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Jacksonville Record & Observer 3/28/19

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Mathis Report: Development pays homage to Lynyrd Skynyrd

March 28-April 3, 2019

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JACKSONVILLE

Record & Observer A FIRST LOOK AT VILLAGE CENTER Record & Observer Here’s what developer Jeff Fuqua is planning at JACKSONVILLE I-295 and Butler Boulevard

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JACKSONVILLE

Record & Observer VILLAGE CENTER

Fuqua Development intends to develop 67 acres at southeast Butler Boulevard and I-295.

 N BY KAREN BRUNE MATHIS EDITOR

A

rendering of Fuqua Development Principal Jeff Fuqua’s proposed $300 million village center development at southeast Butler Boulevard and Interstate 295 offers a first look at the project. Fuqua intends to buy the 67 acres for the project from the Skinner family early next year. It will be the

retail center of the 1,063-acre site that also will feature residential development. A rendering included in the Atlanta-based developer’s presentation to the International Council of Shopping Centers North Florida Idea Exchange shows the proposed Bold City Food Hall and mercantile hall that opens in the back to an outdoor event lawn and amphitheater.

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Bold City Food Hall, mercantile hall and outdoor event and green space.

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Apartments on top of retail stores.

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A specialty grocery store.

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A movie theater.

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A luxury hotel with future office buildings to the west. Rendering special to the Daily Record

SEE VILLAGE CENTER, PAGE 8

City Council votes to take possession of The Jacksonville Landing Settlement ends two-year legal battle; measure includes money to relocate tenants, demolish the structure.

BY DAVID CAWTON ASSOCIATE EDITOR

Jacksonville City Council members approved legislation Tuesday night giving the city full possession of The Jacksonville Landing, ending a two-year legal

fight over the future of the Downtown riverfront marketplace and setting it up for potential demolition. Council members voted 15-1 to approve Ordinance 2019-134, a measure that includes a $15 million buyout of Jacksonville Land-

Cawton Report: JEA selects new leader for board of directors PAGE 7 Basch Report: CSX plans a virtual shareholders meeting PAGE 6 OBSERVER MEDIA GROUP

ing Investments LLC’s long-term lease, an additional $1.5 million to help relocate tenants and $1.5 million to demolish the 32-yearold shopping center. Anna Lopez Brosche was the only no vote. Council members Garrett Dennis, Sam Newby and

Matt Schellenberg were not present. The Landing was built in 1987 at 2 Independent Drive W. on the Downtown Northbank. According to the legislation, SEE LANDING, PAGE 8

ECONOMIC TRENDS

Construction job growth suffers slump But overall unemployment drops. PAGE 3 VOLUME 1, NO. 43 • ONE SECTION


Page 2 • Thursday, March 28, 2019

Jacksonville Daily Record/Jacksonville Record & Observer

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WHAT’S TRENDING

An artist’s rendering of Ortega Alley, a retail plaza that will be anchored by Metro Diner and other stores.

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REDEVELOPMENT Roosevelt Square to become Ortega Park

Established in 1912, the Financial News & Daily Record, now the Jacksonville Daily JACKSONVILLE Record, is published Monday-Friday and is the Official Court Newspaper of the Circuit Court and publisher of public notices in Duval County.

Roosevelt Square, built 58 years ago as an enclosed shopping mall, is heading into its third redevelopment under the 22-year ownership of Atlanta-based Dewberry Group. It includes a new name – Ortega Park – along with an expansion of retail stores, the addition of apartments and renovations to the existing center. Dewberry has applied for five permits to build or renovate buildings at the center, including adding a 24,077-square-foot retail center to launch “Ortega Alley,” a retail plaza in the area anchored by Metro Diner and Chase Bank. Roosevelt Square is at 4495 Roosevelt Blvd. in West Jacksonville. The largest new building is designed in the parking lot in front of Metro Diner, creating the retail alley that will link to another set of buildings. A rendering posted on-site indicates the restaurant will remain in its current space. The dewberrygroup.com site says Ortega Park will grow to nearly 700,000 square feet and include upscale shopping, dining and Class A multifamily.

Jacksonville Record & Observer is a free weekly business newspaper available in Downtown Jacksonville and key business nodes throughout Jacksonville. To find a location near you, visit jaxdailyrecord.com/rack-locations. Editorial content focuses on news and trends, with a concentration on development, law, companies, economic and industry trends and how local and state government affects business. Realty-Builder is a monthly publication connecting Northeast Florida’s real estate professionals and homebuilders. Content focuses on timely news, information and trends affecting residential real estate sales and construction, as well as events and legal issues impacting the industry. Visit Realty-Builder.com to request your free copy.

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DEVELOPMENT Driving range takes step toward multifamily The Jacksonville Planning Commission recommended approval to amend the land use of the Masterfit Golf Teaching and Fitting Academy at 14055 Philips Highway for a proposed multifamily development. The 19.13-acre property is on the east side of Philips Highway, about a mile south of the Florida 9B interchange. It operates as a golf teaching academy, driving range and sporting goods store. Masterfit has owned the property since 2003. Documents say the area has been transitioning from agricultural to residential and commercial uses with the emergence of the Bartram Park, Nocatee and Wells Creek subdivisions and a proposed Philips Highway Commercial Center.

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Closed nightclub giving way for JTA transit hub The city issued a permit for Burkhalter Wrecking Inc. to demolish the closed Vibe nightclub at 5800 Philips Highway at a cost of almost $77,000 for construction of a Jacksonville Transportation Authority transit hub. JTA will use the site for a bus loop transfer station for its First Coast Flyer Blue Line and other fixed routes. It will include shelters and amenities. JTA bought the property in February 2018 for $1.3 million.

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GOVERNMENT Project Liberty would create 198 jobs Project Liberty is seeking $990,000 in city and state incentives to create 198 full-time jobs in Jacksonville. A city summary of the code-named project describes Liberty as an international information technology company that designs software for large corporations and is considering expanding its Jacksonville workforce. The jobs would pay an average of $69,000, The city would be responsible for 20 percent, or $198,000, with the state responsible for the rest.

