In keeping with its campus upgrades, Jacksonville University intends to renovate the student dining hall at the Frances Bartlett Kinne University Center.
The Kinne Center has long anchored the student dining facilities at the riverfront Arlington campus at 2800 University Blvd. N. It recently gained a Starbucks coffee shop.
The center includes the dining hall, Starbucks, the bookstore, meeting and banquet space and other student services.
Plans filed with the city show that the dining hall is slated for at least $295,000 in work that includes the replacement of flooring, ceiling and lights and the movement of walls and plumbing.
Stellar Group Inc. is the contractor and Hota Design Studio LLC is the architect for the 7,600-square-foot project.
University President Tim Cost said Wednesday the Kinne Center was built in 1958.
Cost, a JU grad who became president in 2013, said recently that the institution has invested $32 million in campus improvements since he arrived — and more are coming.
JU was founded in 1934 in Downtown and moved to its Arlington site in the early 1950s.
The Kinne Center is named in honor of Frances Bartlett Kinne, a former JU professor, dean, president and chancellor, who remains active at the university and will turn 100 on May 23.
Blaze Pizza coming to Town Center Promenade
Tenant work is pending for Blaze Pizza at the Town Center Promenade under development near St. Johns Town Center.
Fast Fire’d Blaze Pizza plans an 80-seat restaurant, with another 22 patio seats, at 4488 Town Center Parkway. It’s an estimated $500,000 project. No contractor is listed on the permit.
Blaze Pizza says “see ya soon” on its blazepizza.com site regarding the new location.
The fast-fired part comes from baking the pizza for 180 seconds in its very hot ovens.
Based in Los Angeles, Blaze Pizza expects to have 375 restaurants open at the end of 2018, generating systemwide sales of $417 million.
It predicts 855 locations and sales of $1.1 billion in 2022, its 10th full year in business.
The Promenade’s other restaurants will include Red Robin Gourmet Burgers and Brews, Texas de Brazil Churrascaria Brazilian Steakhouse, Texas Roadhouse, Newk’s Eatery, Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers, Taco Bell and Starbucks.
Morton’s cleared for construction
Now that renovations are approved, Morton’s The Steakhouse can take shape at the Hyatt Regency Jacksonville Riverfront.
The $434,318 project involves new finishes and furnishings, according to the permit approved Tuesday by the city.
Work includes interior finishes, millwork, new light fixtures and modifications to the bar area.
Goldcon Inc. of North Miami Beach will renovate the almost 6,900-square-foot restaurant space at the Downtown hotel at 225 E. Coastline Drive.
Goldcon is converting the former Plaza III The Steakhouse, which closed in 2009.
Permit applications will be submitted separately for the outdoor canopy and structure over the existing patio.
The plans show 298 seats — with 224 inside the dining and bar area and 74 outside on the patio. The interior also includes two private dining rooms.
The project team includes tenant Morton’s of Chicago/Jacksonville LLC, architect RSP Architects of Minneapolis, contractor Goldcon and engineer Emanuelson-Podas Inc. of Edina, Minn.
Hyatt Regency Jacksonville is the landlord.
Houston-based Morton’s previously operated on the Southbank, but closed in early 2012 as part of shutdowns after a change in ownership.
Food notes
• Starbucks plans a $225,000 interior renovation at its Bartram Park area coffee shop at 14560 Old St. Augustine Road.
• A Dunkin’ Donuts is planned at 7818 Normandy Blvd. as part of a 5,000-square-foot convenience store. The owner is Kwik Way Inc.
Farah & Farah plans office building in St. Augustine
Farah & Farah, based in Downtown Jacksonville, wants to build a 9,818-square-foot office in St. Augustine on 3.1 acres at 3100 U.S. 1, according to a filing with the St. Johns River Water Management District.
Almond Engineering is the agent and engineering consultant. The website for the personal injury law firm shows it has 12 offices in Northeast Florida and Southeast Georgia, including in an executive park in St. Augustine.
Make that Dunn’s Creek Crossing
Ash Properties has decided to name its estimated $30 million North Jacksonville retail center Dunn’s Creek Crossing. It had been tentatively named Shoppes at Dunns Creek.
The center, at nearly 139,000 square feet, could be ready for occupancy in about 18 months. It would bring retail shops and possibly a grocery store, health club, day care or entertainment center to northeast Alta Drive and Faye Road. The project is planned on 25.8 undeveloped acres.
Parking tips off Amazon workforce
An anticipated Amazon.com sortation center at Westside Industrial Park needs about 370 parking spaces, site plans show.
The Seattle-based e-commerce retailer hasn’t confirmed its anticipated sortation center there, although permit applications identify the e-commerce center as the tenant at 4948 Bulls Bay Highway.
Construction plans for the “Building 29 Parking Expansion” at the 237,000-square-foot structure show that the existing 120 spaces will increase by 250. The plans say the total spaces provided will be 370.
Amazon’s sortation centers typically hire 100-300 people.
A zoning application, which did not identify Amazon, said the building’s user was expected to create more than 200 jobs and represent a capital investment topping $5 million.
Landlord Pattillo Industrial Real Estate has applied to the city for an administrative deviation to increase the maximum number of off-street parking spaces from 184 to 370.
Development notes
• Gate Petroleum Co.’s store at 9540 San Jose Blvd. closed at 8 a.m. Wednesday for demolition in preparation for a larger store that should be completed by year-end. The city approved a foundation permit Tuesday for the new store at a project cost of $1.3 million.
• Beer:30 is closer to expanding in Riverside to add space for an arcade. The city is reviewing the application for the Beer:30 taproom to connect with the next-door unit at 1269-1271 King St. Plans show the expansion will add 17 arcades as well as game tables.
• Audi Jacksonville broke ground and landed a $3 million construction permit for its 37,740-square-foot dealership at 11401 Atlantic Blvd. The Hanania Automotive Group is developing the dealership on 6 acres.
@MathisKb
(904) 356-2466