Shands Jacksonville filed plans with the St. Johns River Water Management District for the first phase of its North Campus — a medical office building.
Shands Jacksonville estimates a construction cost of $60 million to $65 million for the 80,000 square feet of medical offices and the 110,000 square feet of ambulatory services, which is outpatient care.
Shands said it is developing diagnostic, operating room and emergency and urgent care space among the first two floors. The other space will be for physicians' offices.
Media Relations Manager Dan Leveton at Shands Jacksonville Medical Center said Shands Jacksonville expects to break ground this year and construction should take a year, indicating a 2014 opening.
The plans filed with the water management district show the project on a 69.6-acre site among Max Leggett Parkway near the River City Marketplace. The marketplace is east of Interstate 95 along Duval Road.
The owner and developer of the Shands site is listed on plans as Shands Jacksonville Foundation Inc. The project engineer is England-Thims & Miller Inc.
The plans also are under review by the City.
Meanwhile, Shands Jacksonville's proposed hospital tower on the site awaits a final decision from the state. The state approved the Certificate of Need, but a judge ruled in favor of an appeal by Memorial Hospital/HCA.
"To meet the needs of our Northside neighbors, Shands Jacksonville plans to construct a new hospital — Shands Jacksonville North — at I-95 and Duval Road across from River City Marketplace," Shands had announced.
The 100-bed facility is designed to include private rooms, an emergency department, obstetrics, general surgery and advanced imaging.
The UF&Shands organization is the University of Florida Academic Health Center. Patient-care services are provided through Shands, which is UF's private, not-for-profit affiliate. The Shands family of hospitals and programs includes two teaching hospitals as well as two specialty hospitals, including Shands Jacksonville; Shands at the University of Florida in Gainesville, including the Shands Cancer Hospital and Shands Hospital for Children; Shands Vista behavioral health; and Shands Rehab Hospital in Gainesville
On Dec. 10, UF&Shands Jacksonville officials announced construction would begin on the North Jacksonville medical complex despite the decision that day by a state administrative judge approving the appeal filed by Memorial Hospital.
"While we are disappointed in the court's ruling, we strongly believe that a new health care facility in North Jacksonville is important for the communities of northern Duval County and south Georgia, offering a needed resource closer to where area residents work and live," said Dr. David Guzick, senior vice president for health affairs at the University of Florida and president of the UF&Shands Health System, in a news release.
In December 2011, the Agency for Health Care Administration approved Shands Jacksonville's certificate of need application to build the inpatient facility that would be part of a comprehensive campus for UF&Shands.
The estimated cost for the new hospital is about $125 million. Project funding was identified as a combination of retained earnings, philanthropy and bond financing.
The first phase, which proceeds on schedule, will include the ambulatory services and medical office building for UF faculty and community physician practices.
Projected services will include primary care and specialty physician practices, diagnostic services, urgent care and outpatient surgery.
Dollar Tree on the way to Merrill Station
Dollar Tree is on the way to Merrill Station in Arlington.
The City approved interior demolition of 10,430 square feet of space at the shopping center at 8011 Merrill Road.
Five retail suites are being prepared for renovation as a Dollar Tree. Stonebridge Construction Services is handling the $44,000 interior demolition project.
Dollar Tree will operate next to the Walmart Neighborhood Market under development in a former Food Lion.
Hibbett Sports approved
The City approved tenant build-out for Hibbett Sports at 1020 Edgewood Ave. N., No. 3. Argos Builders LLC is the contractor for the $170,000 project.
The Birmingham, Ala.-based chain of sporting goods stores has Jacksonville locations in the Gateway Town Center along Norwood Avenue and at 3000 Dunn Ave., near Lem Turner Road.
Its website, hibbett.com, shows three other stores in Yulee, St. Augustine and Palatka.
HD Supply powering up
Carr-Tech Industries Inc. is the contractor for three wall signs, at a project cost of $2,800, for HD Supply Power Solutions at 5875 Highway Ave.
Atlanta-based HD Supply posts on its website that its Jacksonville electrical wholesale branch is one of the newest facilities within HD Supply Electrical and has more than 50,000 square feet of inventory space. The site is owned by Lonestar Warehouse Investors LLC. It was built in 2008 and carries a taxable value of $2.2 million.
HD Supply Power Solutions says on the hdsupply.com website that it offers products, services and solutions for the public power, investor-owned utilities, construction and industrial markets.
The U.S. sales force was organized into three geographic regions of East, North and South.
