IKEA is not considering Regency Square Mall, or any other Jacksonville site, for one of its popular furniture stores.
Not yet, at least.
Spokesman Joseph Roth responded Friday to questions that have surfaced in the wake of Regency Square Mall’s sale to a developer who seeks ideas on how to revive the almost 50-year-old property.
The buyer, Regency Mall Realty LLC of Great Neck, N.Y., bought 1.1 million square feet of the 1.4 million-square-foot mall, leaving out the separately owned Sears and Dillard’s stores.
Regency Mall Realty wants to consolidate all tenants in half of the mall and work with the city and community about the rest.
That’s where the IKEA idea comes up. Fans contend the Swedish retailer would be a game-changer at Regency, whose Arlington location has seen better days.
IKEA has more than 340 stores worldwide, including 38 U.S. stores. It has three in Florida in Orlando, Tampa and Sunrise, which is in the Miami area. It plans to open a fourth this summer in Sweetwater, just 35 miles south of Sunrise.
Jacksonville isn’t on the list yet.
Consider:
• Roth explained that when IKEA looks for a site, it needs a population of at least 2 million people within 40-60 miles or within 40-60 minutes of drive-time.
Jacksonville doesn’t have the population and it could be a while before it does. The seven-county area of Baker, Clay, Duval, Flagler, Nassau, Putnam and St. Johns has an estimated 2013 population of 1.54 million, according to state numbers.
Projections call for almost 1.6 million in 2015 and 1.7 million in 2020.
• Roth said the stores must be along an interstate for regional visibility and access.
Regency is at 9501 Arlington Expressway, off of the Southside Connector. While the Interstate 295 East Beltway isn’t far, the mall isn’t visible from it.
• Roth said IKEA buys its development property, 20-30 acres, and builds it stores, which are 350,000 to 450,000 square feet. It doesn’t renovate existing buildings; instead it demolishes the structures and builds new.
Jacksonville and Regency both could provide that, but without the other requirements, it’s not enough.
There’s always later.
“We are always evaluating,” Roth said. “We are always looking at major population areas where we do not yet have a store.”
Brooklyn Riverside apartments approved
The 310-unit Brooklyn Riverside apartments should start taking shape now that the city has approved the building permits.
Cambridge Swinerton LLC is the contractor for $25.27 million construction project at 100 Magnolia St.
The permits comprise seven for apartment buildings; one for hardscape that comprises a pool, pergola, perimeter and pool fencing, a bocce court pergola, amenity area walls, vehicular access gates, entry signage and pavers; and one for a trash compactor.
Plans show four four-story wood-frame buildings and three three-story wood-frame buildings on the 7.96-acre site.
The Brooklyn Riverside will be built near 220 Riverside, a seven-story building that comprises 294 apartments, retail space and a parking garage, and next to the Shoppes on Riverside, a retail project that will be anchored by The Fresh Market.
Pollack Shores Real Estate Group of Atlanta, shown as the owner on a list of team members, applied for the building permits. The property owner is listed on the permit applications as P&L Jax Riverside LP of Atlanta.
Atlanta-based Pope & Land Enterprises Inc., the initial developer of the project, designated Pollack Shores Real Estate Group LLC as the developer and P&L’s agent.
DaVita center joining Beach and San Pablo
DaVita, the dialysis division of DaVita Health Care Partners Inc., is building out an almost 10,000-square-foot center at the Medical & Merchants Center at 14444 Beach Blvd. in Unit 20.
Sharp General Contractors Inc. will renovate the space for DaVita at a project cost of $884,267.
The city also is reviewing a permit for DaVita to build-out an 8,000-square-foot center in North Jacksonville at 1215 Dunn Ave. in Suite 8.
Christina Lewis, regional operations director, said DaVita plans to open the two centers by the end of the year. DaVita initially expects they will create about 10 jobs. Over five years, the number will be about 30, she said.
Lewis said DaVita has 81 employees caring for 280 dialysis patients at four centers in Jacksonville and one center in Fernandina Beach.
