Type: Single-family Lot size: 0.98 acres House size: 6,216 square feet Buyer: Keith L. and Ladonna C. Hudkins Seller: A. Lynn Cruger, individually and as trustee of the Cruger Trust

Type: Single-family Lot size: 0.22 acres House size: Not available Buyer: Gioele and Jane D. Settembrini Seller: Toll FL VI LP

Type: Single-family Lot size: 0.18 acres House size: Not available Buyer: Monica A. and Richard E. Graves Seller: Toll FL VI LP

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Page 12 • Thursday, June 20, 2019

Jacksonville Daily Record/Jacksonville Record & Observer

Track CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

clist Association representative told him and his son, Jakob Baton, now 18.

“If you can build a fan base, you’re going to be doing this when your dad is dead and gone,” the AMA representative said to Jakob.

Scarborough Sr. died in 2017 at the age of 78, five years after his son began developing the park at 1439 Otis Road, north of Interstate 10. The father and son are the “WW” in the name.

Scarborough Jr. grew up working for his father, who owned a used car dealership on Cassat Avenue. He said his father fired him when he lost his driver’s license.

He worked other jobs until his driver’s license was restored and was glad to be back with his dad.

He continued to work for his dad and did not finish high school.

Scarborough Sr. bought the land and made a plan to build all the buildings. After his dad died, Scarborough Jr. found a rough plan for the farm that his dad drew on a piece of paper, which is exactly how it is layed out today.

Scarborough Sr. built a replica of Marjorie Kinnan Rawlings Cross Creek building from his own measurements and photographs.

He raised beef cows and kept llamas, peacocks, chickens, roosters, ducks and dogs. Scarborough Jr. raises cows and chickens.

Scarborough Jr. used financing from his dad to build the moto track and when that money ran out, he sold his house in Neptune Beach to continue his plan.

Scarborough Jr. attended events at pro and amateur tracks around the country to see how they are operated.

THE TRACK’S BEGINNINGS

WW Ranch Motocross Park is the newest track to hold an American Motorcyclist Association National event, an off-road motorcycle championship race.

The park started as a track open to the general public and evolved into a track exclusive to organized racing, the site of four races a year.

The park hosts AMA Loretta Lynn area qualifiers and regional championships.

When Scarborough, now 53, was developing the park in 2012, he said he had been a “motorcycle person” since he was 3. “I just felt like we needed a top-notch motocross facility,” he said at the time.

Scarborough watched motorcycle riders and fans from across the country head to Florida for

Special to the Daily Record

An aerial view of WW Motocross on 145 acres at the WW Ranch in the Whitehouse area of West Jacksonville during an event in 2017. On Saturday, the site will host Round 5 of the 2019 Lucas Oil Pro Motocross Championship Florida National.

events and wanted to catch some of that traffic.

He worked with an engineer to design and build the park for year-round riding and races.

DreamTraxx designed and built the original track.

Motocross is a closed-course motorcycle race over natural or simulated rough terrain, such as steep inclines and hairpin turns.

“I am in the city of Jacksonville, which has the Jaguars, holds NCAA tournaments. There are a million things to do in Jacksonville. Why not bring pro motor sports?” he reasoned.

Scarborough’s first professional race in 2017 was the final round of the FIM MXGP of USA. He was asked to host the race at WW, without a fee, when the moto park in Gainesville temporarily lost its lease.

He had 27 days and spent $80,000 to make improvements.

He said it was worth it to make a first impression. Junior said that when he told his dad what he was going to do to hold the MXGP, his dad said he was stupid. After the race his dad told him he was proud of him.

The city told him the event generated $1.9 million for the Jacksonville economy. That led to the Florida National in 2019 and a contract through 2021.

“For three years we are going to have pro motocross in Jacksonville, and we are going to do the best we can,” Scarborough said.

Lucas Oil will run the four races Saturday. The amateur races on Sunday are “all on me. People like to say they raced at the same track as the pros,” Scarborough said.

He has been working since January to prepare the track.

Five private party shacks will be inside the track, separated from the general public and with air conditioning, TVs, food, beer and access to private portable restrooms.

He plans to have food courts and vendors around the park for easier access.

He also intends to provide service to people with disabilities.

Carts and staff will be designated for transport around the property.

“It’s not a sit-down type sport,” he said, referring to spectators.

“The more you move around, the more you see different things.” he said.

There will be bleachers for those who want to sit.

SEEKING SPONSORS

Ticket sales do not pay for the cost of the event, so sponsors and vendors help.

The title sponsor is Jacksonville-based US Assure, whose CEO and Chair Ty Petway “helped me the most. He has helped me through the years with my state championship and pro-am races,” Scarborough said. Petway has been a longtime friend.

