Daily Record Financial News &
Wednesday, May 4, 2016
Vol. 103, No. 123 • Two Sections
35¢ www.jaxdailyrecord.com
Formerly known as The Jacksonville Bank building, the 54-year-old office structure at 100 N. Laura St. Downtown is under renovation and rebranding. A brochure states “100 North Laura, The Future Is Now.” New anchor tenants are in discussion, owners of Black Sheep Restaurant are preparing to open a new concept there and the building is being renovated inside and out. “The whole point is to create a modern building that is unlike any building Downtown,” said Matthew Clark, vice president of Prime Realty Services, representing owners Eddie and Chuck Farah. The Farahs bought the 10-story, 144,079-square-foot building in 2011 through 100 N. Laura Street L.L.C. for $3.5 million. Not counting the restaurant or the bank branch, lobby and exterior improvements are estimated at $1.5 million. Exterior improvements include new awnings, painting and new entrances, as well as signage for the structure and major tenants. Clark said an LED uplighting system is planned that could highlight the building in the colors of the anchor tenant or to reflect holidays and special events. Lobby improvements include a redesign, upgraded ceilings and lighting, new flooring, TVs to provide news and information, a new security system at the front entrance, new elevators and tenant-accessible bathrooms with showers. A $130,000 low-interest city loan was approved by the Downtown Investment Authority toward waterproofing and other work. The loan will be issued once renovations are completed. Mathis continued on Page A-2
Photos by Kevin Hogencamp
Creating building ‘unlike any’ Downtown
The sign says it all. Harry Schnabel — and his dog, Midas — are retiring from Seahorse Florist in Jacksonville Beach after 35 years.
Time to stop and smell the roses Florist taking ‘Midas’ touch into retirement after 35 years By Kevin Hogencamp Contributing Writer
The latest price for a dozen roses is always posted on the store’s outdoor sign.
Race tightens for council VP Candidates racing to reach 10 votes
By David Chapman Staff Writer As the date gets closer to a City Council leadership vote, so does the race to become the next vice president. Veteran council members Doyle Carter and John Crescimbeni are the two remaining candidates of four who initially entered the race. And they’re now separated by just a single pledge, with Crescimbeni having seven commitments to Carter’s six. The first to 10 wins. Efforts to secure the position have sporadically taken place over the past four months, with public meetings scheduled
Public
B-1
Group plans $250,000 stage for Hemming Park
By Max Marbut Staff Writer
Carter
between members and candidates on the internal campaign trail. Along the way, Aaron Bowman and Matt Schellenberg both dropped out as candidates. Bowman ended up pledging to Carter. Schellenberg followed suit Tuesday afternoon in a meeting that took all of three minutes. “I want to be on the winning side,” Schellenberg told Carter. But before Schellenberg signed a commitment letter, he wanted to know how Carter was going to win. Carter gave the easy answer. “I’m going to get 10 votes,” he said, smiling. Earlier in the day, Crescimbeni sat at the same table to talk about
legal notices begin on page
Beaches newcomer Michelle Cooper walked into Seahorse Florist on a Tuesday morning in April and left with two lifelong friendships. At least, that’s what she had hoped. “Harry and Midas. Sweethearts, both of them,” said Cooper, who was ordering a corsage for her son’s prom date. “I met them 15 minutes ago and feel like I’ve known them all my life.” Harry Schnabel has operated Seahorse at 725 N. Third St. in Jacksonville Beach since buying the business in 1981. Midas is his hefty 9-year-old golden retriever, a fixture at the shop since he was
a puppy. Cooper said she was disappointed to learn Schnabel and his beloved companion will soon be relinquishing the keys to the iconic business. “Harry knows how to treat a customer. I call it, ‘the Chick-fil-A treatment,’” she said. “If the new owners learn from Harry, they’ll be learning from a master. I can tell that already.” Schnabel, 74, says a Seahorse buyer is in place and he expects the sale to be wrapped up this month. His advice to the new owner, who he handpicked after turning down other offers for the business: Treat everyone special — no exceptions. Workspace continued on Page A-7
Crescimbeni
his candidacy with council member Reggie Gaffney. It went noticeably longer than three minutes, with Gaffney asking a bevy of questions — much like he did in a recent meeting with Carter. Where do you stand on Downtown development? Crescimbeni said it should be among top priorities like public safety and employee pay raises. How do you feel about divvying up money for council district projects? Crescimbeni has been for it in the past and would be again. What’s your relationship like with Mayor Lenny Curry and his administration? Pretty good, Council VP continued on Page A-4
A capital improvement for the city, a new Downtown entertainment venue for the community and a revenue source for Friends of Hemming Park. That’s the concept behind a proposal to construct a permanent stage at Hemming Park, said Vince Cavin, CEO of the nonprofit contracted by the city to manage the 1-square-block space adjacent to City Hall. The group plans to build the stage using the additional $250,000 approved in the 201516 general fund budget for the Friends’ operations. The contract called for $1 mil-
lion from the city for the group’s first 18 months of management and programming. The additional funds were approved to bridge the gap from the end of funding Feb. 29 to the end of the fiscal year Sept. 30. Cavin said Tuesday the Friends would recoup the $250,000 through a five-year, $50,000-peryear naming rights agreement for the stage with Community First Credit Union, which would pay the entire amount up front. He said the credit union is ready to make the payment “as soon as the legislation is approved,” referring to Ordinance 2016-198, which would transfer $250,000 from the city to the Friends. Hemming continued on Page A-4
2015 Unpaid Tangible Personal Property Tax List See Page B-13 or view the list on jaxdailyrecord.com
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