"We are the supplier of a complete line of commercial, residential and industrial electrical products from leading manufacturers," says the site.
The site said in August that HD Supply Electrical combined with HD Supply Utilities to create HD Supply Power Solutions. It said operating as a single business unit increases its "portfolio of products, geographical footprint and valuable solutions for customers."
HD Supply says it is one of the largest industrial distribution companies in North America.
"Through a diverse portfolio of industry-leading businesses and more than 80 years of experience, the company provides a broad range of products and services to approximately 440,000 professional customers in the infrastructure, maintenance, repair and improvement, and specialty construction markets," it says in its basic description.
It says it has about 630 locations, with 14,000 associates, across 46 states and nine Canadian provinces.
In December, it reported net sales of $2.1 billion for the fiscal 2012 third quarter that ended Oct. 28, an increase of $253 million, or 13.4 percent, from the third quarter of fiscal 2011. Gross profit increased by $81 million, or 15.1 percent, to $616 million in North America.
It says it has about 630 locations, with 14,000 associates, across 46 states and nine Canadian provinces.
In December, it reported net sales of $2.1 billion for the fiscal 2012 third quarter that ended Oct. 28, an increase of $253 million, or 13.4 percent, from the third quarter of fiscal 2011. Gross profit increased by $81 million, or 15.1 percent, to $616 million compared to $535 million for the third quarter of fiscal 2011.
Dine with Us Downtown at Magnificat Café
Jacksonville Jaguars CFO Bill Prescott and his wife, Kim, are planning their next Dine with US Downtown on Feb. 28 at The Magnificat Café at 231 N. Laura St.
It will be the 16th Downtown dining event arranged by the Prescotts to support restaurants and venues on the Northbank and Southbank.
"Bonjour! This month's Dine with Us Downtown is hosted by a French gem in the heart of Downtown, The Magnificat Café. The French-inspired lunch spot is opening specially for Dine with Us Downtown attendees," the Prescotts said in the invitation.
The Prescotts ask fellow diners to join them between 5-9:30 p.m. but to call ahead — (904) 353-3588 — so the restaurant can estimate the number of attendees. They also welcome diners to bring their own beer and wine because the café does not sell either.
There also could be special attendees. The Prescotts want board members of the Downtown Investment Authority and Downtown Vision Inc. to be there.
"This will give the board members an opportunity to meet residents and supporters of Downtown in a casual setting," said the email.
"Known for his quiche, chef and owner Benoit Desclefse hails from France. He trained in a variety of places such as Bordeaux, Paris and the U.S. before opening Magnificat Café in 2003," said the Prescotts.
Economy is top concern of Duval residents
The University of North Florida reports a new UNF poll found that 37 percent of adult residents of Duval County believe improving the economy and creating jobs should be Jacksonville's top priority this year.
Second to the economy, improving the quality of public education was the next most important issue that residents said the City should tackle, with 24 percent of people believing it to be a top priority.
The poll found that 56 percent of Duval County residents aren't satisfied with the quality of public education in Jacksonville.
Along with that, 55 percent said they believe that increasing the budget for public education would improve the quality of education, and 64 percent said they also support a small increase in property taxes if used for public education.
Meanwhile, 43 percent of Duval County residents said they approve of the job that new Duval County Schools Superintendent Nikolai Vitti is doing and 16 percent disapprove. Another 40 percent of the respondents didn't have an opinion of his performance.
Mayor Alvin Brown still retains high support in Duval County, with 70 percent of the surveyed residents approving of his job performance.
The poll also found that 58 percent of county residents surveyed said they support adding sexual orientation to the existing list of groups protected from workplace discrimination.
The survey was conducted between Feb. 4-12 and included 917 residents.
Asked what should be Jacksonville's top priority this year, respondents said:
• 37 percent — Improving the economy and creating jobs
• 24 percent — Improving public education
• 13 percent — Reducing crime
• 6 percent — Improving the Downtown area
• 6 percent — Other
• 5 percent — Balancing the budget
• 3 percent — Improving transportation and infrastructure
• 3 percent — Solving the public pension problem
• 2 percent — Improving arts and entertainment
• 1 percent — No answer/don't know
Asked if the responder supported or opposed the City adding sexual orientation to the existing list of groups protected from workplace discrimination, they said:
• 36 percent — Strongly approve
• 22 percent — Somewhat approve
• 13 percent — Somewhat oppose
• 20 percent — Strongly oppose
• 9 percent — No answer/don't know
@MathisKb
(904) 356-2466