NAIOP 2024

HONORING OUR BEST OF 2023

RECOGNIZING EXCELLENCE IN COMMERCIAL REAL ESTATE DEVELOPMENT

A MESSAGE FROM THE PRESIDENT

Congratulations to all the winners and finalists for NAIOP’s Awards Gala, especially Fitch King III, President of Morgar Realty for winning NAIOP’s Lifetime Achievement Award. The outstanding professionals recognized at this event represent many of the top commercial real estate professionals in North Florida and I am proud to call them fellow NAIOP members.

Scott Martin, Hillwood Justin Markley, CBRE Paul Grainger, Iconic Real Estate Investments

Heidi Jameson, JAXUSA

Farther Financial

David Smith, Smith McKee

(Board Member)

Christian Oldenburg, Ash Properties (Board Member)

Katie Kirchner, Strategic Sites (PAC Member) Chris Wilson, Renasant Bank (PAC Member)

2024 NAIOP AWARDS

The NAIOP Commercial Real Estate Development Association Northeast Florida Chapter presented its 2023 Awards Gala on April 18 at the Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center Grand Lobby.

Thank you to our presenting sponsor:

NAIOP of Northeast Florida comprises local business professionals and is connected to more than 20,000 members across the country through the commercial real estate industry.

Local NAIOP Board leaders dedicate time and effort to meet with local, state and national officials to address the concerns of our local members with a focus on upcoming legislative policies that may have lasting impacts on the local community as well as future real estate development.

At a local level, NAIOP Board leaders are connecting with Council and City staff to help discuss and prioritize the improvement in the speed to which permits are reviewed and approved. NAIOP National has provided supporting data (correlation of soft cost (permitting) to local economic development) to present upon successful coordination of a meeting between all parties.

In Tallahassee, NAIOP representatives have been working with our state representatives to address impactful bills being presented including business rent tax and EV charging installation requirements.

On May 1, 2024, Gov. Ron DeSantis signed SB 1082, the Department of Agriculture and Consumer Services bill that contained the EV charging station preemptive

UPDATE 2023

language regarding the regulation of electric vehicle charging stations to the state; prohibiting local governmental entities from enacting or enforcing such regulations.

Thanks to combined efforts with the other chapters in Florida, we continue to chip away at the business rent tax. Effective June 1, 2024, the state of Florida lowered the tax rate of Rentals, Leases or Licenses to Use Real Property to 2%.

Revisions to building regulations include the eligibility requirements for certification examinations for building code inspectors or plans examiners and specifies alternative paths to qualification. It allows four years of experience in construction, building code inspection, or plans review.

It also requires proof of completion of approved training programs for certain candidates, including instruction in state laws, rules, and ethics.

In addition, these revisions establish new timeframes and procedures for local governments to approve, conditionally approve, or deny building permit applications, with stipulations for fee reductions upon failure to meet deadlines. Specifically, a local government must approve, approve with conditions, or deny a permit,

unless waived in writing.

A top priority of NAIOP is to tweak the Live Local Act to remove industrial as an affordable housing automatic zone. Our team has worked closely with the Senate President’s office to do just that. The bill was approved by the full Legislature in February and headed to the governor’s desk for signature.

This bill authorizes multifamily and mixed-use residential developments in areas zoned for commercial, industrial, or mixed-use if at least 40% of units are affordable.

It also prohibits counties and municipalities from requiring zoning changes or land use amendments for such developments and from restricting the density, floor area ratio, or height of these developments below certain thresholds.

It even excludes certain airport-impacted areas from these provisions and revises the Florida Housing Finance Corporation’s powers to preclude applicants from programs under certain conditions.

Please direct any future concerns or desire to become involved to the NAIOP Vice President of Public Affairs Chris Wilson (chris.wilson@renasant.com) and Wade Powers (wade.powers@vantrustre.com).

Renasant Bank

The Chapter Merit Award is given by the Board to recognize and show its appreciation to a member who has provided a unique, valuable or special service to NAIOP Northeast Florida through their time, talent and efforts.

This year’s winner is Erin Scott.

