FRIDAY November 19, 2021 jaxdailyrecord.com • 35 cents
The Markets at Town Center sold for $93 million PAGE 2 Public legal notices begin on page 6
Daily Record JACKSONVILLE
DEVELOPMENT
After nearly 40 years, Pozin family sells Ramada
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New Shipyards MOSH site moves toward DIA deal
JACKSONVILLE
File image
The Mandarin hotel, which features Gigi’s Restaurant and The Comedy Zone, is now owned by Starr Properties.
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A conceptual rendering of Jacksonville Museum of Science and History along the St. Johns River.
BY MAX MARBUT ASSOCIATE EDITOR
to raise money to leave 1025 Museum Circle on the Downtown Southbank, its home since 1967. MOSH CEO Bruce Fafard told the board Nov. 17 the museum has outgrown its existing 77,000 square feet, where it annually hosts 180,000 to 226,000 visitors. “Building a new museum with roughly twice the capacity will allow us to grow our annual visitors from where we are today to somewhere between 400,000
After owning and managing the Ramada by Wyndham Jacksonville Hotel & Conference Center for nearly four decades, Fred Pozin is retiring and turning over the keys to a new owner and manager. “It has been a long run, but it came time to sell the business,” Pozin, 63, said Nov. 15. Pozin and his parents bought the Mandarin property 38 years ago. A graduate of Florida State University with a degree in hospitality management, Pozin became general manPozin ager. Effective Nov. 17, Ormond Beach-based Starr Properties LLC owns and manages the 150-room hotel, along with its 10,000-squarefoot conference center, 200-seat Gigi’s Restaurant and 300-seat Comedy Zone nightclub that opened in 1990. “The Pozin family ran a great business. We are honored that they chose us,” said Ty Lohman, CEO of Starr Properties. Terms of the sale were not disclosed. Lohman said he expects a “seamless transition.” The team at the hotel will remain in place. Starr Properties plans to update the guest rooms, meeting space and restaurant. The property is at 3130 Hartley
SEE MOSH, PAGE 3
SEE POZIN, PAGE 3
JACKSONVILLE
NEW MOSH SITE
THE SHIPYARDS This map shows the parcels available for development at the Shipyards along the St. Johns River. The Jaguars Four Seasons development is moving forward while the Lot J development failed to advance.
The museum’s CEO expects the design for the $85 million facility by mid-2022. BY MIKE MENDENHALL STAFF WRITER
The Downtown Investment Authority is on track to complete a land lease agreement with the Jacksonville Museum of Science and History for the nonprofit’s plan to relocate to the city-owned Shipyards on the Northbank. The DIA board voted 7-0 on Nov. 17 to market a 6.86-acre parcel at the Shipyards east of Hogans Creek for 30 days before completing a long-term lease agreement with MOSH in January.
The DIA must issue the 30-day notice before accepting an unsolicited bid or offer from a developer, company or organization for city-owned propFafard erty. If the board does not receive any viable bids, its staff can complete negotiations with MOSH for the land lease. In October, the museum board announced the MOSH Genesis campaign
Historic Southbank building OK’d for renovations The city issued a permit Nov. 12 for Jacksonville-based online furniture dealer Industry West to build-out its new headquarters in the historic 1001 Kings Ave. building on the Downtown Southbank. It also will be the office for Breeze Homes. River City Contractors is the contractor for the almost $1.76 million project for interior alterations of the building at southeast Kings Avenue and Prudential Drive. Bold Line Design LLC of Ponte Vedra is the architect. Plans show the modification of a threestory historic landmark structure that was developed before 1912.
VOLUME 109, NO. 5 • ONE SECTION