by Bailey White
Staff Writer
Saturday was a wet day downtown, but that didn’t stop four tenants from moving into their new loft apartments at 11 E. Forsyth. Despite the rainy weather, the building’s management welcomed its first set of move-ins, a routine that is certain to repeat itself over the next few weeks.
“We’ve got certificates of occupancy for floors 7-17,” said June Conner, the property manager for Vestcor Companies, Inc., who is helping tenants organize their moves. “We’re very excited.”
While individuals will be steadily filling the building over the next few weeks, Conner expects another influx of tenants the weekend of March 14.
Because on-street parking doesn’t allow too many move-ins at one time, Vestcor hired a moving company to oversee the moves and coordinate times with tenants.
“It definitely makes it easier for everyone involved,” said Tammy Dockins, a development associate for Vestcor.
The new tenants aren’t the only ones moving furniture up the elevators. Designers for the Jacksonville Symphony Guild and the American Society of Interior Design’s Showhouse began filling seven lofts on the 17th floor two weeks ago. They’ll continue to decorate the lofts floor until the Showhouse opens March 15.
There are other signs that the building is almost complete; the downstairs bathrooms have received the finishing touches, the gym is full of workout equipment and both elevators are running. The security system is also partially finished, with cameras already operating.
“We’ll have 21 cameras on the property by the end of construction,” said Dockins, “We’ll have them in the garage as well as inside.”
While there’s still about another month’s worth of work before the parking garage is finished, the outside of the building, including awning and landscaping, should be done this week.
“The City will be delivering the trees this week, weather permitting,” she said.
As for the commercial space on the ground floor, no one has been signed yet, but Dockins said there has been interest from several restaurants.