Daily Record FINANCIAL NEWS &
TUESDAY, JULY 21, 2015
Vol. 102, No. 177 • oNe SectioN
35¢ www.jaxdailyrecord.com
Lemonis would yield to FSCJ’s plans Sweet Pete’s investor says he wants what’s best for Downtown
By David Chapman Staff Writer Florida State College at Jacksonville leadership likes the idea of turning one particular Downtown building into a culinary enterprise and civic engagement center. The 502 N. Hogan St. building would be an attractive complement to student housing the school would like to pursue across the street. One problem? That Hogan Street building is under contract
by Marcus Lemonis, the highprofile partner of Sweet Pete’s who has expansion ideas of his own for the confectioner. Yet, after media reports last week surfaced about FSCJ’s interest, Lemonis said he’s willing to listen. “If there is real interest on the city and college’s part … we would love to have that discussion,” Lemonis said. Lemonis in May agreed to purchase the building and another at 424 N. Hogan St. for additional parking, event and storage space.
However, he said if the school has a better use and it means the 218 W. Church St. building behind Sweet Pete’s also is restored he’d be willing to walk away or work with the school about the Hogan Street building. The Church Street building — the former Florida Baptist Convention Building — is the parcel FSCJ would like to acquire and renovate for 50 or so student housing units. “I would come up with an alternative,” Lemonis said, “if I thought 218 (W. Church St.) could
be restored and renovated.” Told of the school’s concept for the culinary enterprise and civic engagement center, Lemonis called the idea “fantastic.” “Anything that would help Downtown, we’d love to learn more,” he said. FSCJ President Cynthia Bioteau said she was appreciative of Lemonis’ willingness to talk and that discussions would continue about the project. “We both share a common enthusiasm to do what’s right for LEMONIS
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Lemonis
Incentives for ‘Project Post’ clear first hurdle
‘A local, hometown company did something legendary ’
Unnamed finance company seeks $1.8M for 123 jobs
Special to the Daily Record
By David Chapman Staff Writer
The Costa Concordia cruise ship that ran aground and then capsized off the coast of Italy in January 2012 was removed intact by Titan Salvage, a subsidiary of Jacksonville-based Crowley Maritime Corp.
The ‘most technically demanding salvage’ in history By Max Marbut Staff Writer A Jacksonville company accomplished what is considered the most technically demanding salvage operation attempted on a ship of its size in maritime history. The Costa Concordia cruise ship ran aground and capsized off the coast of Italy in January 2012. About two years later, it was towed away from the site after being rolled upright and refloated. “Not a lot of people have heard this story,” said Chuck Nygaard, manager of government business development for Crowley Maritime
Corp. One of its subsidiaries, Titan Salvage, did the job. He shared the story of the salvage on Monday with the Rotary Club of Jacksonville. “A local, hometown company did something legendary,” he said. At about 9:45 p.m. on Jan. 13, with calm seas and overcast weather, Capt. Francesco Schettino ran the ship aground in the Tyrrhenian Sea near Tuscany on the west coast of Italy. Striking an undersea outcropping, a 160-foot gash was torn in the port side, causing the vessel to flood and eventually capsize on SHIP CONTINUED ON PAGE A-3
The Costa Concordia after it was rolled upright near the end of the salvage operation.
48,000
1,200
22,000
44,000
Over $1B
Engineering man hours
Workers from 26 countries
Dives completed
Tons the ship weighed
Price of contract
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An international banking and finance company interested in bringing 123 jobs to Downtown is a step closer to receiving $1.8 million in taxpayer dollars if it comes to Jacksonville. What company is in the running for the money, though, isn’t yet known — state law allows it to remain anonymous until a destination is selected. The City Council Finance Committee on Monday unanimously approved the incentives package, which would provide $393,600 in city incentives and another $1.37 million from the state. Council member Aaron Bowman, who serves as JAXUSA Partnership senior vice president of business development, said company officials were in town for a week before Jacksonville was selected as a finalist. The city is in competition with two others in the Southeast for “Project Post.” “The fact that they came back and selected us is amazing,” said Bowman, who described the project as “interesting.” Despite his role with the chamber, Bowman said he will be voting on the issue after he cleared it with city ethics officials to determine there is no conflict of interest. Ed Randolph, with the city’s economic development office, told committee members the company would create the 123 jobs by the end of 2017. Those jobs would create about $8 million in annual payroll, with each job having an average pay of $64,356 a year plus $20,000 in benefits. The company, Randolph said, has been looking at different Downtown buildings to invest about $3 million into a space. He didn’t name which buildings were under review. The city would be responsible for its 20 percent share of a Qualified Target Industry grant, which comes to $147,600.
26,704
PROJECT
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