FRIDAY September 11, 2020
Public legal notices begin on page 4
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Daily Record JACKSONVILLE
DEVELOPMENT
THE MATHIS REPORT
Daily Record JACKSONVILLE
Unfinished Berkman Plaza II could be sold soon, demolished
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JACKSONVILLE
A NEW VISION FOR THE BERKMAN PLAZA II SITE
The potential buyers want to demolish the unfinished building for a mixed-use development. BY MIKE MENDENHALL STAFF WRITER
The Berkman Plaza II could soon be sold, according to one of the owners of the unfinished Downtown structure. The property is owned by 500 East Bay LLC, led by principal Bob Ohde. Jim Bergman, who is a partner with Odhe, said they are under contract with a threeperson Jacksonville-based management company and expect to close within 60 days. Downtown Investment Authority Board Chair Ron Moody said Sept. 8 the buyers are led by Brian Wheeler, the owner of GGI Tapestry LLC and a former Genesis Group partner; Park Beeler, F3 Global Solutions managing member
and former executive at The Charter Co.; and Chris Young, president of Charlotte, North Carolina-based Biotech Restorations Holdings LLC. “Obviously, Berkman Plaza has stood out like a sore thumb in the whole scheme of things Downtown,” Beeler said. “As we continued to look at the market and what we saw happening, we basically saw an opportunity to make an offer on it.” Beeler said the group intends to demolish the property, which has sat unfinished on the Downtown Northbank of the St. Johns River for nearly 13 years. Once the acquisition and demolition are complete, Beeler said the 2.02-acre site will be redeveloped into a mixed-use
The Berkman Plaza II at 500 E. Bay St., where construction stopped in 2007, could be demolished for a 300-unit residential development with retail. The group seeking to buy the property contracted KBJ Architects Inc. to design the site.
KAREN BRUNE MATHIS EDITOR
Kenworth applies to build $7M dealership in West Jacksonville The project at 1121 Suemac Road planned for completion by midsummer 2021. The city is reviewing permit applications for a $7 million construction project for Kenworth of Jacksonville Inc.’s new dealership and storage space in West Jacksonville. Auld & White Constructors LLC is the contractor for the project at 1121 Suemac Road. Ebert Norman Brady Architects is the architect. Kenworth bought the West Jacksonville property to develop a truck sales and service center to replace a smaller site nearby. Owner Dennis Ross said in May that he told his team “I am building a new facility that they deserve.” Kenworth, which operates on property leased at 833 Pickettville Road, paid $1.99 million for 12.23 acres on Suemac Road. It bought the undeveloped land from N.G. Wade Investment Co. on March 24. The new site is at northeast Commonwealth Avenue and Interstate 295. Ross said in May that Kenworth employs 88 people. He said he thanked them for being such a high performance team “to give me the confidence to
SEE BERKMAN, PAGE 2
SEE MATHIS, PAGE 2
Armory Building redevelopment approved by MBRC The Mayor’s Budget Review Committee on Sept. 8 approved a request to authorize execution of a lease and economic development agreement for the conversion of the city-owned Armory Building into a cultural arts facility. The agreement is between the city and Fort Lauderdale-based REVA Development Corp., led by Don Patterson. REVA Development will lease the building and purchase an adjacent 3-acre site. REVA will redevelop the Armory Building into “Made at the Armory,” a mixed-use facility focused on the arts. It also plans a $20 million, 100-unit mid-rise apartment building called The Armory Flats.
VOLUME 107, NO. 210 • ONE SECTION