Daily Record Financial News &
Tuesday, April 7, 2015
Vol. 102, No. 102 • One Section
www.jaxdailyrecord.com
Tearing down means progress
“I love the creative aspect of One Spark. It proves that the little guy can create a business through social media and hard work.”
The sidewalk in front of the Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville will become an outdoor seating area for Café Nola. The setting was constructed by mural artist Shaun Thurston and is reminiscent of his Project Atrium One Spark 2014 entry.
A spark for Downtown
By Max Marbut Staff Writer Veteran One Spark creators –– artists and entrepreneurs who will again be showcasing their ideas during the annual festival –– were checking in Monday at the event’s Bay Street headquarters. About half of the 550 registered exhibitors were expected to have credentials in hand by the end of the day. Most will begin setting up their exhibits today in advance of the festival, which officially kicks off at 11 a.m. Wednesday. Ryan Thompson will be showing GAAM, his new video game, this year at the Jacksonville Landing. It
One Spark 2015 highlights
is his third year as an exhibitor. He said he knows what he’s in for and is looking forward to five long days of pitching his new creation. “It will be our third year of taking a One Spark beating, but we’ll survive,” said Thompson. “It’s a lot of work, but it’s worth it.” What brings him back each year is the opportunity to demonstrate his latest ideas. “One Spark is a great promotional avenue,” Thompson said. Back for a second year is Shannon Palmer, who will show “Yarn Bomb Jax,” a textile art that utilizes the urban streetscape as the canvas. She said her assigned venue this One Spark... Continued on Page A-3
Today 9 6
a.m.-5 p.m.: Speaker Summit, Florida Theatre p.m.: Opening ceremony, Hemming Park
Wednesday-Saturday
8 p.m.-1 a.m.: One Spark After Dark presented by Brumos Automotive, Bay and Ocean streets
Wednesday-Sunday
11 a.m.-9 p.m.: Creator showcases, various venues 11 a.m.-10 p.m.: Food village, Forsyth and Laura streets 3-9 p.m.: Creator Pitch Deck, Hemming Park; the Jacksonville Landing, and Main and Forsyth streets 4-10 p.m.: Beer villages, Forsyth and Hogan streets
Sunday
5-7 p.m.: Closing ceremony, Hemming Park
Photo by Max Marbut
Tammy Wehner, exhibiting Vintage Furniture Paint
Festival back for Year 3
35¢
Sure signs of development going up are when buildings are coming down. Two high-profile sites near Downtown — one in Riverside and another in San Marco — should be razed soon, paving the way for new construction. At 1500 Riverside Ave., a 4,316-squarefoot building will be taken down and the asphalt parking area and concrete walks will be removed on the site, just over a half-acre. The site is a former medical office at Riverside Avenue and Lomax Street. Going up will be a one-story, 5,000-square-foot office building for the Alexander DeGance Barnett law firm. Partner Michelle Bedoya Barnett expects the firm to move in October from its leased space, about 3,500 square feet, in One Enterprise Center Downtown. W.R. Townsend Construction LLC is the contractor for the demolition and Scherer Construction of North Florida LLC will handle site preparation and construction. The firm, founded in April 2010, bought the property in December 2013 through ADB Real Estate Holdings LLC. Partner Mark Alexander said in April 2014 that the total investment in the project would be more than $2 million. Construction was anticipated to start last June, but Barnett said the plan has been to move this October when its lease will expire. “We made use of this time to invest in a more efficient design that will better suit the needs of our law firm,” she said. “We are right on track.” The building initially was designed as a two-story, more than 9,000-square-foot building but Barnett said the structure was redesigned as one story and with as many workstations as in the original design. Riverside is the site of significant development and redevelopment from Brooklyn, at the Acosta Bridge, into the area where the firm is building, west of the Interstate 95 overpass. Along Riverside Avenue in Brooklyn, Mathis... Continued
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Long-term deal nearly in place for water taxi
By David Chapman Staff Writer
Kept afloat with a shortterm agreement and prolonged through monthly extensions, a long-term fix for Downtown’s water taxi is in reach. The city and current operator, Lakeshore Marine, have a deal in place that would keep the service with the Jacksonville-based company for at least five years. There’s just one final piece needed to make it work.
Public
Lakeshore has until May 22 to show proof of vessels for the long-term deal. It’s been using two boats bought last year by Harry Frisch, chairman of Beaver Street Fisheries. Frisch paid almost $339,000 for the boats after the mayor’s office bought them on an emergency basis, but the purchase was later deemed unauthorized. Lakeshore will use Frisch’s boats — the 102-passenger Native Choice and 50-passenger Sea Charm 1 — until at least April 30.
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Heather Surface, a Lakeshore Marine partner, said the company is trying to “exhaust all efforts” to keep the Frisch boats in Jacksonville. She said the current level of business doesn’t support the expense, though, which is why other revenue streams are needed. Surface said a 50-passenger vessel has been secured and that with its larger engine, it can more easily travel farther distances to waterfront destinations like Jacksonville University and the Jack-
sonville Zoo and Gardens. It will operate as a private charter for JU students Downtown this week for One Spark. If Lakeshore comes to a deal for the Frisch boats, the service would have a capacity of more than 200 — well over the required 120 the long-term contract calls for during football games at EverBank Field and other large events. Surface said there are other boats identified as backups, but the hope is still for a deal with Frisch.
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“We have a good relationship and we have been communicating with them,” she said. For now, the latest short-term extension for the service with the Frisch boat runs until April 30, according to Pam Roman, city Parks, Recreation and Community Development spokeswoman. Once boats are secure and Lakeshore signs the city deal, it’s on to finding a way to make the service sustainable. Surface said ridership numbers are “still very Taxi... Continued on Page A-4
consecutive weekdays