Erin served as Treasurer on the Board for NAIOP NEFL during 2023. In addition, she served on almost every committee, volunteered at every event, and worked closely with President Katie Kirchner behind the scenes to keep the chapter on track. She has been active on various committees year after year and is always a welcoming face to new members.

This award is given to a commercial real estate professional who has distinguished himself outstanding achievement and professionalism.

The award is given in honor of William “Bill” Drennon, one of the city’s great real estate professionals and ambassadors.

President of Morgar Realty, Mr. Fitch King, is a graduate of Washington &Lee University with a bachelor of science in physics engineering.

He has more than 17 years of experience in commercial real estate development and management including office, warehouse and storage properties and more than 25 years of experience in industrial, commercial and residential construction. His project experience includes warehouses, office buildings, shopping centers, residential construction, commercial nuclear power plants and naval shipyard construction.

In addition to the real estate development and construction industries, he has experience in the Navy nuclear submarine program and electric utility plant management.

Mr. Fitch King has been a valuable contributing NAIOP member for years, including serving as President in 2004.

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2023 NAIOP AWARD WINNERS

THE KLECHAK AWARD

MARI KURAISHI

Jessie Ball duPont Fund

The Dr. Lew Klechak Award recognizes individuals who have made outstanding contributions resulting in a significant impact on the continued development of Downtown Jacksonville.

Dr. Lew Klechak was first honored with this award in his name for his vision and unselfish devotion for over 15 years to the revitalization of the downtown area while he was Chairman of the Downtown Development Authority (DDA). Since then, many noteworthy individuals have been awarded the same honor, given by the Downtown Investment Authority. This year, the DIA awarded Mari Kuraishi

of the Jessie Ball duPont Fund the 2024 Klechak Award.

Mari is the president of the Jessie Ball duPont Fund, leading its efforts to create communities of belonging for the places and institutions that Jessie Ball duPont knew and loved by fostering inclusive growth and reducing structural and systemic barriers to resources and opportunity.

In Jacksonville, Mari serves on the boards of the JAX Chamber, Jacksonville Civic Council and the Cummer Museum. She leads the duPont Fund’s work to create public spaces where everyone feels welcome, including activating the Jacksonville Riverfront; honoring the contributions of Jacksonville natives James Weldon Johnson and John Rosamond Johnson at Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing Park; and fostering collaboration among nonprofits and community leaders at The Jessie downtown, continuing the foundational legacy of duPont Fund retired President Sherry Magill and Trustee Kity Phillips.

She is regularly engaged in conversations with partners working to make downtown Jacksonville a more vibrant, welcoming place.

DEVELOPER OF THE YEAR VANTRUST REAL ESTATE

Named as NAIOP’s National Developer of the Year in 2023, VanTrust invested more than $185 million into the development or redevelopment of its North Florida assets in 2023.

VanTrust is a multiyear Platinum sponsor of NAIOP Northeast Florida and boasts six local members in addition to another roughly 30 members nationwide.

VanTrust supports the community by providing its employees with financial support for a charity of their choice.

VanTrust also contributes to help children in underserved areas who have experienced learning loss because of COVID. They do this locally through the YMCA’s Tiger Academy and DonorsChoose.

ASSOCIATE MEMBER OF THE YEAR BRITTANY CULBRETH

Emerald C’s Development

Brittany is President and co-owner of Emerald C’s Development Inc.

Emerald C’s completed 24 renovations in 2023, generating an annual revenue of $10 million, the company’s best year ever.

Brittany has served NAIOP on various committees, including Sponsorship, Awards and Bus Tour.

In addition to NAIOP, Emerald C’s is actively involved with Dreams Come True and Feeding Northeast Florida.

Luke was involved in 56 transactions in 2023, including two leases of more than 1 million square feet and three of approximately 500,000 square feet.

Luke volunteers locally with Feeding Northeast Florida, coaches youth sports and assists with fundraising efforts for St. Mark’s School, Angels for Allison and The 200 Club of Jacksonville.

DEVELOPING LEADER OF THE YEAR JEFFREY FRANDSEN

Newmark Phoenix Realty Group

Jeff is a Senior Vice President with Newmark Phoenix Realty.

