THURSDAY February 27, 2020
New York investment group buys thousands of acres in St. Johns PAGE 5
jaxdailyrecord.com • 35 cents
Public
legal notices begin on page 1B
Daily Record JACKSONVILLE
THERE’S ALWAYS Daily Record CHANGE BREWING JACKSONVILLE
Martin Coffee Co. President Ben Johnson, the JAX Chamber’s Overall Small Business Leader of the Year, says adapting to industry changes led his company to 20% growth.
M
Debate over height of building could lead to a legal challenge.
Daily Record Daily Record
BY KATIE GARWOOD STAFF WRITER
Council OKs San Marco apartments
artin Coffee Co. isn’t the same business today that it was when it started in 1957. The coffee industry changes quickly and often, said Martin Coffee Co. President Ben Johnson. And if the company hadn’t continued to adjust to the market, it probably wouldn’t exist. “A lot of people in our industry in the same kind of business model have all gone out of business or they’ve changed ownership hands,” Johnson said. “But it’s because they didn’t make changes in the business model. We were able to kind of adapt with the industry because the business today isn’t at all the business that it was 10 years ago.” The company’s adaptability led to 20% growth over the past three years and to Johnson being recognized as the JAX Chamber’s Overall Small Business Leader of the Year. Martin Coffee was started by Johnson’s grandfather in 1957. It began by selling and roasting coffee for businesses throughout the region. Johnson started with the company 22 years ago as a delivery driver and since has held every position in the company.
SEE JOHNSON, PAGE 11
JACKSONVILLE
JACKSONVILLE
Photo by Katie Garwood
Martin Coffee Co. President Ben Johnson stands in the company’s warehouse at 1633 Marshall St. off Talleyrand Avenue. Martin said he orders coffee beans 40,000 pounds at a time.
BY MIKE MENDENHALL STAFF WRITER
City Council approved plans Feb. 25 to redevelop a section of South Jacksonville Presbyterian Church property into the Park Place at San Marco apartments. But some San Marco residents intend to challenge the rezoning and land use changes in court. San Marco-based Corner Lot Development Group, led by Andy Allen, and Birmingham, Alabamabased Harbert Realty Services want to develop the 2.87-acre project at 2137 Hendricks Ave. on property owned by South Jacksonville Presbyterian Church Inc. The project’s height and density brought out neighborhood residents both for and against. By averaging the proposed 49½-foot-tall apartment building and 26.8-foot-tall garage, City Director of Planning and Development Bill Killingsworth told Council it would comply with the zoning code. Opponents said that because the weighted average calculation was proposed by the developer and not written in the overlay, it should not be allowed. Council voted 18-1 and 17-1 on bills to allow the development. Voting no was longtime San Marco resident and Group 4 At-Large Council member Matt Carlucci. “The overlay is like a compact with the people of San Marco to be followed,” he said. “And 35 feet means 35 feet.” Right Size San Marco member Jon Livingston called the land use amendment “illegal” and said some members intend to mount a legal challenge.
MMENDENHALL@ JAXDAILYRECORD.COM (904) 356-2466
THE MATHIS REPORT
Conversion of closed Kmart on San Jose takes a step Sun Ray Cinema is a planned tenant. PAGE 4 VOLUME 107, NO. 72 • TWO SECTIONS