TUESDAY July 28, 2020 jaxdailyrecord.com • 35 cents
10/Six Grille restaurant Downtown won’t reopen PAGE 2 Public legal notices begin on page 3
Daily Record JACKSONVILLE
THE MATHIS REPORT
Ascension pays $17.9M for land in St. Johns
Seminole Building adding event space Daily Record JACKSONVILLE
It plans to start work on a hospital in the fall.
Daily Record Daily Record JACKSONVILLE
BY SCOTT SAILER STAFF WRITER
KAREN BRUNE MATHIS EDITOR
The third floor of the building anchored by Sweet Pete’s is being transformed into a “high-end wedding and corporate event venue” named White Hall.
Owners of the historic Seminole Building Downtown are setting the stage to branch into weddings, as well as other events. The city issued a permit July 22 for property owner 400 Hogan LLC, led by investor Alex Sifakis, to renovate the third floor of the 111-yearold building, whose anchor tenant is Sweet Pete’s candy company. The buildSifakis ing is at 400 N. Hogan St., across from City Hall. “We turned the third floor back into an event space,” Sifakis said July 27. “We really wanted to make it into a high-end wedding and corporate event venue.” He said the 5,000-square-foot space is available for that and also continues to host Sweet Pete’s field trips. The third floor is called White Hall. Sifakis contracted with SEE MATHIS, PAGE 2
JACKSONVILLE
Photos by Monty Zickuhr
Walls were removed to create this open space on the third floor of the Seminole Building.
The groom’s room features a big-screen TV and wall of clocks.
A chandelier hangs over the entrance to the banquet space.
Ascension St. Vincent’s paid $17.95 million for land to build a hospital at the Fountains North in St. Johns County. St. Johns County Clerk of Courts records show St. Vincent’s Health Systems Inc. bought more than 33 acres northeast of Interstate 95 and County Road 210 West along CE Wilson Boulevard on July 23. The exact parcel size is unavailable. The deed recorded July 27 lists multiple sellers: Sylvia Smallwood, Eastbourne Jacksonville LLC, Sally D. Lott, Cameron C. Manning Wright, the Anna Jo Manning Trust, Cheryl A. and William Bown and DAR Investments One LLC. The health system expects construction will start this fall on the $115 million, 150,000-squarefoot hospital comprising 56 beds, including eight for intensive care. Completion is anticipated in 2022. The hospital will offer emergency services, short-term care, cardiovascular care, orthopedics and musculoskeletal care, general surgical services, and laboratory and imaging services. It will be Ascension St. Vincent’s first hospital in St. Johns County and it is expected to create 600 jobs. Ascension Florida and Gulf Coast President and CEO Tom VanOsdol said in a news release July 24 there is room for expansion on the campus. Chief Strategy Officer David Meyer said it eventually could accommodate up to 300 beds.
SSAILER@JAXDAILYRECORD.COM (904) 356-2466
The bride’s room includes mirror space for preparation.
Jacksonville Beach Books-A-Million not closing A week after hanging a giant “Store Closing” banner above the entrance to its Jacksonville Beach store, Books-A-Million announced July 24 it is keeping its store open after renewing its lease with Sleiman Enterprises. The company did not mention any issues with lease negotiations as a reason for closing the store. Books-A-Million was an original tenant at South Beach Parkway Plaza at 738 Marsh Landing Parkway, which is anchored by Publix and Target stores. It opened in 1995.
VOLUME 107, NO. 178 • ONE SECTION