• Word on the street is that the plan to put a Publix at the corner of Hendricks Avenue and Atlantic Boulevard soon will go to the City for approval. The project also includes a Wachovia branch and 100 units of multi-family housing.
• Talk about giving notice — Maggie Bulin has informed the city that she’ll be quitting in July. Bulin, who you may remember as the head of the public relations office during John Peyton’s mayoral campaign, has been working in the Emergency Preparedness Division.
• The Big Cats for Kids from the Otis Smith Kids Foundation are beginning to show up around town. One sculpture was delivered to Tri Vu at TTV Architects on Forsyth Street last week and they’re in the process of decorating it. Foundation Executive Director Bonnie Upright says they’ve “sold” 47 of the 50, which means it could be as successful as the “manatee” sales before the Super Bowl. Want one of the last three? It’s $5,000: $2,500 to the Foundation, $1,750 to produce the blank cat and a $750 honorarium to the artist. All should be ready by football season.
• Jacksonville Area Legal Aid is looking for a consumer litigation attorney to help them address “Jacksonville’s dubious distinction as the number one area of concentration for sub-prime loans in minority neighborhoods.” Interested candidates can mail a resume and writing sample to Kathryn Jackson, JALA’s human resources director.
• More office condos are coming at Ponte Vedra Beach. The latest will be Palmetto Landing with 30 units ranging from 1,100 to 6,500 square feet.
• Moving around in the mortgage business: Wally Sears has switched from Wachovia to SunTrust.
The new Downtown This Week is out and the cover story features the history of Downtown street names. The magazine is free and available all over Downtown.