FRIDAY August 23, 2019
Public legal notices begin on page 3
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Daily Record JACKSONVILLE
Blackwater Capital offers JACKSONVILLE for LaVilla property tabled
THE MATHIS REPORT
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KAREN BRUNE MATHIS EDITOR
Retail projects starting off with coffee
JACKSONVILLE
The Downtown Investment Authority plans to create a policy for handling unsolicited bids and offers to purchase city-owned property.
policy on unsolicited bids, but urged the DIA not to “drag your feet.” “These offers were not contingent on the outcome of the LaVilla townhome vote,” Stanly said. “I see opportunity there and I want to leverage and grow that opportunity.” Blackwater, Johnson Commons LLC and Vestcor bid on the townhome project, with Vestcor selected by the DIA. Blackwater’s letters did not specify what it is planning for the properties. Following Wednesday’s meeting, Boyer said the lack of detail in the proposals and Apex’s long-term lease were reasons
Jacksonville appears to love its coffee. Two prominent Southside retail projects are kicking off with two of the largest coffee chains – Starbucks and Dunkin’. Starbucks Coffee Co. is proposed on an outparcel at Baymeadows Park at 7981 Baymeadows Road E., east of Interstate 95. Dunkin’ is in line for a store along Gate Parkway in Southside Quarter, west of I-295. A site plan for Baymeadows Park, still a vacant site, shows a 2,500-square-foot Building 1, and a rendering shows a store labeled “roasted bean coffee.” Kimley-Horn and Associates Inc., the civil engineer, seeks a JEA service availability determination for the project. The $15 million, 95,000-square-foot Baymeadows Park is planned on 5.8 acres at Baymeadows Road and Baymeadows Circle East on the site of the former Baymeadows Golf Club. Joyce Development Group LLC plans five buildings comprising a 64,225-square-foot, 120-room suites hotel; 3,500-square-foot
SEE LAVILLA, PAGE 2
SEE MATHIS, PAGE 2
BY MIKE MENDENHALL STAFF WRITER
An unsolicited offer by Blackwater Capital LLC to purchase 4.95 acres of city-owned land in LaVilla was tabled Wednesday by the Downtown Investment Authority board. The DIA pushed any action on the proposal to at least Sept. 18 as the authority drafts a policy for unsolicited bids within the Downtown Community Redevelopment Area. Blackwater managing member William Stanly III sent two letters of intent to DIA CEO Lori Boyer on Aug. 7, both proposing mixed-use projects to “complement” Stanly the proposed Vestcor Companies townhome development on the adjacent properties. Blackwater was one of two companies that lost the bid to Vestcor on Aug. 8 to develop the for-sale townhomes in LaVilla at Adams, Johnson, Lee and Forsyth streets.
THE BLACKWATER CAPITAL OFFERS Blackwater Capital LLC offered the city $125,000 for this property at Forsyth, Lee, Bay and Johnson streets adjacent to the JTA Jacksonville Regional Transportation Center that is under construction. The company also offered to buy another parcel at 200 N. Lee St. for $350,000.
Blackwater’s first letter offered $125,000 for six parcels at Forsyth, Lee, Bay and Johnson streets, a vacant lot east of the JTA Jacksonville Regional Transportation Center that is under construction. Its second letter suggests Blackwater would purchase the parcel at 200 N. Lee St. for $350,000 on the north side of the future townhome site. Apex Color, a wholesale printing company with a 30,000-square-foot facility and 55 employees, is leasing the site. According to Stanly, his proposal would keep Apex on the site and Blackwater would become its landlord. At the DIA board meeting, Stanly said he agreed with the board’s move to set a
Starbucks proposed at Baymeadows Park and Dunkin’ is making plans at Southside Quarter.
Tommy Bahama Marlin Bar is planned for 2020 Construction will begin this fall on the Tommy Bahama Marlin Bar at St. Johns Town Center. It’s expected to be complete by early 2020. The Tommy Bahama store will relocate across the street from 4813 River City Drive to 4812 River City Drive in the former Brooks Brothers space. The walk-up bar likely would be located on the walkway to the Nordstrom entrance. The 7,760-square-footspace combines a full retail store, along with a restaurant and bar. Brooks Brothers temporarily relocated into a storefront near Nordstrom and will move next to Tommy Bahama when construction is complete.
VOLUME 106, NO. 197 • ONE SECTION