• There are plans for a nine-story office building on Duval Street across from the new Duval County Courthouse, which would be developed by a partnership including Easton, Sanderson & Co., Sofar Properties, Inc. and lawyers Eddie Farah and Chuck Farah. The building would be called 323 Duval and feature 100,000 square feet of office space.
• Speaking of downtown buildings, will the lack of a signature building in the Jacksonville skyline hurt the City’s chances to attract employers? Real Estate consultant Ray Rodriguez, president of the Real Estate Strategy Center of Northeast Florida, doesn’t think so. In the absence of a landmark building, Rodriguez said riverfront housing could become downtown’s defining characteristic.
• Mayor John Peyton will join U.S. Rep. Corrine Brown, City Council member Suzanne Jenkins and former Sheriff Nat Glover at The Potter’s House on Normandy Boulevard this morning to drum up interest in the Northeast Florida Prosperity Campaign. The 9:30 a.m. event is designed to help residents determine whether they qualify for the Earned Income Tax Credit. Campaign workers think Duval County could be eligible for $10 million in tax refunds through the credit.
• The General Counsel’s Office has a new face. Former Rogers Towers attorney Brenda Ezell joined the City and will be working on legislative affairs and land use. Ezell served on the mayor’s transition team, helping select Fire Chief Richard Barrett.
• Because of the Five Points improvement project, Park Street heading south from Post Street to Lomax Street will be one-way for the next six months. Detour signs will direct traffic to Margaret and Oak streets. The change took effect Wednesday.
• The University of North Florida will honor Dr. Anne Hopkins during a ceremony today. A portrait of the former UNF president will be presented during the Board of Trustees meeting.
• The Cultural Council hired a new finance director, Betty Francis. She replaces Julie Michael.
• Attorneys Earl Johnson Jr., formerly of Marks Gray, and Ann Chauhan, from Stoneburner, Berry & Simmons, have formed the Johnson & Chauhan Law Group. The new firm is located in the SunTrust building.
• The Rotary Club of South Jacksonville will recognize the sponsors and success of its Gingerbread House Extravaganza during an ceremony Tuesday. The Extravaganza, which ended Dec. 20, raised money to benefit the Ronald McDonald House.
• Kathy Harper will represent Jacksonville & the Beaches Convention and Visitors Bureau as part of a Visit Florida Media Mission next week in New York City. During the meeting Jan. 20 at the Mandarin Oriental Hotel, she will meet with a variety of media, promoting Jacksonville as a travel destination. She will also set up appointments to meet individually with some of those media outlets.