St. Augustine-based Ring Power Corp. is the presenting sponsor.

Jacksonville-based Airstream Ventures, led by Alan Verlander, helped with event planning, strategy and advertising, Scarborough said.

Vendors include Bono’s BarB-Q, Chick-fil-A, Larry’s Giant Subs, Sunrise Surf Shop and Champion Brands. Chevrolet is the official truck of the race and Nimnicht Family of Dealerships is a local partner and will have trucks on display at the event.

Motorcycle manufactures and gear vendors will set up displays.

Scarborough is ready for the exposure. It will be televised by NBC Sports. The first two races will be shown on the Lucas Oil channel, MAVTV. The second moto races will be on NBC. Scarborough attended the news conference last week when the city announced that MX Sports Pro Racing and NBC Sports selected WW Ranch Motocross Park to host the inaugural US Assure Florida National Presented by Ring Power.

“One of our community’s signature assets is the privately owned and operated WW Motocross Park,” said Mayor Lenny Curry.

The announcement said WW Ranch partnered with Airstream Ventures and Visit Jacksonville to help secure the event.

In preparation for the race, Scarborough said he had nine of the fastest pros visit to help figure out if the track has a good lap time.

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The track is no longer open to the public. It operates as a racetrack, a decision driven by expenses.

Scarborough said he has about $2 million invested. Equipment and dirt costs are major components of having and maintaining a racetrack. He has two bulldozers – each a $165,000 investment that requires $20,000 of maintenance every 2,000 hours of running and $30,000 in parts replacement for maintenance periods.

He can’t afford to use them for a practice park.

The farm isn’t just motocross, however.

Scarborough, with family and friends, formed Group Effort Events LLC to offer activities that he will promote after the race. It will offer mud runs, weddings, music festivals, camping and corporate events.

He recently hosted the Spartan Mud Run, a military-style obstacle course that drew 7,500 participants. He plans a music festival for the spring.

Scarborough said he hopes to create a strong fan base, which could extend the AMA Pro motocross contract beyond 2021.

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Thursday, June 20, 2019 • Page 13

Judge continuing a tradition that began in 1961

MAX MARBUT ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Judge Paul Glenn is retiring

Collins Cooper is the third judge in his family.

Fourth Judicial Circuit Judge Collins Cooper was elected to the bench in November without opposition.

When he took the oath in January, he became the third member of his family to serve as a circuit judge in Jacksonville.

Cooper’s maternal grandfather, the late Judge William Durden Jr., was appointed to the circuit court in 1961 by Gov. LeRoy Collins. Durden became the consolidated city of Jacksonville’s first general counsel in 1968 after the city and county governments were merged. He returned to private practice in 1970, advising clients until 10 months before his death in March 2011.

Durden’s daughter and Cooper’s mother, Judge Mallory Cooper, is a former assistant state attorney who was elected to the Duval County Court in 1996. She was appointed to the circuit court in January 2006

by Gov. Jeb Bush and served

Photo by Max Marbut

Circuit Judge Collins Cooper, a third-generation Jacksonville jurist, in his office at the Duval County Courthouse.

until December 2015, when she retired.

Some of Collins Cooper’s earliest memories are of visiting his grandfather’s law office and chambers at the courthouse. During summer break in high school, he worked as a runner at his father’s law firm.

Conversations at family gatherings often were about various aspects of legal issues.

“I grew up around the law, but most of my interest growing up was sports,” Cooper said.

He was a placekicker on the University of Florida’s 1996 national championship football team. When he graduated with

a degree in criminology and ended his college sports career, Cooper was accepted to enroll at his parents’ law school alma mater, Florida State University.

“I have the best of both worlds,” he said.

After admission to the Bar in 2006, Cooper followed in his mother’s footsteps and got a job in the state attorney’s office in Jacksonville, where he interned while in law school.

“Mom was a prosecutor, then a judge and I gravitated toward that track,” Cooper said.

As he begins his service on the bench in family court, Cooper said he’s drawing from a lifetime of observing

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U.S. Bankruptcy Court Judge Paul Glenn is retiring, effective upon the appointment of a successor.

Glenn has been a member of the bankruptcy bench in the Middle District of Florida since his appointment in 1993 when he served in the Tampa division. In June 2008, he transferred to the Jacksonville division.

From March 2003 to September 2011, Glenn served as Glenn the chief bankruptcy judge for the Middle District of Florida.

According to a news release from the court, Bankruptcy Judge Cynthia Jackson plans to request a change in her duty station to relocate from the Orlando division to the Jacksonville division to fill the vacancy created by Glenn’s retirement. The Circuit Court of Appeals is expected to begin

recruitment for a successor judge for the Orlando division.

MacLeod joins Bachara Construction Law

Todd MacLeod joined the Bachara Construction Law Group as a partner.

