by J. Brooks Terry
Staff Writer
After nearly six months of negotiations, Delores and Wayne Weaver signed a contract Friday morning to become the newest residents at One Shipyards Place. With the Weavers on board, the total number of signed contracts secured by the waterfront community hovers just under 50.
“We’re obviously very, very pleased and excited about it,” said Jeff Spence, TriLegacy Group CEO. “They’ve expressed a keen interest in this project for a while now, and it’s wonderful that they are willing to commit to it and understand its value. They see the benefits of living downtown.”
Spence, who declined to comment on the Weavers’ price or square footage, said the Weavers’ endorsement couldboost The Shipyards’ credibility.
“I would think that they’ll have an impact,” he said. “With people like the Weavers and also the other folks we have on board, it reinforces, from a community standpoint, that downtown can be a wonderful place to work, play and live.
“To be almost halfway there [the first Shipyards development is 99 units] is phenomenal. Downtown has gone through so many cycles, and now we’re getting to a point where people are starting to recognize the renaissance that’s happening here. I’m extremely pleased that so many people are sharing in the vision.”
When asked why only 99 units are under construction as opposed to a round 100, Spence would only say, “To accommodate the Weavers’ needs, we went with 99.”
And why The Shipyards over other luxury living options such as the Strand Project or The Plaza at Berkman Condominiums and Marina? Spence put it simply.
“Well, obviously, they liked the idea of us being in close proximity to Alltel,” he said. “But I think they were also very impressed with the level of amenities we offer. I believe The Shipyards to be the closest thing Jacksonville has to something like Central Park.
“We’re unique because, with us, it’s not just one building,” said Spence of the multi-phase project. “We’re working off of over 30 acres of riverfront property and a lot of green space. We’re building a community here.”
According to Spence and TriLegacy president Hamilton Traylor, the Weavers and the rest of the residents at One Shipyard Place will be moving in just after the 2005 Super Bowl.
“There’s a lot going on at the site right now, and before long you’ll be able to see an enormous change,” said Traylor. “We’re starting to become a neighborhood, and there is no better time to be a resident in Jacksonville than right now.
“When Wayne and I came to Jacksonville 10 years ago, we came as NFL pioneers,” said Delores Weaver. “We are excited to, once again, show our pioneering spirit through downtown’s revitalization. The Shipyards development is one of the most critical components in the renewal of downtown as the heart of the city.”
“Our decision not only helps promote the downtown lifestyle to Jacksonville,” said Wayne Weaver. “This communicates to the community that or downtown is a viable, urban residential environment. In addition, One Shipyard Place’s marina highlights our city’s most important natural resource.”