• Joseph Maguire, president of The Rosen Group Inc., which owns the shopping center at southwest Atlantic Boulevard and San Pablo Road, said that while he has been talking with Wal-Mart Stores Inc. for a Neighborhood Market at the closed Food Lion at the site, no deal has been completed. Site improvement plans filed with the City show a Walmart Neighborhood Market at the center, but Maguire said he was not aware of those plans. He said he has been talking with Wal-Mart and other retailers about the site and hoped to have an announcement soon. The Rosen Group is based in Boca Raton.
• The CoreLogic research firm reports that home prices in Jacksonville, including distressed sales, rose 5.6 percent in June from June 2011 and increased 1.7 percent in May from the year before. Excluding distressed sales, year-over-year price increases rose by 4 percent in June but dropped 0.1 percent in May.
• Bank plans: City reviewers are looking over plans for Fifth Third Bank at 8500 Blanding Blvd., at Blanding and Argyle Forest boulevards, and for First Citizens in San Marco at San Marco Boulevard and Cedar Street.
• Among other projects under review: Plans were filed for a Wendy’s restaurant at 9055 New Kings Road. … There are plans for a renovation and additions to Sonny’s Bar-B-Q at 10840 Harts Road. … Look for a RaceTrac Petroleum service station at 10630 Beach Blvd., at Beach and Forest boulevards … Site development plans were submitted for a showroom for Fiat of Jacksonville at 11101 Nurseryfields Drive.
• The Florida Department of Environmental Protection’s Northeast District Office moved to 7777 Baymeadows Way W., Suite 100. The department said the move reduces square footage by 10 percent and will save the district about $1.9 million in rental costs over 10 years. The office consists of more than 100 staff members that provide permitting and compliance services in the district’s 20 counties.
• The City approved a permit for Auld & White Constructors LLC to renovate the eighth floor of the Mayo Clinic Stabile Building for a simulation center. The $1.85 million project involves 9,970 square feet, according to the City.
• Orange Park Medical Center has opened its 42-bed, two-story patient room addition.