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Jacksonville Daily Record (USPS 190-620) is published daily except Saturday, Sunday & legal holidays (New Year’s Day, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving and Christmas) by Daily Record & Observer LLC, 10 N. Newnan St., Jacksonville, FL 32202. Periodicals postage paid at Jacksonville, Florida and at additional mailing offices. Under no circumstances will any news or records of Duval County be suppressed for anyone. Information in this newspaper is for our subscribers only and must not be used by anyone for publication purposes.

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Thursday, March 28, 2019 • Page 3

Unemployment falls, but job growth slows ECONOMIC TRENDS

February marks the first decline in Northeast Florida construction jobs since 2012. BY MARK BASCH CONTRIBUTING WRITER

After a January spike in the jobless rate, Jacksonville’s unemployment rate fell by 0.4 percentage points to 3.4 percent in February, the Florida Department of Economic Opportunity said Friday. However, job growth in Northeast Florida slowed, due in part to a significant drop-off in construction employment. The Department of Economic Opportunity does not adjust the local data for seasonal factors, and January’s rise in unemployment was a normal seasonal trend after businesses take on temporary workers for the Christmas holiday season. While unemployment fell last month, job growth was weak for the second straight month. The number of jobs on nonfarm business payrolls in the Jacksonville area grew by 7,400 from February 2018 through February 2019, a 1.1 percent growth rate. That matched the 1.1 percent annual growth rate reported in January for the Jacksonville metropolitan area, which consists of Duval, Baker, Clay, Nassau and St. Johns counties. The labor market was impacted by a decline in construction jobs, which fell by 600, or 1.3 percent, from February 2018 through February 2019. As the housing market rebounded from the financial crisis of 2007-08, construction jobs began growing at a strong rate in recent years. The year-over-year growth in construction peaked at 15 percent in March 2018. February marked the first year-over-year decline in construction jobs since 2012. The biggest job losses through February in Northeast Florida came in financial activities, which fell by 1,400, or 2.1 percent, in the 12-month period. Another sector with large job losses was administration and support and waste services, which declined by 1,100, or 2 percent. The biggest private sector

Construction job growth dips

15%

15.0%

Job growth peak in March 2018

Annualized monthly growth rate in construction jobs in the Jacksonville metropolitan area, January 2017 through February 2019.

12%

9%

6%

3%

Jan ’17

Aug ’17

Jan ’18

Aug ’18 -1.3% Feb. ’19

Source: Florida Department of Economic Opportunity

growth sectors in February were education and health services, up 3,100 or 2.9 percent; professional, scientific and technical services, up 2,100 or 4.6 percent; and wholesale trade, up 1,000 or 4 percent. Jacksonville’s job growth in February was lagging behind Florida’s statewide growth rate of 2.4 percent, and the national

increase of 1.7 percent in the 12-month period. Florida’s unemployment rate had a similar drop as Jacksonville’s in February before seasonal adjustment. But when seasonal patterns are factored in, the statewide unemployment rate actually rose by 0.1 point to 3.5 percent, the Department of Economic Opportunity said.

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cent. The other three counties in the metro area also had jobless rates below Florida’s statewide rate in February. Nassau County was at 3.2 percent, and Baker and Clay counties were both at 3.3 percent.

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Duval County’s unemployment rate fell from 3.9 percent in January to 3.5 percent in February, without seasonal adjustment. St. Johns County continued to have one of the lowest unemployment rates in Florida, falling by 0.5 points last month to 2.9 percent. Only Monroe County was lower, at 2.4 per-

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Page 4 • Thursday, March 28, 2019

Jacksonville Daily Record/Jacksonville Record & Observer

THE MATHIS REPORT

Freebird Commerce Center a Skynyrd tribute

KAREN BRUNE MATHIS EDITOR

Scannell Properties says its choice of project name is “a good way to pay homage to a great band.” Freebird Commerce Center is a relatable name in Northeast Florida for native rock group legend Lynyrd Skynyrd’s 1973 worldwide hit. That made choosing the name a breeze. Ian MacDonald, development manager for Indianapolis-based Scannell Properties LLC, was mulling a list of names with local real estate brokers Tyler Newman and Jacob Horsley, directors with Cushman & Wakefield. “One of the two of them came up with it,” MacDonald said. MacDonald, 33, said he grew up in the Midwest and his father was a Skynyrd fan. The music always was a few steps near on the radio or on the home stereo MacDonald system. “Obviously I am a fan and I didn’t know the history,” he said about Skynryd’s genesis in Northeast Florida. When he learned more about it, the decision was simple. No need to ask more questions. “Freebird is a good way to pay homage to a great band,” he said. “We thought it would be a great fit for the project.” In the industrial real estate industry, many of the same standard names circulate. “We couldn’t pass up a good opportunity to be unique,” he said. Scannell Properties is a privately held commercial real estate developer and investment company. It has submitted site engineering plans for two speculative distribution

Special to the Daily Record

Scannell Properties plans two speculative warehouses at 14241 Duval Road in North Jacksonville and plans to break ground on the first in May. This is the 156,000- square-foot Building 1.

RESTAURANT NOTES Panera Bread near Queen’s Harbour: Panera Bread relocated its Queen’s Harbour Yacht & Country Club area bakery-café restaurant last week to a standalone building at 13201 Atlantic Blvd. The building is a former Applebee’s Neighborhood Grill & Bar that was renovated and added a drive-thru. Panera moved from a smaller location within a strip center a half-mile west at 12959 Atlantic Blvd. That location did not have a drive-thru. Applebee’s closed in 2017.

Special to the Daily Record

An aerial map shows where Scannell Properties wants to develop Freebird Commerce Center.

warehouses with the city Planning and Development Department. MacDonald estimates the Jacksonville investment at $19 million, including the cost of the land purchase. The city calculated a mobility fee of $118,456 to mitigate the traffic impact of a twobuilding, 273,890-square-foot warehouse project on 18.76 undeveloped acres at 14241 Duval Road in North Jacksonville. The property is at southwest Airport Road and Interstate 95. The site is north of I-295. Scannell Properties #335 LLC bought the property in December for $1.63 million from the Higginbotham Land Trust. Cooper Construction of Birmingham, Alabama, is the contractor. Kimley-Horn and Associates Inc. is the civil engineer. Plans show two buildings – one at 156,000 square feet and another at 117,890 square feet. MacDonald said Scannell plans to break ground in May

on the 156,000-square-foot building for completion by year-end. It can accommodate up to four tenants. Work could start on the 117,890-square-foot building by the end of 2019 for completion in the first quarter of 2020. That structure is designed for up to three tenants. MacDonald said no tenants are signed but there are “active users looking at the project and we are chasing deals as they come into the market.” He said Jacksonville’s industrial market, experiencing record low vacancy rates, drew the interest of the company. Scannell saw a market for Class A product. “We’ve been looking and trying to get a land position in the Jacksonville market for a couple of years,” he said. MacDonald said Jacksonville’s market has experienced a focus on build-to-suit projects, in which a tenant agrees to lease a structure that is completed specifically for its needs.

