Gatlin Development Co. Inc. is taking steps to convert the former Food Lion at Wilson Square into a Walmart Neighborhood Market.
The Fort Lauderdale-based developer filed plans with the St. Johns River Water Management District for the almost 9-acre site at 6855 Wilson Blvd. in Southwest Jacksonville.
CPH Engineers Inc. of Jacksonville is the agent.
Plans call for redeveloping the Food Lion in the shopping center into a Walmart Neighborhood Market as well as resurfacing the parking lot and modifying the stormwater management system.
The Daily Record reported Sept. 27 that Gatlin Development, which developed the area's first four Walmart Neighborhood Markets that opened this year, has been planning two more.
Chad Williard, general counsel of Gatlin Development, said work could start early next year on the Wilson Square Shopping Center store.
He said the St. Augustine Shores Village store at U.S. 1 and Shores Boulevard would start later because Gatlin was not as far along in the approvals process with the property.
Neighborhood Markets are Walmart grocery stores. About 40,000 square feet in size, they offer groceries, pharmacy services and household goods, but are much smaller than Walmart Supercenters.
The first four markets that opened this year are in Gatlin properties in Arlington, Mandarin, St. Johns County and Clay County.
Williard said Gatlin would buy the Wilson Boulevard property after government approvals for the project and then start construction about 30 days after that.
Buddy's Home Furnishings shown for Norwood site
The city approved demolition at 5201 Norwood Ave. for Buddy's Home Furnishings. Building Unlimited Roofing & Solar Inc. is the contractor for demolition of the existing building and putting up a construction fence at a cost of $16,000.
Buddy's Home Furnishings, based in Tampa, lists two Northeast Florida locations in Jacksonville and one in Orange Park. One of the two Jacksonville stores is at 203 W. 48th St., No. 1, not far from the Norwood site. The other is along Normandy Boulevard in West Jacksonville.
The buddyrents.com site says Buddy's Home Furnishings was founded in 1961 by Norman "Slat" Slatton Sr. It says it now is the largest independent "rent-to-own" dealer in the country with 103 locations nationwide.
Retail notes
With permits in hand, look for construction of:
• The Xfinity Store, at River City Marketplace, 13141 City Station Drive, No. 155. It's a $244,072 build-out. Two signs are being put up, too, at a cost of $4,000.
• Dollar Tree, 6466 103rd St. Demolition and construction will cost $462,000.
• Time for Christmas. Lowe's Home Improvement is putting up tents to sell Christmas trees at six Jacksonville locations Nov. 15-Dec. 15.
Retail signs
• Gate, 4123 Town Center Parkway, contractor is Harbinger, three signs, $17,200.
• Charlotte Russe, 4870 Big Island Drive, No. 5, contractor is Anchor Sign Inc., two signs, $11,905.
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