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Daily Record JACKSONVILLE
THE MATHIS REPORT
Jacksonville jobless rate falls to 3.7%
Daily Record
Park Place at San Marco approved for construction
JACKSONVILLE
St. Johns County was the second-lowest in the state at 2.8% in February.
Daily Record Daily Record JACKSONVILLE
BY MARK BASCH CONTRIBUTING WRITER
rezoning approved Feb. 25, 2020, by City Council complied with city code and state statutes. It allowed the proposed building height and unit density. Opponents to Park Place argued that the method the city used to calculate the development’s height violated city code. The city Planning and Development Department allowed project developers to use a weighted average to comply with the 35-foot maximum height restriction in the San Marco zoning overlay. San Marco-based Corner Lot Development Group, led by Andy Allen, and Birmingham, Alabama-based Harbert Realty Services led development of the project proposed on a section of South Jacksonville Presbyterian Church property at 2137 Hendricks Ave. Park Place at San Marco will be built on 2.09 acres of church property that the devel-
Jacksonville’s unemployment rate fell in February as more people sought jobs and were able to find work. However, area businesses reported their payrolls remain significantly lower than they were a year ago, when the COVID-19 pandemic began forcing companies to shut down. The unemployment rate in the Jacksonville metropolitan area of Duval, Baker, Clay, Nassau and St. Johns counties fell from 4.1% in January to 3.7% in February, the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity reported March 26. The size of the labor force, consisting of people with jobs or actively looking for work, rose by about 2,000 in February to 786,054. Meanwhile, the number of people saying they were employed rose by almost 5,000 to 756,782. Duval County’s unemployment rate fell by 0.3 percentage points to 4.2% in February, but the other four counties in the metropolitan area had lower rates. St. Johns County, at 2.8%, had the second-lowest jobless rate in the state behind Wakulla County’s 2.6%. Baker County was close behind at 2.9%. Nassau County was at 3.2% last month and Clay County was at 3%. Florida’s unemployment rate fell by 0.1 point to a seasonally adjusted 4.7%, the Department of Economic Opportunity said. The state agency does not provide seasonally adjusted data for local areas. However, University of North Florida economist Albert Loh said
SEE JOBS, PAGE 2
SEE JOBS, PAGE 2
JACKSONVILLE
File image
An artist’s rendering of the Park Place at San Marco apartments at 1520 Alford Place. The project is planned on property owned by South Jacksonville Presbyterian Church.
KAREN BRUNE MATHIS EDITOR
The city issued permits March 25 for the $21.9 million, 133-unit apartment project and parking garage.
The city issued permits March 25 for the almost $21.9 million construction of Park Place at San Marco apartments. The 133-unit community is planned on part of the South Jacksonville Presbyterian Church property. Live Oak Contracting LLC will build the four-story, wood-frame apartment building at $16.98 million; a three-level parking garage at $4.45 million; and demolition of part of the church property at $468,000. The property address is 1520 Alford Place. Sanmarc LLC, led by Harbert Realty Services LLC, is the developer. In September, state officials upheld an administrative law judge’s recommendation that allowed the proposed Park Place at San Marco apartment community to proceed as designed. The Florida Department of Economic Opportunity issued a final order Sept. 9 that said a comprehensive plan amendment and
Curry ending Duval mask mandate Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry won’t renew the mask mandate in Duval County. “Since the start of the pandemic, the decisions I’ve made have been based on data. I’ve worked with hospital leadership, researchers, emergency management and more to make decisions that will help keep our community safe. At this time, based on current data, I have decided to lift the mask mandate that requires masks be worn indoors, in public spaces, where you could not be six feet apart,” Curry said in a statement. Businesses still can require customers to wear masks.
VOLUME 108, NO. 94 • ONE SECTION