Daily Record FINANCIAL NEWS &
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FRIDAY, DECEMBER 4, 2015
Vol. 103, No. 015 • oNe SectioN
www.jaxdailyrecord.com
Religion and HRO whip up emotions
We sense our identity is tied to Downtown and we’re committed to Downtown. That’s why we invest in these facilities. The Rev. John Blount, senior executive pastor at First Baptist Church Jacksonville
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Strong, mixed reactions from crowd of 1,000
The 2,800-seat Ruth Lindsay Auditorium at First Baptist Church Jacksonville is being renovated from floor to ceiling and wall to wall.
Photo by Max Marbut
By David Chapman Staff Writer Sides were being courted outside Edward Waters College’s gymnasium Thursday evening. Raymond Johnson stood near the entrance passing out blue signs. On them was the simply stated “No to HRO.” The back of his shirt proclaimed it a little louder: “Jacksonville says No! No! No! to HRO.” The consultant and founder of Biblical Concept Ministries was offering passersby the opportunity for a shirt like his if they wanted one. Not 20 feet away from him were a few mostly young men and women with just the opposite on their minds. In their hands were clipboards. “Are you here to support equality?” they asked in chipper tones. The inquiry was met with silence by an older couple who made their way to the forming line, eager attendees waiting to pass through tightened security. It wasn’t a basketball game or any sporting event in the college’s gym. Instead, the more than 1,000 people who turned out were there to listen and talk about expanding the city’s human rights ordinance. Two weeks after a forum focused on family and youth relating to the subject, Thursday evening’s theme revolved around religion. The format was the same — a panel discussion followed by an audience questionand-answer session — but the process was tweaked after criticism from the first forum. Only nine people were able to speak last time because of time constraints. And they all spoke in favor of expanding the human rights ordinance, leading to criticism from opponents who were significantly outnumbered. On Thursday, those odds changed. The sides were more evenly split as evidenced by the corresponding orange and blue stickers that tagged allegiances. Applause levels also served as a gauge. At times, audience members wildly
‘ We have more projects planned ’ By Max Marbut Staff Writer For the first time since it opened nearly 40 years ago, a 2,800-seat auditorium Downtown is undergoing a $3 million renovation. It’s not the Florida Theatre. It’s not a venue at the Times-Union Center for the Performing Arts. And it’s not inside any of the office towers. It’s the Ruth Lindsay Auditorium at First Baptist Church Jacksonville. When the project is complete in February, there will be a new stage and seats; state-of-the-art HDTV, stage lighting and audio systems; LED lighting; and new wall and floor finishes. “It’s a back-to-the-bones redo,” said
the Rev. John Blount, senior executive pastor. The renovated auditorium will continue to be used for Wednesday night services and group events, he said. The general contractor on the job, Perry-McCall Construction Co., completed in 2011 the $2.6 million renovation of the church’s 10,000-seat main auditorium. The current project follows a $2 million renovation of three floors of classrooms and a music room in the preschool building next door to the auditorium. Those are just some of the investments in Downtown made by First Baptist. The church was established in 1838, FIRST BAPTIST CONTINUED ON PAGE A-2
The inside of the auditorium, where Wednesday services and other events are held, before the renovations began.
Photo from metrojacksonville.com
$3M Lindsay auditorium renovation underway at First Baptist Church
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Luxury apartments proposed in Mayport
Image from Becovic Management Group of Indiana
A rendering of the proposed Ocean Blue Apartments along Mayport Road, which are being developed by Becovic Management Group of Indiana.
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An Indiana-based developer wants to start construction early next year on a more than $12 million, 156-unit gated luxury apartment community in the Mayport area. Becovic Management Group of Indiana, based near Indianapolis, hopes to complete the land acquisition and begin development in February, pending approvals. The Ocean Blue Apartments are proposed on almost 15.6 acres of undeveloped property at 2701 Mayport Road, whose
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address is Atlantic Beach. The project will include seven three-story residential buildings, four garage structures, a clubhouse, pool, cyber café and espresso bar, outdoor movie theater, on-site car wash and walking trail. Developer Muhamed Becovic said he hopes to have the first building open for leasing in the summer and the entire project completed in April or May 2017. “We definitely believe in that market,” MATHIS CONTINUED ON PAGE A-4
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