Whispers Oyster Bar Downtown: Whispers Oyster Bar & Seafood wants to open at 331 W. Forsyth St. Downtown in the former The Bank BBQ & Bakery space. Berling Design Build Corp. is the contractor. Restaurant owner Alex Morantus says he will provide more information after permits are issued. A permit application says no work will be performed other than cosmetic improvements. The kitchen equipment remains. Popeyes in Arlington: The city issued final site plan approval for Popeyes Louisiana Kitchen at 9309 Merrill Road in Buck Business Park. Verdad Real Estate Inc. is the developer. Popeyes plans a 2,265-square-foot, 52-seat restaurant and drive-thru on 1.25 acres. Dunkin’ Donuts in Bartram Market: St. Johns County is reviewing an application for construction of a 2,350-square-foot Dunkin’ Donuts with two drive-thru lanes on an acre along Race Track Road in Bartram Market. Your Pie in Durbin: St. Johns County approved a $350,000 build-out in 2,400 square feet of space at 90 Durbin Pavilion Drive, Suite 101, in The Pavilion at Durbin Park.

That opened up the opportunity to build speculative buildings so that tenants needing space quickly had options. MacDonald said Jacksonville’s deep-water port is a strong reason for interest by tenants in the shipping and distribution industries. Scannell does not have immediate plans for more Jacksonville development, but

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remains on the hunt. “We are keeping a pulse on the market for any other land opportunities as they become available,” MacDonald said. A good question will be: what’s its name?

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Thursday, March 28, 2019 • Page 5

REAL ESTATE

Top 10 sales of the week BY SCOTT SAILER • EDITORIAL RESEARCH DIRECTOR

Here are the top 10 real estate sales in Northeast Florida, comprising Baker, Clay, Duval and St. Johns counties. The sales were recorded March 18-22.

File image

The Avesta Mandarin Apartments sold for $36 million, 128 percent more than the $15.8 million the property sold for in 2014.

$36,000,000

$11,900,000

$6,100,000

$6,098,925

$3,607,111

3200 Hartley Road, Jacksonville, Duval County

13550 Airport Court, Jacksonville, Duval County

510 Lane Ave. S., Jacksonville, Duval County

Interstate 95, St. Augustine, St. Johns County

1551 County Road 220, Fleming Island, Clay County

Type: Avesta Mandarin Apartments Size: 20.58 acres Buyer: Mandarin Apartments I LLC and Mandarin Apartments II LLC Seller: 3200 Hartley LLC Previous sale: $15,800,000 in 2014

Type: SpringHill Suites by Marriott-Jacksonville Airport Size: 3.58 acres Buyer: LRP of Pooler LLC Seller: Kedar Property LLC Previous sale: $9,750,000 in 2007

Type: Hotel Size: 5.16 acres Buyer: Fay Properties LLC Seller: Zodiac21 Inc. Previous sale: $2,807,000 in 2016

Type: Timberland Size: 577.82 acres Buyer: Roy H. Hinman II Seller: Cummer Land Trust

Type: CVS Pharmacy Size: 1.35 acres Buyer: 1551 County Road 220 LLC Seller: Fran Property Investments Inc.

$2,886,750

$1,500,000

$1,316,375

$1,250,000

$1,035,652

Flagler Center Boulevard Jacksonville, Duval County

111 S. First St. and 28 First Ave. S., Jacksonville Beach, Duval County

8088 Old Kings Road S., Jacksonville, Duval County

12931 Fort Caroline Road, Jacksonville, Duval County

Southpoint Parkway, Jacksonville, Duval County

Type: Undeveloped business park Size: 13.52 acres Buyer: Flagler REI LLC Seller: FDG Flagler Center Land LLC

Type: Undeveloped commercial Size: .45 acres Buyer: Pineapple By the Sea LLC Seller: Pineapple Corporation of Jacksonville Inc. Previous sale: $1,386,500 in 2017

Type: Family Dollar Size: 0.94 acres Buyer: Broadstone FD Portfolio I LLC Seller: ARCP FD 2014 ALB Portfolio II LLC Previous sale: $1,385,000 in 2014

Type: Single-family Size: 1.67 acres Buyer: 12931 Fort Caroline Land Trust Seller: Harvey Moss Revocable Trust Previous sale: $1,110,000 in 2019

Type: Undeveloped commercial Size: 2 acres Buyer: MarkdevJacksonville LLC Seller: North Florida Land Holding LLC Previous sale: $348,480 in 1999

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Page 6 • Thursday, March 28, 2019

Jacksonville Daily Record/Jacksonville Record & Observer

THE BASCH REPORT

CSX plans virtual shareholders meeting

MARK BASCH CONTRIBUTING WRITER

Shareholders will be able to ask questions in advance and in real time during the meeting May 3. Jacksonville shareholders of CSX Corp. often don’t have an opportunity to question the railroad company’s top management, because the company has a habit of moving its annual meeting to different cities every year. However, Jacksonville-based CSX says it is giving all shareholders equal access this year by holding a virtual annual shareholders meeting – that is, the meeting will be held only through a webcast. “The CSX annual meeting will be conducted in a virtual format to provide the opportunity for full and equal participation by all shareholders, from any location around the world, while substantially reducing the costs associated with hosting an in-person meeting,” the company said in an emailed statement in response to questions about the decision. CSX held its 2018 meeting in May at the Prime Osborn Convention Center, but that was the first time since 2004 that its annual meeting had been held in Jacksonville. In its proxy statement filed Friday with the Securities and Exchange Commission, CSX said shareholders will be able to submit questions in advance to management and the board of directors and also submit them in real time during the meeting May 3. The online meeting will not be accessible to the general public. Participants will need to submit a 16-digit control number that will be sent to shareholders. A normal shareholder meeting also is inaccessible to the public, because big companies like CSX restrict access to noninvestors. Not everyone agrees that a virtual meeting provides better access. The Council of Institutional Investors, a nonprofit association of asset managers and asset owners, opposes the idea. “CII and many large U.S. asset owners believe that virtual technology should be used as a supplement to in-person meetings, not a substitute,” Amy Borrus, deputy director of the council, said by email. Borrus cited an example of one CII member who was able to ask a question in person at an annual meeting and then meet with the chairman after the meeting to resolve the issue. “He told me: ‘When you go in person and professionally present (a proposal), you make a connection, the directors see you don’t have horns.’ Working out a deal would not be pos-

Going virtual According to the Council of Institutional Investors, the number of virtual shareholder meetings is on the rise.