DaVita, Italian for “giving life,” provides dialysis services to patients with chronic kidney failure and end-stage renal disease, according to davita.com.
At the end of 2013, it operated or provided administrative services at 2,074 outpatient dialysis centers in the United States serving about 163,000 patients. It also operated 73 outpatient dialysis centers in 10 other countries.
Lewis said DaVita offers free kidney disease education classes for those with chronic kidney disease or for individuals who may be at risk for kidney disease in the Jacksonville area.
During March, which is National Kidney Month, DaVita wants to raise awareness that 1 in 10 U.S. adults have chronic kidney disease, but many don’t know it. Lewis said diabetes and hypertension are the leading causes of kidney disease. To find out more about instructor-led classes, visit KidneySmart.org or call 1-888-MY-KIDNEY.
Fifth Third Bank buys land in Lakewood
Fifth Third Bank bought property at the shopping plaza at 3600 University Blvd. W. in the Lakewood area.
The Cincinnati-based bank paid $975,000 for the site it purchased from University Center CRP LLC, based in Palm Beach Gardens. University Center is anchored by LA Fitness.
A spokeswoman said Fifth Third Bank was working on a development plan for the almost 1-acre site to determine its use.
Fifth Third Bank has 10 Jacksonville area locations, including one at 6450 St. Augustine Road, near University Center. That 2,300-square-foot building sits on a half-acre site and is owned by Fainbarg V LP.
Mary, Queen of Heaven to add sanctuary, renovate space
Mary, Queen of Heaven Catholic Church is adding a 572-seat, 17,000-square-foot sanctuary, renovating its existing church into a parish hall and removing modular buildings at its Southwest Jacksonville property.
The $3 million project should be completed in late 2014 or early 2015.
The Diocese of St. Augustine said the parish population is growing, creating the need for expansion.
Mary, Queen of Heaven occupies a 13.56-acre site at 9401 Staples Mill Drive, off Argyle Forest Boulevard.
Modular structures were put on-site in 1990 and the existing sanctuary was built in 1993. The church was formed in 1989 and is celebrating its 25th anniversary.
Its pastor is the Rev. Denis O’Shaughnessy.
Goodson, Nevin and Associates is the consulting engineer and Ronald Scalisi Architects is the Architect. No contractor has been selected.
World Market renovations OK’d
The city approved the renovations for Cost Plus World Market in the former Books-A-Million space in Riverplace Shopping Center at 11111 San Jose Blvd., No. 5.
Amore Construction Co. will remodel 21,885 square feet of space, including some minimal exterior work, at a project cost of $1.16 million.
As the Daily Record reported Nov. 18, World Market intends to relocate from across the street, where it operates in the Claire Lane Center at 11112 San Jose Blvd.
World Market operates three stores in the Jacksonville area. The other two are in the Regency area of Arlington and Jacksonville Beach.
Riverplace Shopping Center, which is south of Interstate 295, is anchored by Stein Mart on the south end and includes Petco, Staples and T.J. Maxx. World Market will be near the north end of the strip retail development.
The Oakland, Calif.-based company sells casual home décor and furnishings, housewares, gifts, jewelry, decorative accessories, international wines, gourmet foods and beverages imported from more than 50 countries, according to its website.
Sabal Financial buys Jacksonville warehouse
Sabal Financial Group LP of Newport Beach, Calif., had no comment Thursday about its plans for the almost 300,000-square-foot warehouse it bought Feb. 12 from EverBank.
EverBank had taken title to the North Jacksonville warehouse, at 14500 Hyatt Road, in January 2012 from Grimes Legacy Properties LLC.
Sabal Financial Group, through Pine Hyatt Road Holdings LLC, paid $3.6 million for the property. The sale was recorded Thursday with Duval County Clerk of Court. Its 2014 market value in progress is almost $5.4 million. The warehouse was built in 1984 on 98 acres.
According to its website, Sabal Financial specializes in real estate, banking and lending and its flagship business has established a strong foothold in the distressed debt arena.
Grimes Legacy bought the property in 2006 for $7.26 million, property records show.
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