Brooks Rehabilitation intends to build a skilled-nursing facility at the site of the former Gator Office Furniture building that is being demolished at 6160 Beach Blvd.
Gator Office Furniture relocated its business early this year to 4827 Philips Highway, between University Boulevard and Emerson Street.
Brooks Rehabilitation Hospital has owned the Beach Boulevard office furniture site since 2000.
Burkhalter Wrecking Inc. is the contractor for the demolition of the one-story masonry building and attached warehouse at a project cost of $52,900.
"We will be expanding services on our University Boulevard campus and building a skilled nursing facility on the Gator Office site, said Jill Matejcek, manager of public and community relations for Brooks Rehabilitation.
"We are anticipating construction to begin in early 2014. Other details about the project are still being finalized," she said.
The Brooks Rehabilitation Hospital campus is next to it at Beach and University boulevards. Its address is 3599 University Blvd. S.
Brooks will expand the services provided at its University Boulevard campus to include the skilled nursing facility serving both patients in need of short-term rehabilitation as well as long-term care, Matejcek said.
Meanwhile, Brooks Rehabilitation will open its Bartram Campus this summer along Bartram Park Boulevard near Old St. Augustine Road and Interstate 95.
The location will house a 100-bed skilled nursing facility, a 61-unit assisted living facility, and two 12-bed Green Houses for memory care services.
Matejcek said Brooks served more than 15,000 seniors last year "and knows firsthand that they have unique health care needs."
"Whether it is gaining physical strength and coordination, increasing mental stimulation or receiving emotional and social support, Brooks is committed to furthering their services to transform the lives of seniors in our community," she said.
Memorial Hospital renovating NICU
The City approved the permit for Memorial Hospital to renovate its Neonatal Intensive Care Unit and nursery at the 3625 University Blvd. S. medical center, next to the Brooks Rehabilitation Hospital campus.
Dana B. Kenyon Co. is the contractor for the $750,824 project, which involves 4,200 square feet of space.
Adam Landau, senior media and communications coordinator, said previously that construction should start in May and be completed in August. The project cost will total $1 million.
He said Memorial Hospital updated its labor and delivery rooms the past year and the neonatal intensive care unit is part of the process.
Mayo starts construction on dialysis center
The City OK'd the permit for Mayo Clinic Florida to build a $3.5 million dialysis center at 4658 Worrall Way on its Southside campus. Danis Construction is the contractor of the almost 14,000-square-foot center.
As reported in December, Mayo expects construction to be completed by the end of the year. The dialysis center will relocate from St. Vincent's Medical Center Southside by the end of 2013.
The clinic reported the dialysis center will be built next to the Mayo Clinic Sleep Center and contain 24 treatment bays and three home-training bays as well as exam, consult and associated staff spaces. It will be designed to accommodate both mobile and stretcher patients.
Supply Source moving to Deerwood
NAI Hallmark Partners, the leasing agent for the EastGroup Properties Inc. industrial portfolio in Jacksonville, announced it has completed a long-term lease for The Supply Source at the Deerwood Distribution Center at 8500 Baycenter Road.
The Jacksonville-based supply chain management company will move its corporate headquarters June 1 from 7076 Davis Creek Road to a 69,098-square-foot space in the Deerwood Distribution Center, which Hallmark said represents the largest industrial lease this year for the Southside market.
Patrick Thornton and Christian Harden represented EastGroup Properties Inc. in the transaction.
Zoo permits OK'd
The City has approved more than $3.9 million in construction permits for the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens to add the Land of the Tiger exhibit to its Asia Precinct.
The zoo broke ground on the project April 3. The addition's fundraising campaign goal is $9.5 million, which is part of the $11.5 million total sought for expansion at the zoo.
Executive Director Tony Vecchio said April 3 that $7.5 million has been raised, including a $2 million donation from former Jacksonville Jaguars owners Wayne and Delores Barr Weaver.
In addition, City Council is considering transferring more than $2 million from a wetlands mitigation fund to the zoo to assist with construction of the tiger exhibit.
Vecchio said tigers have been the No. 1 requested animal by zoo patrons and the exhibit will feature at least six tigers.
He said the tiger portion of the exhibit will have two main event and viewing spaces — one indoor, one outdoor — with a 5,600-square-foot area on one side and a 6,490-square-foot area on the other. An enclosed trail will allow the tigers to roam.
The tigers are the core of the expansion, which also will feature two pig areas — one for the warty pig and one for the Barbirusa — that will interact with otters. A hornbill aviary also is planned.
Vecchio said he wants the expansion to be completed by March in time for the zoo's 100th anniversary.
The City approved one permit in mid-April and five more Tuesday.
The contractor is Perry-McCall Construction Inc., The engineer is Prosser Hallock. The designer is PJA Architecture and Landscape Architects of Seattle, Wash.
The Daily Record reported in November that the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens filed plans with the City and the St. Johns River Water Management District for the Asia Precinct expansion, described as a seven-structure exhibit.
A project description shows the Asia Precinct expansion will be in the southeastern corner of the zoo.
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