Edu-Pro Management LLC expects to buy the former VyStar Credit Union call center at 4441 Wesconnett Blvd. to develop its first Acclaim Academy charter school in Duval County.
The sale is expected to close this week, possibly today.
Edu-Pro President Vince Desai said Wednesday the $6.6 million project will comprise the purchase price of $1.6 million and another $5 million to refurbish and equip the school.
The 3.76-acre site is between Wilson Boulevard and 103rd Street. Property records show the 4-story building was constructed in 1986 and carries a market value of $3.15 million. Its 2012 taxable value is $2.7 million.
Desai said the school would be fully equipped with computers for an Internet-based education system. He said each student will receive a laptop computer, eliminating the need for most of the books.
He said it will employ a staff of more than 25 people.
A filing with the City for a zoning exception shows the 43,539-square-foot building would be converted into a middle school and high school.
Desai said it would comprise 32 classrooms, 14 offices, a cafeteria, a media room and other space.
Desai said the academy would open this fall and can accommodate 800 students. It will provide bus transportation for students and, as a charter school, it is free for students.
He said the initial recruitment has been successful and he expects 600 students this fall.
The Duval County School Board approved two Acclaim Academy charters schools in December. Desai said the Wesconnett school in West Jacksonville will be the first and is referred to as Central Duval on the acclaimcharter.com site.
Desai said Acclaim is a military-style academy. Its mission is: "To educate, train, and prepare young men and women to be leaders capable of critical thinking and sound analysis, leaders who possess uncompromising character and leaders able to meet challenging demands."
While charter schools are run independently of the school district, they receive the same per-pupil state funding as other public schools in the county.
Desai said he is seeking a second site in North Jacksonville and said construction was possible for an August 2014 opening.
Richard Alfirevic, executive vice president and chief operating officer of Jacksonville-based VyStar, said the building is a former operations center and call center. The functions relocated over the years.
He said VyStar, based at 4949 Blanding Blvd., had a few business units in the building and moved those to the new VyStar branch in Riverside.
VyStar bought the Riverside Avenue property, a former First Guaranty Bank & Trust Co. office, from the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp.
Edu-Pro Management is based in Orlando. Desai said its Kissimmee school opened in August 2012 and a new building is under construction for completion in July.
More schools are planned for opening in 2015 and 2016.
Desai said contractor R.W. Paul Construction Inc. of Orlando would handle the conversion.
VyStar plans for Chaffee branch
VyStar Credit Union proposes construction of a branch and drive-thru on 2.26 acres at northwest Chaffee Point Boulevard and Crystal Springs Road.
Prosser Hallock Inc. is the engineer. The St. Johns River Water Management District is reviewing the project.
Alfirevic said VyStar entered into a purchase-and-sale agreement for the property.
"We have a standalone ATM and we feel that is an area that we want to put in a future branch. We are going through a due diligence phase to purchase the property," he said.
Liberty Property sells 2 properties for $7M
Liberty Property Limited Partnership sold two Southside buildings – the Liberty Plaza at Deerwood Center and 10245 Centurion Parkway N. at Centurion Plaza – for $7 million to a partnerships led by David Gonzales.
The deeds and mortgages were recorded Monday.
• Liberty Property Limited Partnership sold 10245 Centurion Parkway N. to Acorn Centurion LLC for $4.3 million. Acorn Centurion took out a $3.88 million mortgage from Wells Fargo Bank.
Gonzales is the managing member of Acorn Property Holdings LLC, which is the managing member of Acorn Centurion LLC.
• Liberty Property Limited Partnership sold 8665 Baypine Road to Acorn Lakeside LLC for $2.7 million. Acorn Lakeside took out a $1.46 million mortgage from Wells Fargo Bank.
Acorn Property Holdings LLC is the managing member of Acorn Lakeside.
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