Daily Record Financial News &
Friday, May 6, 2016
Vol. 103, No. 125 • One Section
35¢ www.jaxdailyrecord.com
Costco Wholesale is a few big steps closer to opening a membership warehouse club in Southwest Jacksonville. Landowner Thomas Dumas, who leads Harmony Farms of Jacksonville LLC, filed plans with the city and with the St. Johns River Water Management District for permits at a 43.72-acre site. Costco Wholesale is shown as a 152,626-square-foot building with 655 parking spaces and a fueling facility on 16.5 acres. The location is at Collins and Parramore roads, south of Interstate 295. It is across Collins Road from the new Walmart Supercenter. Thomas Engineering Group LLC of Tampa is the agent and engineering consultant. Costco has not responded to phone calls or an email request for comment. Costco Wholesale Corp. is based in Issaquah, Wash. Its only Jacksonville store is near St. Johns Town Center in Southside at Butler Boulevard and Gate Parkway, near I-295. Dumas said he could not comment because of a confidentiality agreement. The project has been in discussion for at least two years. District 14 City Council member Jim Love welcomed news that plans were filed. “This is a very good sign, in my opinion,” he said. Love said road improvements make the deal workable. The city, Jacksonville Transportation Authority and the developer are working toward improvement of Parramore Road to connect Youngerman Circle and Collins Road. Mathis continued on Page A-2
Photo by Max Marbut
Plans filed for Westside Costco
Suzanne Hudson-Smith, director of development at the Florida Theatre, has two weeks to apply the finishing touches to “Rock the Future,” the theater’s fundraising gala.
Gala first, finding new money second
Florida Theatre development director wants to build relationships By Max Marbut Staff Writer There’s nothing like hitting the ground running. At least not for Suzanne Hudson-Smith, who in February became director of development at the Florida Theatre. On her first day, the fourth annual gala for the nonprofit that manages the historic venue was only about three months away. As of this morning, it’s two weeks — not that there’s any pressure. “It’s our biggest fundraiser of the year,”
said Hudson-Smith. This year’s theme is “Rock the Future,” a chance to talk about the theater’s upward trend as it approaches its 90th anniversary in 2017, she said. Forsyth Street will be blocked off the morning of May 20 so a tent can be set up in front of the theater. When guests arrive at 6 p.m., cocktails will be served, followed by a seated dinner catered by Café Nola at the Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville. “Even the menu has a futuristic theme,” said Hudson-Smith.
It begins with “puffed and extruded bar snacks” and continues with smoked duck breast and poached shrimp. Entrees will be blackened fish and sous vide chicken — which is sealed in a plastic bag and then immersed in a temperaturecontrolled water bath. Hudson-Smith said about 150 tickets had been sold as of Thursday for $500 per person. Also on the schedule for gala evening is a 9-11 p.m. after-party inside the theater with a live band on stage. It’s included for gala Theater continued on Page A-3
Is Riverside restaurant a benefit or bane?
Kevin Pettway can sit on his front porch, look slightly left down Oak Street and see the cluster of buildings that’s caused quite the Riverside controversy in recent months. It’s a small shopping center with frontages that bear the Deluxe Laundry and Dry Cleaners along with De Luxe Launderette names, although they’ve been gone for more than a decade. Pettway wants to see something positive in the space — but not what developers are pitching for the neighborhood. The Roost would be a 150seat restaurant with a full liquor
Public
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I believe in historic preservation and the power of the people. I am going to bet on civic engagement.
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By David Chapman Staff Writer
Jennifer Wolfe About proposed restaurant license and outside seating. Developers are seeking a needed zoning change, saying it “will benefit the surrounding neighborhood and community,” according to documents filed with the city. Not everyone agrees it’s a benefit.
legal notices begin on page
A-9
Since being proposed in fall, there’s been a concerted pushback from some residents like Pettway and Jennifer Wolfe. They’re part of the Positive Riverside Optimized Urban Development citizen group — otherwise known as PROUD. The expected influx of people and cars, along with outside service and the liquor license are part of the reason they said a use like The Roost wouldn’t work. “When you put a restaurant or any overly intense commercial use in a residential neighborhood, it’s like a cancer,” said Wolfe. “It grows … it encroaches.” Wolfe lives a little over a block away from shopping center. She The Roost continued on Page A-4
Photo by David Chapman
The Roost has been mired in months-long dispute
Jennifer Wolfe and Kevin Pettway are Riverside residents who oppose a mostly vacant strip center being converted into a 150-seat restaurant. The disagreement between some neighbors and developers will be decided by City Council next week.
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