Daily Record Financial News &
Tuesday, May 24, 2016
Vol. 103, No. 137 • One Section
Rohan named interim IG Monday
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For sale or lease
Longtime attorney retired from city in 2012
Rohan
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Snyder Memorial, the historic former Methodist Church Downtown at Laura and Monroe streets, will be offered to developers through a Request for Proposals to be issued by the Downtown Investment Authority.
Snyder Memorial 1 of 2 historic buildings offered
By Max Marbut Staff Writer Two of Downtown’s historic buildings will be offered for sale or lease by the Downtown Investment Authority. Requests for Proposals are being drafted for Snyder Memorial, the former Methodist Church at Laura and Monroe streets, and for Brewster Hospital at 843 W. Monroe St. in LaVilla, the hospital for African-Americans that opened in 1901. Both buildings are owned by the city and have been vacant for years. The authority’s Strategic Implementation Committee on Monday put the finishing touches on the requirements to be included in the requests, including a $2,500
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Steve Rohan isn’t diving back into City Hall — he’s just dipping his toe back in the water. The longtime city attorney retired in 2012 but will be back to help the Office of Inspector General with a short-term need. Rohan was named interim inspector general on Monday. It’s a role expected to last just a few months as the group dedicated to selecting and retaining the officeholder finds a long-term solution. Tom Cline, the office’s first inspector general, resigned in April. His last day will be Friday. It’s an office dedicated to finding waste, fraud and abuse in city government, which Rohan said was part of his goal during his career. Rohan is the former city ethics chief who was instrumental in in crafting the city’s ethics code. For Rohan, the short-term assist is a good opportunity to help the city. He’s spent much time with his wife, Louise, and grandchildren, but always wanted to Rohan return in some role. He wasn’t looking for the full-time grind or stress level like that of a city attorney, but a different situation. “I have had people reach out to me from the city, but I hadn’t found the right one (opportunity) yet,” said Rohan. “Then this phone call came.” It was from a mutual friend of City Council Vice President Lori Boyer, who chairs the selection and retention committee. The group was seeking someone with Rohan’s background to guide the office over the next four months or so. Rohan said he turned to his wife and asked for input. She agreed and he accepted. “It was just sort of time to go back in the water and make a contribution,” he said.
Photo by Max Marbut
By David Chapman Staff Writer
It would be to our advantage to entertain whatever is submitted. Guy Parola DIA redevelopment manager
application fee due along with any proposal submitted. “That would let us look at people who are serious about following through,” said Guy Parola, DIA redevelopment manager. The fee would be refunded to unsuccessful applicants. Since taking over the building in 1992
after the Methodist Church disbanded the congregation, the city has invested almost $2 million in maintenance and repairs to the structure. Parola said ideally, Snyder should be sold to someone who would put in a restaurant or retail store to add to activity along Laura Street near Hemming Park. “It should have an open-door element,” he said, as opposed to selling the building for development as office space. Committee member Brenna Durden said Snyder is a good choice for the city to begin turning vacant Downtown properties it owns into active businesses added to the tax rolls. “This is one of the most important efforts DIA continued on Page A-3
Apartment developer to buy near Town Center Stanmore Partners is moving ahead in the regulatory process for its proposed Ravella at Town Center Apartment Homes in Jacksonville on land owned by Preferred Growth Properties LLC near St. Johns Town Center. It’s one of several confirmed projects to join The Strand and its companion site, The Crossing, on 45 acres along Town Center and Gate parkways. St. Johns River Water Management District plans show that Houston-based Stanmore Partners proposes 305 units in one phase. It will comprise several four-
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story apartment buildings that wrap around a 451-space, seven-level parking garage and two courtyards. The pool courtyard is open to Lake Meadowbrook. England-Thims & Miller Inc. is the agent. It submitted plans for a minor modification to the project. Ravella at Town Center is planned on 6.6 acres at northwest Town Center and Midtown parkways. Jason Schlanger, managing director of multifamily for Stanmore, said in November the group was under contract to buy the land in this year’s second quarter.
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An earlier plan showed 347 units. Schlanger said Monday the company does not release information about its developments before closing on the land, which he expects later this summer. Stanmore would buy the property from PGP Jacksonville TC LLC, part of Preferred Growth Properties, the real estate subsidiary of Books-A-Million Inc.
PGP bought 45 developable acres from members of Skinner family in March. Hobby Lobby, Firebird’s Wood Fired Grill and Cheddar’s Scratch Kitchen have confirmed locations in The Strand, the larger of the sites. Wawa Inc. plans to develop a gas station on an outparcel in The Crossing. Also, the water management district gave notice it will grant a permit for PGP Jacksonville TC LLC to build 1.24 acres of roadway infrastructure and site grading for the 9.9-acre, five-outparcel The Crossing. Mathis continued on Page A-2
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