Daily Record Financial News &
Tuesday, November 24, 2015
Vol. 103, No. 007 • One Section
35¢ www.jaxdailyrecord.com
RP Funding plans 175 jobs here Maitland company opening Baymeadows service center
Florida-based RP Funding said it is completing lease negotiations to open a Baymeadows servicing center envisioned to grow to 150175 employees. CFO Jon Woods said the Maitland-based company would lease 26,500 square feet of office space at 8381 Dix Ellis Trail, which is Building 500 at the Prominence office park. He said temporary offices are nearby in Building 600 at 8375 Dix Ellis Trail. The Jacksonville office will be involved with servicing, processing, underwriting and closing loans.
Those functions as well as sales and the corporate headquarters remain based in Maitland, where the almost 8-year-old company has grown to a staff of 175. Woods said prospective employees can email jobs@ rpfunding.com. “The talent pool there seems to be very deep and we think there is an opportunity to bring in a
new business model from a mortgage standpoint,” Woods said. He expects the lease and renovations to be completed over the next several months and to reach 175 jobs over the next 12-18 months. Scott Henley of Newmark Grubb Phoenix Realty Group represents RP Funding in the lease negotiations. Woods said Jesse Shimp of JLL represents the landlord, Crocker Partners. RP Funding Direct Mortgage Lender is a full-service lender. It underwrites, closes and funds its loans. Its founder, Robert Palmer, started RP Funding in 2008 with
six employees. The company expanded its Maitland offices from 12,000 square feet to 60,000 and has opened operations centers in Jacksonville and Palmer’s hometown of Lakeland. Palmer hosts the “Saving Thousands” radio program, promoting financial literacy, on more than 90 stations, Woods said. Palmer is the sole owner, president and CEO of RP Funding, he said. Woods said RP Funding moved into its current Maitland location in July 2014 with 75 employees Mathis continued on Page A-3
Palmer
4 council members agree to injunction 5 continue fight against Sunshine Law violations
Sharing a good laugh about a bad golf game
Photo by Fran Ruchalski
By David Chapman Staff Writer
Amid comments about the dismal state of his golf game, Duval County Judge Charles Cofer, left, is presented with a plaque for his service by County Judge Ronald Higbee and a gift certificate for golf equipment. Cofer is retiring Monday after 17 years on the bench. See more photos on Page A-2.
Houston Street Manor moving ahead LaVilla apartments to be complete by December 2017
By Max Marbut Staff Writer
The future of LaVilla will preserve what’s left of the Downtown neighborhood’s past. That was the result of a workshop Monday with the Downtown Development Review Board and developers of Houston Street Manor, a 72-unit, seven-story apartment building for seniors at Houston and Jefferson streets near the Duval County
Public
Courthouse. The review board approved the conceptual site plan Nov. 3 and the Downtown Investment Authority approved a resolution Nov. 18 granting development rights for the project to Sarasota-based Beneficial Communities. It will be the first residential development in LaVilla since the area was cleared of all but a few buildings 20 years ago as part of the River City Renaissance urban revitalization project.
legal notices begin on page
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The workshop was scheduled to resolve the question of whether Houston Street should be widened to accommodate the apartment building and still maintain a vehicle- and pedestrian-friendly environment. It was noted during the review that while Houston Street is a two-way street, it is too narrow to conform with existing building codes. City Historic Planner Joel McEachin DDRB cont inued on Page A-3
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Nine City Council members had the opportunity to take a settlement regarding possible Sunshine Law violations. Four did. Five didn’t. Now those five will have to pay to defend themselves in court unless another settlement opportunity arises. The suit stemmed from the Sept. 21 council meeting when the budget was finalized. Fire Union President Randy Wyse texted several council members to seek support for $330,000 needed to prevent demotions within the department. The money was pulled from a drainage fund after a couple of votes saw three members flip-flop their decisions. In the weeks that followed, The Florida Times-Union reported on the series of text exchanges. A lawsuit was filed by the Concerned Taxpayers of Duval County alleging Sunshine Law violations relating to the vote and contact with Wyse, along with a separate text exchange between two members. Council members Aaron Bowman, Katrina Brown, Reggie Brown, Doyle Carter, Garrett Dennis, Reggie Gaffney, Tommy Hazouri and Scott Wilson were defendants along with Wyse, who was named as a liaison, of sorts, for the conversations. Council member Joyce Morgan later came forward with text messages, according to John Winkler, president of the taxpayers group. Bowman, Hazouri, Wilson and Morgan signed a settlement Friday. Terms include an injunction for one year, where those members can’t privately communicate city business during a public meeting and must retain pertinent records. Council members also received additional ethics training. The city also will pay $25,000 to the Concerned Taxpayers for its legal fees.
26,787
Texting
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consecutive weekdays