Continental Properties Co. Inc. is considering a $39 million, 240-unit apartment community at southwest Philips Highway and Old St Augustine Road in Flagler Center.
A JEA service availability letter and Continental Properties project information provided to district City Council member Danny Becton show the Springs at Flagler Center would comprise studio, one-, two- and three-bedroom units and a 4,000 clubhouse and a pool.
It would incorporate two- and three-story buildings. The two-story structures would feature a townhouse design with private, ground-level entrances to each apartment. Many provide attached, direct-access garages.
The three-story buildings feature ground-level entrances to all first-floor apartments and a shared corridor to second- and third-level units.
Those plans show nine apartment buildings, several parking garages, a clubhouse and pool, a pet playground, a car care and package center, and more amenities.
The 240 units would comprise 42 studio units and 96 one-, 78 two- and 24 three-bedroom apartments.
The vacant 10-acre site is owned by Florida State College at Jacksonville, which acquired the land in 2011 for $3.7 million from Flagler Development Group.
At its April 9 meeting, the FSCJ district board of trustees approved the sale of the site.
FSCJ spokeswoman Jill Johnson said the college intends to sell the land to Continental for $4.1 million. The college bought the land for a campus, but anticipated State funding did not come in.
“The current sale is dependent on Continental and Flagler getting the appropriate zoning changes to allow the development,” Johnson said.
She said FSCJ doesn’t expect to close on the sale for a few months.
Becton scheduled a community workshop about the proposed rezoning for the project for 6:30-8 p.m. May 29 at the Residence Inn at 13942 Village Lake Circle.
No rezoning bill has been filed, according to his office.
Continental Properties, based in Menomonee Falls, Wisconsin, develops its Springs brand of luxury apartments. As of April 1, it had 94 Springs projects in 19 states, including 18 in Florida.
Florida properties include the Springs at Orange Park.
“The award-winning Springs Apartments, our national brand of gated apartment communities, are designed to offer an attractive housing option,” says its website, cproperties.com.
It says each community offers amenities and a “condominium-style approach to apartment living with our signature two-story, townhome-style private entrance apartments and available attached and detached garages.”
It says the adaptable community design features natural exterior finishes and indigenous plants.
The project information for the Springs at Flagler Center says the construction will generate almost 400 jobs and over the long term could support 170 direct and indirect jobs.
It says interior features include wood-colored cabinets, granite countertops, stainless steel appliances and wood vinyl flooring.
Some units will be upgraded to standup showers, beverage centers and enclosed yards.
It also says that the typical Springs residents are young adults or empty nesters with above-average income.
It says the average monthly rent is $1,441 but did not separate that by the type of unit.