20%

Growth in virtual shareholder meetings in 2018

350

Virtual shareholder meetings expected in 2019

sible at a virtual-only meeting,” she said. That’s not the only issue of concern to CII. While companies promise shareholder access to the virtual meeting, Borrus said the format allows companies to “cherry-pick” which questions they want to answer and avoid participation by stockholders considered “troublesome.” Borrus said virtual meetings became a growing trend starting in 2009 when Intel Corp. had a virtual meeting. The number of virtual shareholder meetings by U.S. public companies grew 20 percent to 285 last year and is expected to reach 350 this year, she said, citing data from Broadridge Financial Solutions Inc. “The annual shareholder meeting is the one time of the year that shareholders have to meet with and question the directors who they elect to represent them,” Borrus said. “It is not too much to ask directors to show up in person and face their shareholders.”

Analysts like FIS strategy Analysts seem in agreement that Fidelity National Information Services Inc.’s $34 billion agreement to buy payment processing company Worldpay Inc. is a good strategic move for the Jacksonville-based company known as FIS. “We believe FIS management is showing significant foresight with the WP deal — smartly getting an early start on the eventual global shift towards payments modernization/faster payments/open banking,” Guggenheim Securities analyst Jeff Cantwell said in a research note Friday. Cantwell said the merger agreement announced March 18 “is mostly about PSD2,” a Payments Services Directive

established by the European Union that regulates electronics payments. “Management is responding to PSD2 in a very offensive way,” he said. “By acquiring WP, we see FIS in the early stages of eventually operating a global, modern, real-time payments platform that will be of significant benefit to the company’s financial institution and merchant clients (both existing, and future) over time.” With the stock trading at $110.16 at the time of his report, Cantwell raised his price target for FIS from $120 to $135. Wedbush Securities analyst Moshe Katri, who already had an “outperform” rating, said in a Friday research note that FIS was added to the “Wedbush Best Ideas List.” He raised his price target from $110 to $140. “The combined company will be positioned to offer best-in-class enterprise banking, payments, capital markets, and global eCommerce capabilities empowering financial institutions and merchants worldwide,” Katri said. SunTrust Robinson Humphrey analyst Andrew Jeffrey also thinks the merger makes strategic sense, but he cut his rating on FIS from “buy” to “hold” and lowered his price target $120 to $113. “We believe Fidelity has coveted exposure to the relatively faster growing Merchant Processing industry. In this regard, we assert acquiring Worldpay makes sense,” Jeffrey said in his report. “Although we see the strategic rationale for acquiring Worldpay, we contend Fidelity is paying at best a fair price and must generate meaningful rev synergies to achieve its longterm organic top-line goals,” he said. FIS and Worldpay combined

produced $12.3 billion in revenue last year, so the merged FIS would surpass CSX as the largest Jacksonville-based company.

Fiala leaving Regency board Regency Centers Corp. last week said former President and Chief Operating Officer Mary Lou Fiala is retiring from the board of directors. Fiala, a board member since 1997 who served as president from 1999 to 2009, will not stand for re-election to Regency’s Fiala board at its annual shareholders meeting (a live meeting) May 7. While Fiala is leaving, the Jacksonville-based shopping center developer said two new directors were nominated for election, which will increase the size of the board from 11 to 12 members. The new director nominees are Karin Klein, founding partner of venture capital firm Bloomberg Beta, and Thomas Furphy, CEO and managing director of venture capital firm Consumer Equity Partners. “Each will bring valuable technology expertise coupled with other highly relevant perspectives on the retail industry, which will enhance our ability to ensure our strategy remains relevant in the ever-changing world of retail real estate,” CEO Hap Stein said in a news release.

Community First grows members and earnings

Community First Credit Union of Florida last week reported 2018 earnings of $20.2

million, up from $13.3 million in 2017. Membership in the Jacksonville-based credit union rose by more than 7 percent to 134,886 and deposits grew by more than 8 percent to $1.4 billion. Community First, which was launched in 1935 as the Duval County Teachers Credit Union, serves residents in 17 Florida counties with 19 branches.

International Baler sales fall International Baler Corp. had a net loss of $18,788 in the first quarter ended Jan. 31, reversing a profit in the first quarter of fiscal 2018. Sales for the Jacksonvillebased manufacturer of balers used for recycling and waste disposal dropped 38 percent to $2.47 million. International Baler said in its quarterly report filed with the SEC that the decline in sales resulted from lower shipments of auto-tie balers than in the first quarter of fiscal 2018.

Tegna buying 11 more TV stations Tegna Inc., owner of two Jacksonville television stations and 47 others, agreed last week to buy 11 stations in eight markets from Nexstar Media Group for $740 million. Nexstar is divesting stations as part of a planned merger with Tribune Media Co. Tegna said its deal with Nexstar is contingent on the closing of the Nexstar-Tribune merger later this year. Virginia-based Tegna owns NBC affiliate WTLV TV-12 and ABC affiliate WJXX TV-25 in Jacksonville. MBASCH@ JAXDAILYRECORD.COM


Jacksonville Daily Record/Jacksonville Record & Observer

Thursday, March 28, 2019 • Page 7

April Green will lead JEA’s board of directors in April after Alan Howard ends his nearly two-year term as chairman. Green is the chief operating officer and chief financial officer of Bethel Baptist Institutional Church in Downtown Jacksonville. Since 2014, she also has been the COO of Baxter Technology Corp. Mayor Lenny Curry appointed Green to the JEA board Dec. 1, 2017, for a term to expire Feb. 28, 2021. He appointed Howard to the board Feb. 10, 2016, for a term that expired Feb. 28. Howard served as chair since May 2017. “Mrs. Green will be great,” Howard said. “She’s been an active participant at the committee level, she’s fully up to speed on what JEA is confronting and she is well-prepared to assume the role of chair.” In January, Howard said he would remain as board chair through the utility’s selection of a new corporate headquarters site, a process set to conclude April 2. Howard is a managing partner of the Milam Howard Nicandri Gillam & Renner law firm in Downtown Jacksonville. At the end of the board meeting Tuesday, Howard reflected on his tenure and