He was a partner at Cole, Scott & Kissane, where he focused on construction litigation.

MacLeod MacLeod also practiced general and commercial litigation.

MacLeod received a bachelor’s in commerce from the University of Virginia, an MBA from the University of Florida and his J.D. from Florida Coastal School of Law.

THE MARBUT REPORT

his grandfather, his mother and the many judges in whose courts he practiced law.

“I’ve seen different judicial styles. In the back of my mind, I was tucking away the things I liked,” he said.

The most important traits for a judge are “patience, demeanor, caring about people and caring about doing the right thing,” Cooper said.

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LAW & THE COURTS

Page 14 • Thursday, June 20, 2019

Photos by Max Marbut

Members of the Jacksonville Bar Association 2019-20 board of governors, from left, Asghar Syed, Jamie Karpman, Blane McCarthy, Brian Coughlin, Adina Pollan and Christian George are sworn in by Circuit Judge Katie Dearing.

New membership year for JBA Elizabeth Ferguson is sworn in as the organization’s president.

BY MAX MARBUT ASSOCIATE EDITOR

The Jacksonville Bar Association’s 2019-20 membership year began Wednesday with the induction of the association’s new president, president-elect and board of governors.

Circuit Judge Katie Dearing called the meeting to order – the last one of her year as president of the association – and a few minutes later, put on her judicial robe and administered to oath of office to her successor, Elizabeth Ferguson.

Ferguson, a shareholder at Marshall Dennehy Warner Coleman & Goggin, joined the JBA Young

Lawyers Section in 2006 and served on the section’s board until 2012, when she was elected to the association’s board of governors.

“It has been a long and rewarding road to get here,” Ferguson said after she took office.

Michelle Bedoya Barnett, a partner at Alexander DeGance Barnett, was sworn in as president-elect.

Dearing presented the Committee Chair of the Year award to Alison Hickman and Mike Jorgensen, co-chairs of the Elder Law Committee.

The President’s Award was presented to Blane McCarthy in recognition of his contributions to making the JBA’s CLE programs and annual seminars successful, Dearing said.

Elizabeth Ferguson is sworn in as 2019-20 president of the Jacksonville Bar Association by Circuit Judge Katie Dearing with Ferguson’s husband, Steve, holding the Bible.

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IN THE LAW

Page 16 • Thursday, June 20, 2019

Jacksonville Daily Record/Jacksonville Record & Observer

KATHRYN RUDDERMAN

Rogers Towers

BY MAX MARBUT • ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Age: 34

Kathryn Rudderman recently joined the Rogers Towers law firm and practices in the Labor and Employment Department.

Education: The University of Georgia, bachelor’s in journalism/ advertising, bachelor’s in Spanish; Florida State University College of Law, J.D.

How do you relate your undergraduate degree to your practice of law? My undergraduate degrees were in advertising and Spanish. In studying advertising, I learned the importance of using each interaction with a customer as an opportunity to promote the brand. As an attorney, each interaction with a client or potential client is important, whether via email, over the phone or in person. As an employment lawyer, I use my advertising background to help companies structure messages to the public or their employees when difficult employment matters arise.

How did you decide your practice area? And why have you chosen that? I spent both summers during law school working mostly on labor and employment matters. I really enjoy the diversity of matters in my practice area, and also enjoy contributing to an integral part of our clients’ businesses.

Dealing with employee issues can be a huge distraction for employers.

I enjoy working with employers to try to prevent employee issues from arising and assisting with responsive measures to resolve any issues.

KATHRYN RUDDERMAN

quality legal services at an affordable rate for our clients.

What do you think will be the next biggest change in your area of law?

In April, the U.S. Supreme Court took up three cases addressing the issue of whether sexual orientation and gender identity are protected under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act. I think a decision from the U.S. Supreme Court on this issue has been muchanticipated and will yield a new wave of employment law cases being filed in federal court.

Hometown: Jacksonville Family: Husband, Jason, and rescue dog Holly Someone who inspires me: My dad. He instilled in me the value of hard work and always doing the right thing.

What’s your advice for new lawyers? As a new lawyer, it is critical to find a mentor to teach you all the things that law school does not. Having a mentor to teach you “how to be a lawyer” and how to interact with clients in a real world setting is invaluable.

Websites and apps I can’t live without: Pandora, Waze and ESPN Favorite nonwork activities: Traveling to coastal towns, cheering on the Georgia Bulldogs, good restaurants and spending time in the Blue Ridge Mountains

What has been the biggest change in your practice area since you passed the Bar? Clients are always looking for value in the legal services, and rightfully so, but I think the biggest change since I passed the Bar is the continued emphasis on providing highSpecial to the Daily Record

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