WEDNESDAY August 12, 2020
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Daily Record JACKSONVILLE
THE MATHIS REPORT
Daily Record JACKSONVILLE
Permits in review for $36M in two Downtown projects
THE DVI REPORT For the full report, visit downtownjacksonville.org/ research
Daily Record Daily Record JACKSONVILLE
KAREN BRUNE MATHIS EDITOR
The Independent Life Building and Ashley Square would create 140 market-rate and 120 older adult apartments.
The city is reviewing plans for almost $36 million in two Downtown Jacksonville residential and retail construction projects. At 233 W. Duval St., the city is reviewing permit applications for the adaptive reuse of the Independent Life Building at a cost of $19 million. At 650 N. Newnan St., a permit is in review for the $16.5 million Ashley Square apartments. St. Augustine-based Augustine Development Group intends to redevelop the 19-story Independent Life Building to include 140 market-rate apartments with a grocery store on the ground floor and basement and a rooftop terrace with a pool, lounge and restaurant. The restaurant and grocery store will be leased to private operators. Dasher Hurst Architects is the architect of the reuse project. The contractor is listed as to be determined. Bryan Greiner, president of Augustine Group, said Oct. 10 that his group plans to
JACKSONVILLE
A snapshot of Downtown before the pandemic
The annual DVI report finds a growing residential market and flat lease rates for commercial office space.
INDEPENDENT LIFE BUILDING
Augustine Development Group applied for permits to demolish the interior and renovate the Independent Life Building into apartments and retail space at 233 W. Duval St.
File images
BY MIKE MENDENHALL STAFF WRITER
ASHLEY SQUARE APARTMENTS The city is reviewing a permit application for the $16.5 million construction of the 120-unit Ashley Square apartments for older adults at 650 N. Newnan St.
Downtown Jacksonville’s residential and commercial office development grew steadily in the last 18 months and before the impact of COVID-19, according to Downtown Vision Inc.’s annual report released Aug. 11. Downtown’s average office lease rate continues to trend lower than Florida’s three other largest central business districts. DVI included a disclaimer with the report that the data was gathered before the impact of the pandemic. “Pre-pandemic, Downtown Jacksonville was growing rapidly,” DVI CEO Jake Gordon said in a news release. “Despite the severe impact on many businesses, major construction continues and the stimulus support is helping. The public and private sector(s) are pulling together to keep Downtown growing,” Gordon said. Gordon and Downtown Investment Authority CEO Lori Boyer
SEE MATHIS, PAGE 2
SEE DOWNTOWN, PAGE 2
Forcura building-out its expanded headquarters The city issued a permit Aug. 5 for Jacksonville-based Forcura LLC’s expanded headquarters space in Deerwood South. Tenant Contractors Inc. will build-out almost 27,000 square feet of space at a construction cost of $1 million on the fourth floor of Building 400 at 10151 Deerwood Park Blvd. The structure is in Deerwood South, at southeast Butler and Southside boulevards. The health care technology company announced May 27 it will add 115 jobs by the end of 2022 and open the new headquarters office. The project’s completion is Oct. 19.
VOLUME 107, NO. 189 • ONE SECTION