Photo by David Cawton

From left, JEA board Vice Chair Camille Lee-Johnson, board Chair April Green, JEA CEO Aaron Zahn, outgoing board Chair Alan Howard and board members Kelly Flanagan and The Rev. Frederick Newbill.

ship role,” he said. More changes are expected for the public utility’s sevenmember board in the coming months. Howard’s departure adds another vacancy following the resignation in January of Husein Cumber. Cumber stepped down after his wife, LeAnna Cumber, won an uncontested race for Jacksonville City Council District 5. He said he wanted to avoid any potential conflict of interest. Another concern for the board is the health of John Campion, who has leukemia. The illness has kept Campion from attending board meetings since November. “I know that John is wrestling with some personal health issues,” said Howard. “It’s certainly our hope that he will be well enough to return soon.” Campion, 56, is the founder and chairman of APR Energy, which is represented by the Jacksonville-based advertising and public relations firm, The Dalton Agency. Dalton Agency Partner Michael Munz said on Campion’s behalf that his doctors anticipate a full recovery. “The doctors have not given him a timeline to return to

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The JEA board meets Tuesday to decide where the utility will relocate its corporate headquarters. “I am confident that this board will do its job in evaluating the offers that have been submitted, the merits of each offer, and doing what’s best for JEA and its customers,” Howard said. He said the board received “best and final offers” from three development groups and that those offers would be made public before the meeting. Jacksonville Jaguars owner

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normal duties when it comes to life beyond treatment, but hopefully he will get a timeline to share with his business interests and his volunteer interests at JEA and with others as soon as possible,” Munz said. Hughes said Campion has been in contact with the mayor’s office and that they continue to have confidence in him. “For now we’re just praying for him, we’re ready for him to get healthy and come back,” Hughes said. Hughes said appointments for other vacancies would be proposed to council “soon.”

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DAVID CAWTON ASSOCIATE EDITOR

defended the JEA board’s approach and decision-making during debates over possibly selling JEA to a private operator and the selection in November of CEO Aaron Zahn. “Certainly, the privatization conversation was painful and distracting for our team and our employees,” Howard told the board. “Like many painful events we encounter in life, I think some good comes from that,” he said. Howard said he stands by the decision to select Zahn over two other candidates with more experience in the utility industry. “I think that time will prove this board made the right decision,” he said. After the meeting, Howard again praised Zahn’s leadership and initiatives over the past year, saying he doesn’t see “how any objective observer could evaluate the performance of Mr. Zahn and the senior leadership in light of all that and come away with any other conclusion other than an outstanding job.” In addition to Green’s selection as chair, Camille LeeJohnson will serve as vice chair. She is the COO of Lee Wesley & Associates. The Rev. Frederick Newbill of First Timothy Baptist Church will remain as board secretary. Brian Hughes, chief of staff for Mayor Lenny Curry, said Tuesday that Howard’s service has been “important to the administration and JEA.” “It’s a lot to ask people to volunteer so much time and energy when they are often busy with other aspects including their professional life,” Hughes said. “We’re grateful for everything he did for the city and for JEA.” Hughes said Green has been an active board member and a “great community leader.” “We’re glad her colleagues saw fit to put her in a leader-

THE CAWTON REPORT

April Green to lead JEA board after Howard’s term expires


Page 8 • Thursday, March 28, 2019

Jacksonville Daily Record/Jacksonville Record & Observer

Landing: Administration open to development ideas CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

the city is using $14.5 million in debt for the buyout. An amendment added during committee hearings last week moved $3.5 million from the city’s Downtown Economic Development Fund to reduce the debt obligation. While Mayor Lenny Curry secured enough votes to pass the legislation, the process and the uncertainty of the Landing’s future were criticized. Council member Danny Becton offered substitute legislation that would remove money for demolition and tenant relocation costs. Becton said it seemed like the city was “unnecessarily eliminating an entertainment venue” without a plan. That substitute failed to gain traction with other council members, except for Joyce Morgan. Others were quick to praise Curry’s proposal. Bill Gulliford said demolition would benefit potential developers who would have a clean slate to create something new. “I’m just tickled to death to see movement on the Landing,” Gulliford said. “I don’t have any heartburn about demolishing the structures.” Lori Boyer said it was time to “move forward with Jacksonville’s future.” She called JLI partner Toney Sleiman, president of shopping center developer Sleiman Enterprises, one of Jacksonville’s most successful retail operators and asked if he couldn’t make the Landing work, how could the city do so. Council President Aaron Bowman echoed other claims that the city would end up wasting money on maintenance and repairs if the structures remain.

File image

The next step for The Jacksonville Landing is a 45-day due diligence period to evaluate the building and negotiate buyouts with the shopping center’s tenants.

Bowman said in his role as a senior vice president of JAXUSA Partnership, the economic development arm of JAX Chamber, he often tells people not to visit the Landing. “Not only is it in a bad state of repair, it’s not an asset for our visitors,” Bowman said. After the vote, Curry’s chief of staff, Brian Hughes, said the support from most council members shows that people are ready for a change. He said the legislation not only settles an ongoing lawsuit, it treats the city and Sleiman’s company fairly. “It’s good for the taxpayers in the long run and it gets us moving on what comes next,” Hughes said. The city enters a 45 day due diligence period to evaluate the buildings and negotiate buyouts with the Landing tenants. Hughes reaffirmed the admin-

istration’s stance that it is open to development ideas but that any proposal would include public green space. “First and foremost, we have to have conversations with the current tenants,” Hughes said. He said the administration and the Downtown Investment Authority, which oversees Downtown development, wants to keep as many of those restaurants and retailers Downtown as possible. When Rouse-Jacksonville Inc. developed and opened the Landing in 1987 as a mixed-use mall, it featured high-end retailers and restaurants. Since then, tenants closed or relocated to other shopping centers. Rouse owned the three buildings that comprise the mall and leased the ground underneath from the city. The company sold the mall to

