THURSDAY May 6, 2021
The Mathis Report: ArdentX moving to a bigger space PAGE 4
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Daily Record JACKSONVILLE
LAW DAY 2021
The District may get a new name
Christian George wins Daily Record Lawyer of the Year JACKSONVILLE
Developer Preston Hollow plans a May 25 groundbreaking for the Downtown Southbank project.
Daily Record F Daily Record JACKSONVILLE
Inspire to Rise founder Aida Seeraj wins the Liberty Bell Award.
STAFF WRITER
or his work
administering financial aid
appropriated by the
JACKSONVILLE
city for residents facing eviction or foreclosure, Christian George is the 2021 Jacksonville Daily Record Lawyer of the Year.
PAGE 9 MORE LAW DAY n The Liberty Bell Award is presented to Aida Seeraj, founder and CEO of the nonprofit Inspire to Rise Inc. Page 12 n Some annual events were canceled by the pandemic, but the Rendezvous on the Rooftop cocktail party and silent auction raised money for Dreams Come True. Page 13 n What the rule of law means to members of Jacksonville’s legal community. Page 14
BY MIKE MENDENHALL
Photo by Katie Garwood
2021 Jacksonville Daily Record Lawyer of the Year Christian George accepts the award from Editor Karen Brune Mathis.
After seven years of planning and delays, dirt is moving at The District site on the Downtown Southbank. Developer Preston Hollow Capital LLC plans a May 25 groundbreaking that could include a project name change. “In mid-to-late May, a lot of activity is going to start being evident on the site and we’ll be coming out May 25 with an update on all fronts as it relates to the property (and) the timing,” said Ramiro Albarran, Preston Hollow managing director of origination and structuring. “There may be a name change but I’m not ready to release that yet.” In an April 23 interview, Albarran said the Dallas-based real estate capital firm will not be a vertical developer on the project and will market the individual property parcels at the 32-acre site to other developers. Since Preston Hollow assumed control of The District’s development company Elements Development of Jacksonville LLC in October, private interest to build at the site increased, according to Downtown Investment Authority CEO Lori Boyer. She said April 23 those talks prompted Preston Hollow to request the Downtown Development Review Board to approve changes to The District’s site plan. The Downtown project would bring retail and restaurants, office space, hotel, residential units, a public marina and new riverfront SEE THE DISTRICT, PAGE 8
THE BASCH REPORT
Fortegra IPO withdrawn as parent’s stock slips Plus: Stein Mart stock is canceled. PAGE 3 VOLUME 108, NO. 121 • TWO SECTIONS