Skinner Bros. Realty Co., historically known for its commercial and land development, is diverging into residential real estate.
“While most of what we do as a company has been and still is commercial investment and development, we are recently adding a residential component to our portfolio,” said Chet Skinner, vice president.
Chet Skinner is A.C. Skinner IV, and son of Chip Skinner, president of the Jacksonville-based company.
Skinner said Skinner Bros. has developed 500 lots for Mattamy Homes in Clay and St. Johns counties and has another 250 in development for Mattamy in St. Johns.
Its first Duval County residential project was the sale of 11 lots in Oak Bluff Estates in North Duval County to Mercedes Premier Homes of Jacksonville. Those were estate lots of 1 to 2 acres. Skinner Bros. bought and repositioned the property, selling the last lot to Mercedes in November 2013.
The latest project is in Duval, with the purchase of about 6.5 acres in North Jacksonville along the marshlands of Dunn’s Creek. That project, which Skinner describes as a “boutique subdivision,” is called Alta Vista
The land is on the west side of Alta Drive just north of Faye Road.
Skinner Bros. acquired the property from Insight Realty Group.
Skinner said the project will consist of 11 lots, of which five will be on the marsh and will have opportunities for docks for the homeowners.
He said Mercedes Premier Homes of Jacksonville will build the homes, although house sizes and price points weren’t determined yet.
Among the Skinner Bros. commercial projects are Cypress Creek, a 400-acre mixed used Development of Regional Impact; build-to-suits for Florida Capital Bank in Jacksonville, St. Augustine, Gainesville an Daytona; and ownership and management of Moultrie Square Shopping Center, a 70,500-square-foot Publix-anchored center in St. Augustine
Chet Skinner’s background is in residential real estate with Pulte Homes, spending three years with the company as director of land acquisition and entitlements before joining Skinner Bros. as an associate in 2008. He became vice president in May 2012. He sits on the executive board of the Northeast Florida Builders Association.
“Skinner Bros. Realty has been a commercial firm, focused on land development and investment opportunities. Recently we’ve gotten into residential,” he said. He said the company was “very actively looking” for more residential property to develop.
Chip Skinner is one of the Skinner family members that collectively sold property for development of St. Johns Town Center.
Paul Davis moving from Downtown to Southside
Paul Davis Restoration Inc., a network of more than 315 franchises nationwide, is moving its headquarters from the Wells Fargo Center Downtown to The Concourse in the Southpoint area.
“We have enjoyed the last 15 years Downtown, but we felt the best way to keep up with the growth of the franchise network was to be closer to our National Training Center on Salisbury Road,” said Tim Robinson, CEO.
The corporate office has grown more than 10 percent over the past year and employs 61 employees in both locations.
Paul Davis leases space in Suite 2300 in the Wells Fargo Center. The Concourse is closer to the national training center at 7251 Salisbury Road, Suite 6.
The city issued a permit Monday for Dav-Lin Interior Contractors to build-out 10,333 square feet of space for Paul Davis Restoration at 5210 Belfort Road, No. 300.
The renovations carry a project cost of $99,663. Paul Davis currently leases about 7,700 square feet Downtown.
The Concourse office complex fronts Interstate 95 on Belfort Road in Jacksonville and is a quarter mile from Butler Boulevard.
The complex consists of three, four-story office buildings.
Foley & Lardner reconfiguring space
The Foley & Lardner firm is reconfiguring space on the 15th floor of the Wells Fargo Center Downtown.
The Angelo Group Inc. is renovating the almost 2,900 square feet of space at a project cost of $274,491.
Managing Partner Kevin Hyde said the firm intends to add lawyers, but most of the renovations deal with technology.
Because so much storage is now done electronically, the large paper file storerooms aren’t as necessary.
@MathisKb
(904) 356-2466