Sleiman Enterprises Inc. through the JLI subsidiary in 2003 for $5.3 million. JLI assumed and extended the lease agreement with the city through 2056. Toney Sleiman announced redevelopment plans soon after purchasing the mall. For the past 16 years, Sleiman and the city struggled to agree on redevelopment efforts, including a plan under Mayor Alvin Brown’s watch that would have included $12 million in city-backed incentives. The dispute took a sharp turn after Curry took office in July 2015. In October 2015, the city sued JLI for failing to complete a purchase-and-sale agreement for what is called the “east parcel,” comprising a parking lot next to The Jacksonville Landing. While JLI paid the city $4.35 million for the 1.6-acre site, the city claimed the company did not

complete all aspects of the sale. JLI accused the city of not delivering a deed for the property. That dispute continues in the 4th Judicial Circuit Court. A twoday nonjury trial is scheduled to start July 29. In November 2017, JLI sued the city for failing to maintain the surrounding property and bulkheads along the St. Johns River – an issue JLI claimed was a factor in the mall’s continued decline. Soon after, the city initiated eviction procedures based on a similar claim that JLI wasn’t maintaining the mall. The sides came to an agreement in February. Through a joint statement, Sleiman and Curry said they worked out a deal “by which The Jacksonville Landing and the property at its location would see their best and highest use realized.” “Both parties agree that with the future of Jacksonville shining so bright, now is the time to forge this path forward,” the statement continued. In the next six months, Hughes said to expect the DIA and the administration to aggressively seek proposals for redevelopment. He said that while the administration favors demolition, there will be time to discuss all possibilities. “We’re not going to say never,” said Hughes about using the buildings for another purpose. “If somebody comes to us with an amazing plan that makes sense given the expertise at DIA and throughout the city, we’ll listen,” he said. DCAWTON@ JAXDAILYRECORD.COM @DAVIDCAWTON (904) 356-2466

Village Center: Plans include food hall, cinema CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1

To the front of it are amenities that include food trucks and an indoor-outdoor bar area. Across the main street from there is a grocery store. The rendering also shows apartments that top retail space, a cinema and more retail, office and apartment space. The main street runs through the project east-west. C l ose r to Butler Boulevard are shown a luxury hotel and office buildings. Fuqua While the Bold City Food Hall has been named, Fuqua said Wednesday he has not branded the entire project. He is expected to announce the names of the food-hall chef and the bar operator at the ICSC conference today at TIAA Bank Field. Fuqua intends to unveil his vision for the mixed-use retail, commercial and residential development that brings a new look at how he sees people shopping, playing, living and working in Northeast Florida. Among the details Fuqua previously released: n The 40,000-square-foot Bold City Food Hall will comprise 20,000 square feet for a 20-kitchen food hall and 20,000 square feet for a mercantile hall of 20 bays with up to 700 square feet

of space each. n Stationary food trucks connected to power services whose customers can use the estimated 450 seats inside the food hall. n An indoor-outdoor bar. n A specialty grocery store. n A high-end dinner cinema. n A bowling center. n Two luxury hotels. n Apartments. n Office space. n Retail and commercial space. n Parallel parking as well as parking lots. n Retail and entertainment lining each side of the main street. n Buildings topped by offices and apartments beyond main street. “It’s the most forward-thinking project out there,” Fuqua said previously, calling it a “highexperience” center. “It should be the place where people in Jacksonville want to come.” The Fuqua project is designed for 350,000 square feet of retail, restaurant and entertainment space; 650 to 700 multifamily units; two hotels; and a 60,000-square-foot office structure with the ability to place another 40,000 square feet of space over other buildings to create multistory structures. The overall Skinner site is designed for residential neighborhoods, the village center, and regional office and commercial uses. Project development plans submitted to the city state that

File image

The most recent site plan for the Skinner property shows the village center area that Fuqua Development plans to purchase,

the property could be developed with about 4,600 dwelling units, 3.5 million square feet of nonresidential space, 30 acres for recreation open space, 150 acres of passive open space and 165 acres of public rights-of-way or private thoroughfares. A master housing developerbuilder is negotiating to buy 450

to 500 acres for residential development. That sale also is expected to close in early 2020. The Rogers Towers law firm is handling the application to the city. England-Thims & Miller Inc. is the civil engineer. The Skinner family hired Town Planning & Urban Design Collaborative of Nashville, Tennes-

see, to work with planning firms representing the buyers. The family said it will retain about 125-150 acres primarily along I-295 designated as mixeduse. It could be sold later. KMATHIS@JAXDAILYRECORD.COM @MATHISKB (904) 356-2466


Jacksonville Daily Record/Jacksonville Record & Observer

Hudson

Furtaw

Mayor

Wenger

Thursday, March 28, 2019 • Page 9

Gregory

PEOPLE ON THE MOVE Promotions, hirings and happenings for business people in Northeast Florida. Send items to ssailer@jaxdailyrecord.com

The First Coast Apartment Association named its board of directors: n April Hudson, regional manager with Milestone Management, was named president. n Ken Furtaw, regional manager with WRH Realty Services Inc., is presidentelect. n Jody Mayor, regional manager with Fort Family Investments, is secretarytreasurer . n Melissa Wenger, sales executive with Apartments.com, is associate vice president. n Shannon Gregory, regional director with WRH Realty Services Inc., is past president.

