TUESDAY August 25, 2020
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Daily Record JACKSONVILLE
HOTELS
Baptist Health under contract to buy 23 acres in St. Johns
Daily Record
Omni Jacksonville in review for possible sale
JACKSONVILLE
The medical system will be part of a development to replace the St. Augustine Flea Market, which will close Sept. 27.
Daily Record Daily Record JACKSONVILLE
BY KATIE GARWOOD STAFF WRITER
JACKSONVILLE
Special to the Daily Record
The Omni Jacksonville at 245 Water St. opened in October 1987. The hotel has maintained its brand longer than any other Downtown hotel.
The owner says it is “pursuing the potential sale of assets that no longer align with the direction of our brand.”
The Omni Jacksonville hotel has 354 rooms and suites. The hotel closed for about two months when the pandemic struck in March.
BY MAX MARBUT ASSOCIATE EDITOR
The Omni Jacksonville is one of five properties being reviewed for possible sale by Omni Hotels & Resorts. Peter Strebel, president of Dallas-based Omni Hotels & Resorts, said in a news release Aug. 18 the Jacksonville property and the others, all focused on the business travel Strebel market, were considered for possible sale as part of the company’s strategy even before attempting to control the spread of COVID-19 temporarily shut down the
lodging business. Now, adjusting the inventory is described as part of Omni’s recovery plan. “The hospitality industry was impacted immensely by the pandemic and as we emerge from this crisis, we must be forward thinking about our brand strategies and portfolio offerings. Reinvesting capital into the convention center and
resort market space allows us to grow our business and play to our strengths,” Strebel said. In addition to the hotel in Downtown Jacksonville, four hotels in Texas might be sold: Omni Dallas Hotel at Park West, Omni Austin Hotel at Southpark, Omni San Antonio Hotel at the Colonnade and SEE OMNI, PAGE 2
Baptist Health confirmed Aug. 24 it is under contract to buy 23 acres at Interstate 95 and State Road 207 in St. Johns County, pending the approval of its rezoning, spokeswoman Wesley Roberts said in an email. The St. Johns County Planning & Zoning Agency recommended approval Aug. 20 to rezone the property to include hospital use. The 23 acres would be rezoned from c o m m e r c i a l Roberts intensive and commercial highway tourist to planned unit development to allow for 525,000 square feet of office and commercial use, which would include hospital uses. It awaits approval from the St. Johns County Board of Commissioners. The development, The Pavilion at 207, is the site of the St. Augustine Flea Market. Baptist’s 23 acres are part of the 37-acre proposed development. The flea market, which began operating in 1985, announced Aug. 20 that its last day is Sept. 27. Baptist did not say what it planned to build on the property. AHK Ltd. and St. Johns Interstate LLC, both managed by John Alexon, own the land.
KGARWOOD@ JAXDAILYRECORD.COM (904) 356-2466
190 airport workers could lose jobs HMSHost, which operates concessions at Jacksonville International Airport, filed a notice with state officials saying 190 workers at the airport could be permanently laid off in October. The letter sent Aug. 11 said the company began furloughing workers in March as the COVID-19 pandemic reduced travel through the airport. “While it is our desire to see our airport and motorway traffic return and bring back all our valued associates, and while we reasonably believed this would be possible by summer, the unfortunate (and in March unforeseeable) reality is that it is going to take a significant period for our business to recover,” the letter said.
VOLUME 107, NO. 198 • ONE SECTION