From the Daily Record
Jacksonville-based Rayonier Inc. is starting development of more than 2,900 high-profile acres at northeast Interstate 95 and Florida A1A.
A public elementary school and regional park are expected to be the first of many projects among those 2,938 acres, part of the 4,202-acre East Nassau Employment Center.
The employment center eventually can accommodate 7.1 million square feet of office, commercial, medical and industrial uses, as well as 4,038 residential units.
The school and employment center are part of the much larger 24,000-acre East Nassau Community Planning Area, a long-term master-planned development also designed for a village center, regional center, residences and transportation. About half will be set aside for perpetual conservation easements.
The overall job projections for the area exceed 20,000.
Rayonier spokesman Michael Bell said the school is expected to open in fall 2017 with 600-800 students. The park opening is not yet determined.
Ash Properties, a Jacksonville-based retail and office developer, paid almost $2.35 million for 9 acres in Flagler Center in South Jacksonville.
Ash Properties has the rights to build up to 134,000 square feet among three or four buildings.
Randall Whitfield, vice president of Ash Properties, said work could start early next year. He expects to build retail, office and service establishments, but declined to name tenants who are interested in the site.
The development is within Flagler Center, which comprises about 1,000 acres in Jacksonville south of Old St. Augustine Road, between Interstate 95 and Philips Highway.
Jacksonville-based developer Sleiman Enterprises wants to expand the Atlantic North shopping center and apartment community by almost 1 million square feet of retail, restaurant and hotel space, as well as another 300 multifamily units.
That corner, at northwest Kernan and Atlantic boulevards, is anchored by LA Fitness, Academy Sports & Outdoors, Earth Fare and, next spring, Belk. The 290-unit Sorrel apartments are under construction on the site, just north of the retail area.
President Toney Sleiman said he also is studying the option of building a movie theater, pending results of a review to determine if the area can support one.
Sleiman Enterprises owns three of the four corners at Kernan and Atlantic boulevards. The family could develop more than 2 million square feet of space among the three corners when completed, which would be more than the St. Johns Town Center’s retail space.
A Citizens Property Insurance Corp. team recommended the company consolidate a 950-job operations center Downtown in EverBank Center, pending completion of lease negotiations.
The team chose between Amkin West Bay LLC, which owns EverBank Center at 301 W. Bay St., and Crocker Partners, which owns the Prominence Business Park at 8935 Freedom Commerce Parkway in Baymeadows.
Pamela Smith, the owner’s representative for EverBank, said Citizens Property would lease more than 230,000 square feet of space, which would boost occupancy at the tower to almost 90 percent.
Citizens Property plans to consolidate its four Jacksonville offices, now comprising 211,288 square feet in Baymeadows, into one larger location. The company wants to start moving into the space Aug. 1 and begin the lease Jan. 1, 2016.
CSX Corp. bought the 550 Water Street Building on Tuesday for $30 million.
Jacksonville-based CSX, through The Atlantic Land and Improvement Co., bought the Downtown property from BP Graham LLC, based in Alabama.
The transportation company leases almost 75 percent of the structure, which sits next to its riverfront headquarters at 500 Water St.
The Atlantic Land and Improvement Co.’s officers comprise executives with CSX Transportation and CSX Real Property Inc.
The 14-story 550 Water Street building comprises 234,310 square feet, according to the Duval County Property Appraiser’s office. CSX occupies 172,000 square feet, or all but three floors.
BP Graham LLC of Birmingham, Ala., bought the building for $23.3 million in October 2007. The structure, built in 1982, carries a 2015 assessed value in progress of $14.25 million and sits on 1.9 acres.
Corner Bakery Cafe on Riverside Avenue opened this month.
The first 100 guests received a travel mug and free daily coffee refills for a year.
It’s the second Corner Bakery Cafe in Jacksonville. The first opened in September at 7111 Bonneval Road, just off Butler Boulevard.
Corner Bakery Cafe is a fast-casual restaurant that serves breakfast, lunch and dinner. It operates in 19 states and Washington, D.C.