Lt. Cmdr. Adrian Felder was selected director of resource management at Naval Hospital Jacksonville. Felder reported to Naval Hospital JackFelder sonville from Naval Postgraduate School in Monterey, California, where she earned an MBA in financial management. Compiled by Scott Sailer

APRIL 13

DEVELOPMENT TODAY These are the largest commercial building permits by job cost issued Tuesday by the city of Jacksonville. APARTMENTS King’s Trail Apartments, 3770 Toledo Road, contractor is DBK Inc., 5,800 square feet, amenity area repairs, $18,886. OFFICE, BANK, PROFESSIONAL Savlan Exchange South LLC, 9143 Philips Highway, No. 270, contractor is Miatt Construction Inc., interior alteration, $53,448. Basham & Lucas Design Group Inc., 7645 Gate Parkway, No. 201, contractor is Carlton Construction Inc., interior renovation, $50,000. OTHER Bartram Creek, 15150 Durbin Cove Way, contractor is Bent Construction LLC, 870 square feet, two permits for new amenity center building and playground relocation, $655,000. 8025 Baymeadows Circle Owner LLC, 8058 Echo Springs Road, contractor is TCL Construction Concepts Inc., install bulkhead, $47,725. RESTAURANTS The Jungle Bowl LLC, 731 Duval Station Road, contractor is GSJ Builders Inc., 1,332 square feet, tenant build-out, $40,000. ROOFING Oakleaf Atlantic Self Storage, 8340 Merchants Gate Drive, contractor is Childers Roofing & Sheet Metal Inc., new

building roof, $339,900. Chance Philips Owner LLC, 1905 Promenade Way, contractor is The Roof Depot Inc., three permits for new building roofs, $252,150. Garsh Investments LLLP, 3723 Regent Blvd., contractor is BBG Contracting Group Inc., roof replacement, $136,750.

Baptist opens expansion: Baptist Health announced it completed the expansion of the Baptist/Wolfson Children’s Emergency Center in Northwest Jacksonville. The $5 million project added 10 private treatment rooms for adults. The center now comprises 26 exam rooms. “The new expansion will allow us to reduce wait times and continue to deliver the quality care people have come to expect when choosing Baptist for their emergency medical needs,” said Darin Roark, vice president of ambulatory campuses and system emergency departments at Baptist Health. The emergency center is part of

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SERVICE STATION, REPAIR GARAGE Convenient Car Care, 13357 Beach Blvd., contractor is Ticon Commercial Inc., 2,067 square feet, new building, $550,000. SIGNS JAX Elks #221 www.elks.org, 1855 West Road, contractor is Taylor Sign & Design Inc., ground sign, $30,000. Chiropractor Spine & Injury, 1233 Lane Ave. S. No. 15, contractor is Taylor Sign & Design Inc., projection sign, $1,652. STORES, MERCANTILE Walmart, 8011 Merrill Road, contractor is Place Services Inc., interior renovation, $40,000. UTILITIES Verizon Wireless, 4550 St. Johns Bluff Road S., contractor is Betacom Inc., cell tower equipment upgrade, $100,000. Verizon Wireless, 505 Lancaster St., contractor is Betacom Inc., rooftop cell equipment upgrade, $30,000.

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BUSINESS IN BRIEF UF Health at Nocatee: UF Health Jacksonville plans to open the UF Health Family Medicine and Pediatrics-Nocatee facility Monday at 203 Fort Wade Road, Suite 200, north of Nocatee Town Center. Victoria Array and Katherine McMullan will be the attending physicians.

SATURDAY

the Baptist North Medical Campus at northeast Dunn Avenue and Interstate 295. Scholarship created: Florida State College at Jacksonville and Rayonier Inc. announced the creation of scholarships for Nassau County residents. The Rayonier Workforce and Technical Certificate Endowed Scholarship provides financial assistance to qualified residents pursuing a degree in workforce or technical certificate programs: n Commercial Vehicle Driving Workforce Certificate n Firefighter I/II Workforce Certificate n Fire Officer Supervisor Technical Certificate n Geographic Information System Technician Technical Certificate n Welding Technology Workforce Certificate Compiled by Scott Sailer

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Page 10 • Thursday, March 28, 2019

Jacksonville Daily Record/Jacksonville Record & Observer

THE MARBUT REPORT

Malaysian judges visit Jacksonville MAX MARBUT ASSOCIATE EDITOR

The four-member delegation toured courts, rode with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office and watched a movie. A delegation of judges and court officers from Malaysia spent three days in Jacksonville last week learning about the American legal system. The group came to Jacksonville through the U.S. Department of State International Visitor Leadership Program in partnership with GlobalJax, a nonprofit that since 1990 has been facilitating interaction between Northeast Florida professionals and world leaders. Four judges from Malaysian federal and regional courts met members of the local legal community including Circuit Judge Waddell Wallace and Chief Assistant State Attorney Mac Heavener. Also on the itinerary was a stop at Jacksonville Area Legal Aid and a meeting with members of the American Immigration Lawyers Association, followed by a naturalization ceremony at the Bryan Simpson U.S. Courthouse. But it wasn’t all work and no play for the visitors. The Jacksonville Women Lawyers Association hosted the delegation at a private

Special to the Daily Record

The Malaysian judicial delegation that visited Jacksonville last week, from left: Federal Court of Malaysia Judge Lovely Natasha Charles and Malaysia Sessions Court Judge Elsie Primus with Duval County Judge Eleni Derke, Federal Court of Malaysia Judges Edwin Paramjothy Michael Muniandy and Melissa Chia Pui Fung and Jacksonville attorney Millie Kaynar.

screening of the awardwinning documentary “The Judge,” a film about Judge Kholoud Al-Faqih, the first woman appointed to a Sharia law court in the Middle East. The film highlights her journey as a lawyer and her fight for justice for women. “It was an honor to have the

visiting Malaysian judges join JWLA for our screening,” said JWLA President Jamie Karpman. “At the conclusion of the film, Malaysian Judge Edwin Paramjothy Michael Muniandy briefly educated the audience about the gender equality efforts and high percentage of women civil law judges in his own country, where judges are appointed rather than elected.” The visiting judges also spent a day observing law enforcement, including first appearance court, a tour of the Pre-Trial Detention Facility and a ride-along with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office.

‘Presentation of the Pins’ Friday

Special to the Daily Record

From left, Jacksonville Women Lawyers Association President-elect Sarah Mannion, 1st District Court of Appeal Judge Scott Makar, attorney Nancy Hogshead-Makar and JWLA President Jamie Karpman at the private screening of “The Judge.”

Jacksonville Area Legal Aid’s “Presentation of the Pins” pro bono service ceremony will be at noon Friday in the jury assembly room at the Duval County Courthouse. The annual event recognizes local lawyers who have in the past year donated 20 or more hours to helping people who cannot afford to hire an attorney for a legal matter. More than 300 volunteer attorneys qualified this year. They will be recognized by circuit and county judges who serve on the bench in Clay, Duval and Nassau counties. Also, on JALA’s schedule from 9 a.m. to noon Saturday, the organization, in partnership with Florida Coastal School of Law and the Jacksonville Bar Association, will conduct “Ask-A-Lawyer” at the SOS Academy at 6974

Wilson Blvd., next door to the Mary Lena Gibbs Community Center in West Jacksonville. Volunteer attorneys will be available to provide free legal advice on aspects of civil and criminal law such as bankruptcy, employment, family law, foreclosure, landlord-tenant, personal injury, probate and Social Security law. Appointments are not required. Call (904) 356-8371 for details.

