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Daily Record JACKSONVILLE
RAIL YARD DISTRICT BUSINESS COUNCIL
THE MATHIS REPORT
Daily Record JACKSONVILLE
After exceeding expectations in first year, group looks ahead Formed to help revitalize and promote a historic 4½-square-mile area in Northwest Jacksonville, the group sees membership increase to 62 businesses.
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Sleiman plans Villages of Ponte Vedra
BY KATIE GARWOOD STAFF WRITER
A year after its creation, the Rail Yard District Business Council increased its membership to 62 businesses and plans to continue neighborhood improvements in the coming year. The council’s mission is to advance economic development of the 4½-square-mile historic residential and commercial area northwest of Downtown bounded by interstates 95 and 10, Kings Road and Huron Street. Council membership is open to businesses and residents in the district, as well as those in the greater Jacksonville area. In its inaugural year, the council held quarterly meetings, hosted city leaders, received grants from the Local Initiatives Support Corp. for signage, sponsored a candidate forum and a job fair, added murals and partnered with other urban neighborhoods. Goals for 2019-20 include advancing advocacy efforts for infrastructure improvements, developing its social media and web presence, recruiting businesses to the area and strengthening the district’s branding, said Rail Yard Council President Jeff Edwards. “We have exceeded all expectations for our first year and see significant continuing growth in members and accomplishments going forward based on member involvement and community enthusiasm for our mission,” Edwards said. SEE RAIL YARD, PAGE 2
KAREN BRUNE MATHIS EDITOR
JACKSONVILLE
Photo by Katie Garwood
Rail Yard District Business Council President Jeff Edwards said the group is seeing continuing growth in members and “community enthusiasm for our mission.”
The project would include commercial, hotel and office space. Jacksonville-based Sleiman Enterprises proposes a retail, office and hotel development called the Villages of Ponte Vedra south of the Duval County line. The St. Johns County Growth Management Department is reviewing an application for the Villages of Ponte Vedra on 4.3 acres west of Florida A1A, between Marsh Landing Parkway and Professional Drive. Sleiman Enterprises, which owns more than 90 properties throughout the Southeast totaling more than 5 million square feet of space, seeks rezoning to allow for up to 51,600 square feet of commercial, office and hotel space. The hotel would be up to 120 rooms. The site is south of the Targetanchored South Beach Parkway Plaza in Jacksonville Beach. Sleiman Enterprises wants to rezone the property from single family to planned unit development. The master development document says the uses are compatible with neighboring and adjacent properties along Florida A1A. “The Project will fill an SEE MATHIS, PAGE 2
Cox selling radio group to Apollo After agreeing in April to sell its television group, including two Jacksonville stations, Cox Enterprises Inc. is selling its radio group, including six Jacksonville stations, to the same buyer. Private equity funds affiliated with Apollo Global Management LLC agreed to buy Atlantabased Cox’s group of 60 radio stations in 11 markets. The group includes WAPE 95.1 FM, WJGL 96.9 FM, WEZI 102.9 FM, WXXJ 106.5 FM and WOKV 104.5 FM and 690 AM. Cox’s portfolio of 14 TV stations includes WFOX TV-30, and it also operates WJAX TV-47 under a shared services agreement. Cox said Apollo plans to continue running the radio and TV operations together.
VOLUME 106, NO. 163 • ONE SECTION