Jeff has been a top-five producer for the past three years at Phoenix Realty.

Jeff has been active with NAIOP for years and was Chair of Developing Leaders in 2023.

Jeff was one of the driving forces behind NAIOP’s inaugural and highly successful Deal or No Dill Pickleball Tournament.

INDUSTRIAL DEAL OF THE YEAR KEHE LEASE

A search was initiated to help KeHE expand their presence and modernize its operations, while retaining their current local employee base. After being rejected by the county commission on its first site, Stotan Industrial selected InLight Real Estate’s 40-acre site in St. Augustine Industrial Park.

• Building Size: 530K square feet

• Critical Parties:

• InLight Real Estate: David Burch, Charles Margiotta and Jeff Berryhill

• Stonan Industrial: Dan Fogarty

• England Thims and Miller: Drew Holley

• Colliers: Fred Regnery and Guy Preston

NEW CONSTRUCTION OR REDEVELOPMENT PROJECT OF THE YEAR

IMESON LANDING BUSINESS PARK

Imeson Landing took more than three years to complete the team navigated challenges including bringing off-site water and sewer at a cost of $1.5 million, relocating 17 gopher tortoises and construction material shortages.

• Building Size: 140,000 square feet

• Critical Parties:

• Patrick Franklin of Merritt Properties

• Peter Ma of England-Thims & Miller

• Spencer Cummings of Gunster

• Luke Pope and Ross Crabtree of JLL

• Dan Croft of ARCO

• Coleman Lay & Jake Chamberlin of Lay Construction

• Holly Grimes & Don McLaughlin of BDG Architects

• Julius Harding of JHP Engineering

• Jarrett McFatter of E.F. Lea

• Mike Kelly of Kelly Group

• Scott and Bradley Motter of EPC

• Wayne Purvis of JB Coxwell

OFFICE DEAL OF THE YEAR JU 121 FORSYTH ST.

This adaptive re-use project will bring 400 Jacksonville University graduate students downtown and help create opportunities for economic and cultural enrichment while helping improve the viability of development in the urban core.

• Building Size: 53,000 square feet

• Critical Parties:

• International Management Co. (landlord): John Hodges and Brett McKee

• NAI Hallmark: Christian Harden

• TTV Architects: Chris Noel, William Huang, and Donnell Pinter

• ARCO

• Lay Construction

• BDG Architects

LAND DEAL OF THE YEAR CALLAHAN COUNTRY RV RESORT

DLP purchased this site for its newest RV resort in the sunbelt. Once complete, this development will create over 100 jobs in Callahan

• 265-acre site

• Critical Parties:

• Brokerage: John Simmons of CBRE and Kale Swain RDHWK

• Seller: Kenny Greene

• Buyer: Jake Domina of DLP Capital

• Civil Engineer: Henry Vorpe of Ava Engineers

• Land Use Attorney: Wyman Duggan of Rogers Towers

• Geotech: John Ellis at Legacy Engineers

• Site Contractor: Beau Clark of Whitestone Development Group

FEDERAL RESERVE

Recognizing the untapped potential in the North Core, JWB Real Estate Capital embarked on a transformative journey, starting with the adaptive reuse of the Federal Reserve Building and 218 Church. The June will be a transformative private members club located in the heart of what is a larger reuse project.

• Building Size: 23,000 square feet

• Critical Parties:

• Landlord’s rep broker: The Urban Division, Colliers: Matthew Clark, Sam Middlekauff and Olivia Steinemann

• Tenant Rep Broker: Christian Harden of NAI Hallmark

• Developer: Alex Sifakis and Adam Rigel of JWB

THANK YOU TO OUR ANNUAL 2024 SPONSORS

Ameris Bank • Auld & White Constructors • Becknell Industrial Brogdon Builders • CBRE • Cushman & Wakefield • Danis Construction Driver, McAfee, Hawthorne & Diebenow • Emerald C’s Development Franklin Street • Hillwood • IMC • JLL • Marcus & Millichap Morgar Realty • MWI Property Group • Newmark Phoenix Realty Group Office of Economic Development • Smith McKee Construction • SouthState Bank