Rogers Towers adds attorneys Rogers Towers added four attorneys to the law firm’s labor and employment practice. Robert Riegel Jr. has practiced employment law for more than 35 years, including jury trials, administrative trials and hearings, and arbitrations. Eric Holshouser practices in equal employment opportunity, wage and hour, health and safety, employee benefits, noncompete, trade secret and wrongful discharge law, as well as legal matters involving union-company relations. He serves as president of the Academy of Florida Management Attorneys. Michael Lufkin also practices all aspects of labor and employment law, representing employers in agency investigations, state and federal single-plaintiff cases, class and collective actions and arbitration involving issues such as harassment, discrimination and retaliation. Kathryn Rudderman counsels employers on best prac-

Riegel Jr.

Holshouser

Lufkin

Rudderman

SHARE YOUR LEGAL NEWS Attorneys and law firms are invited to send news and notes to Max Marbut, associate editor – legal affairs, at mmarbut@ jaxdailyrecord.com.

tices to ensure employment law compliance and helps employers develop policies and procedures. She also works with employers to defend against charges of discrimination and lawsuits filed by current and former employees. Rogers Towers has offices in Jacksonville, Ponte Vedra Beach, St. Augustine, Amelia Island and Fort Lauderdale. MMARBUT@ JAXDAILYRECORD.COM (904) 356-2466


Jacksonville Daily Record/Jacksonville Record & Observer

Thursday, March 28, 2019 • Page 11

From litigator to investigator Attorney Kirsten Doolittle changes her business model and the name of her firm to Aequitas Counsel. BY MAX MARBUT ASSOCIATE EDITOR

After almost 20 years focusing her practice on labor and employment law, attorney Kirsten Doolittle has transitioned from litigation to investigation of workplace misconduct complaints. The Law Office of Kirsten Doolittle PA in the historic Elks Building Downtown is now Aequitas Counsel. Aequitas, from the Latin aequitatis, refers to the concept of justice, fairness and equality. “Our duty is to provide a fair, thorough and prompt investigation,” Doolittle said. “We interview personnel, review data, work with the employee, investigate and render written findings as to whether alleged misconduct occurred. “I’ve always wanted to be in the front end of a problem and you can’t do that as a litigator.” She was board-certified in labor and employment law by The Florida Bar in 2018. Doolittle also is a Florida Supreme Court Certified Circuit Civil Mediator and a qualified arbitrator.

The firm’s clients are small businesses and corporations as well as colleges and universities that receive federal funding and therefore are subject to Title IX regulations prohibiting discrimination based on gender. Federal and state laws prohibit discrimination based on race, color, gender, religion, national origin or disability. Companies with 15 or more employees are subject to Title VII of the federal Civil Rights Act, the Florida Civil Rights Act and the Americans with Disabilities Act. Companies with 20 or more employees also are subject to the Age Discrimination in Employment Act, which prohibits harassment of employees who are 40 or older on the basis of age. Even if a company doesn’t meet the minimum number of employees threshold, there are other federal statutes that may allow an employee to bring suit for race discrimination. An employer should investigate a complaint of discrimination or harassment, Doolittle said, regardless of the number of employees it has. Companies may be sued for common law claims of negligent supervision or negligent retention if a complaint is not investigated and someone is harmed. Aequitas Counsel is a “different business model” compared to her years of representing mostly plaintiffs in civil rights actions,

Photo by Max Marbut

Aequitas Counsel founder and managing partner Kirsten Doolittle, left, and Gina Martin, investigation manager.

Doolittle said. She said even though employers aren’t required to use a thirdparty investigator when there is a complaint, there can be benefits. A neutral, unbiased fact-finder can test the responses of interested parties without fear of retaliation and employees are given a sense of confidence that the employer is taking their complaint seriously, she said. In addition, while the relationship between Doolittle and her staff and their client is protected under attorney-client privilege, using a third-party investigator preserves the confidential relationship between the employer

and its in-house counsel. “When an in-house counsel conducts the investigation, they can sometimes be subject to deposition later on,” Doolittle said. “We serve as a neutral investigator, representing a company or school that’s required to conduct an investigation,” Doolittle said. That doesn’t mean she doesn’t draw on her experience, particularly when she’s evaluating an investigation that’s already underway. “As a plaintiff’s lawyer, I know exactly what to look for,” she said. The new business model was motivated by the public’s increased awareness of

harassment caused by the #metoo movement and by publicity related to charges leveled against college students that later were determined to have been unfounded, Doolittle said. “Very few people are doing this work and even fewer have the right skills to do it in a fair and unbiased way,” said Doolittle. “There are very few firms like this in the Southeast. There’s plenty of work – unfortunately – but the work has to be done the right way,” she said. MMARBUT@ JAXDAILYRECORD.COM (904) 356-2466

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Page 12 • Thursday, March 28, 2019

Jacksonville Daily Record/Jacksonville Record & Observer

SAVE THE DATE 2019 NAIOP BUS TOUR THURSDAY, MAY 16TH We are very excited to announce the NAIOP Bus Tour, one of NAIOP’s signature events, is back for 2019. Get ready for a fun-filled day of visiting some of Jacksonville’s premier office and industrial properties. All while enjoying breakfast and lunch, a fantastic after party, plenty of adult beverages all day, a chance to win a TON of prizes, a great opportunity to expand your network and more! Special pricing for Brokers to ride the bus for a limited time. We are currently working on getting stops and drive-by schedule, so reserve yours today. Sponsorships available!

https://naiopnefl.com/event/naiop-bus-tour-2019/ CONTACT Guy Preston 2019 Bus Tour Co-Chair 904.591.0800 guy.preston@colliers.com Seda Preston 2019 Bus Tour Co-Chair 904.616.8802 seda.preston@colliers.com Carmel Buchanan NAIOP NEFL Executive Director 904.730.8075 naiopnefl@comcast.net


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