Daily Record Financial News &
Monday, May 23, 2016
Vol. 103, No. 136 • Two Sections
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Seeking ‘justice gap’ help for the long term Florida Bar commission wants permanent role to help access issues
By David Chapman Staff Writer
understand and realize the need for people with low and moderate incomes to be able to access legal services. However, society still has to be convinced it’s something that needs financial help. Kowalski, Jacksonville Area Legal Aid’s executive director, sees states like New York and Texas taking proactive approaches to the issue. “This should be an active think tank,” he said. The commission will make that request as part of its final report to the full Supreme Court in the coming months. Meeting Friday in Jacksonville,
the commission began that process by hearing from subcommittees dealing with issues like access, technology and funding. While Florida’s overall access issue still is a plight, Kowalski and MacKenzie have been part of a team that has made headway for a local pilot program that could end up serving as a statewide model. The two describe the Clay County pilot program sort of like an air traffic controller at an airport — the goal is to guide users promptly and efficiently to their destination. Users dealing with Commission continued on Page A-6
Kinne celebrates 99th birthday with lots of love Former Jacksonville University President Frances Bartlett Kinne had a birthday celebration to remember Sunday. The JU chancellor emeritus and woman of many firsts had a line of people waiting to wish her a happy 99th birthday and to thank her for what she’s done over the years. See more from Kinne’s celebration, Page A-9.
By Karen Brune Mathis, Managing Editor
Public
A rendering of the Project Duval, also known as Project Rex, but widely believed to be Amazon.com, was included in building plans submitted last week to the city. The rendering includes “client logo” where the name will be placed. The site is under contract north of Interstate 295 at Pecan Park and Duval roads near Jacksonville International Airport. City and state tax incentives will provide $18.4 million in refunds, grants, road improvements and training. City Council approved its part of the deal in April. The legislation and other public documents outline that the company will hire 1,500 people, including 500 that make at least $50,000 a year. Peak seasonal employment will increase the workforce to 3,500
legal notices begin on page
B-2
Photo by Karen Brune Mathis
Expected Amazon.com center in for permitting Plans and a building-permit application were filed late last week for Project Duval, the expected Amazon.com fulfillment center in North Jacksonville, that confirm an almost 2.4 million-square-foot project. Also called Project Rex, the structure will be built on almost 148 acres at 12900 Pecan Park Road at a cost of $87 million. Plans describe it as a distribution center and fulfillment center. With an 806,088-square-foot ground floor, it also has three mezzanine levels that appear to be highly automated with robotics. While the permit indicates a 2.1 millionsquare-foot project, the extensive plans state it will be 2,396,859 square feet. No contractor is listed. Tetra Tech Inc. is the consultant and the agent’s engineer. Seattle-based Amazon.com and city and state leaders have not confirmed the identity of the project, whose description in incentives legislation matches the company.
MacKenzie
Parkway to sell off local buildings
Photo by Fran Ruchalski
Finding ways to fill Florida’s “justice gap” isn’t a short-term project. There isn’t a quick-fix to improving access to the legal system for those who either can’t afford it or don’t know how. Even if the Florida Commission on Access to Civil Justice had made large strides in helping Floridians in need, the problem isn’t going away — and now the commission believes it needs to stay, too. Florida Supreme Court Chief
Justice Jorge Labarga said Friday his belief in that has only grown stronger. Supreme Court Justice Barbara Pariente called a permanent commission a “no brainer.” Closer to home, advocates and commission members Jim Kowalski and Donny MacKenzie are strongly on board. “The country is looking at us,” said MacKenzie, the 2015-16 Florida Bar Foundation president. “We need to finish the work.” The Holland & Knight partner has served with the commission since it was established in November 2014. He said in that time he’s learned people vaguely
people working two shifts. Construction is expected to start this summer on the total $200 million project, with completion no later than year-end 2019. There could be 2,800 parking spaces. The property now is owned by Broward Signature LLP of Yulee and CRM Florida Properties LLC of Atlanta.
Parkway Properties Inc. agreed to merge into Cousins Properties Inc. to form what the companies call a “premier Sun Belt urban office REIT.” However, this Sun Belt strategy does not include Jacksonville. The merger agreement includes a plan to sell off Parkway’s office portfolio in Jacksonville, which consists of the Deerwood North, Deerwood South and JTB Center properties on the Southside and the Stein Mart building near the Southbank. The buildings totaling 1.47 million square feet of space are 96.2 percent leased, according to Parkway’s first-quarter report. Parkway last year sold the 113,000-squarefoot Riverplace South building and its 30 percent interest in the 137,000-square-foot 245 Riverside building. Parkway and Cousins did not mention the decision to sell the remaining Jacksonville buildings in their joint news release announcing the merger on April 29 and, according to transcripts the companies posted of their conference call with analysts, they didn’t even talk about it. However, there was a reference on the presentation materials for the conference call about “planned Jacksonville asset sales.” The four properties were also listed on the merger agreement as part of a brief item titled “asset sales.” Victor Hughes, managing director of Parkway’s Jacksonville office, referred questions about the plans to Parkway’s corporate office in Orlando, but the public relations firm handling media inquiries for the merger did not respond to a voice mail message. Basch continued on Page A-11
kmathis@jaxdailyrecord.com @MathisKb (904) 356-2466
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