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Record & Observer The Rail Yard District JACKSONVILLE
Thomasville furniture closing at Town Center
Record & Observer
‘Invisible’ neighborhood seeks revival
Community near Downtown that’s home JACKSONVILLE to Eco Relics and the Jacksonville Farmers Market wants the city to fix its infrastructure issues.
Parent company filed for bankruptcy in July.
Record & Observer BY KAREN BRUNE MATHIS EDITOR
Thomasville posted signs on its furniture store and along Town Center Parkway that it is closing at 4853 Big Island Drive in St. Johns Town Center. The signs state that everything is on sale from 30 to 50 percent off. “Store closing,” says one window sign. “Entire store on sale!” says another. A store manager referred calls to a spokeswoman, who declined to comment. Parent company Heritage Home Group LLC filed July 29 for Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization to pay down $280 million in debt. The company, based in High Point, North Carolina, has three business units. One of those, Thomasville & Co., comprises the Thomasville classic line; the Drexel contemporary brand; and the Henredon deluxe banner. The 13,000-square-foot St. Johns Town Center store, built in 2007, is owned by a Charlotte, North Carolina, investor. On Sept. 13, the U.S. Bankruptcy Court for the District of Delaware issued an interim order approving store closing sales. The order includes a list of 25 Thomasville, Henredon and Heritage Home Group stores in 14 states, including the Jacksonville location. There also are six distribution centers involved, with five in North Carolina and one in Vietnam.
BY JAY SCHLICHTER ASSOCIATE EDITOR
JRecord & Observer
ust west of Downtown Jacksonville there’s a neighborhood that some of its inhabitants call invisible. Some streets are lined with potholes. There are vacant buildings. Storms combined with drainage issues can make the roads impassable. But that doesn’t mean everything is negative in the industrial and residential community that’s been named the Rail Yard District after the active railroad tracks that run through it. Business owners in the 4.5-square-mile zone say they believe they can turn the district into the region’s next prosperous area if they can get financial support, particularly in the form of new infrastructure funding, from the city. The entrepreneurs recently formed a nonprofit called the Rail Yard District Business Council with help from the Jacksonville chapter of the Local Initiatives Support Corp. “The city has kind of forgotten about this neighborhood, even though it is so close to Downtown,” said Annie Murphy, the council’s vice president and co-owner of Eco Relics, a 50,000-square-foot architectural salvage, antique and curio shop and custom woodworking operation. North of Riverside and Five
JACKSONVILLE
SEE RAIL YARD, PAGE 8
Photo by Jay Schlichter
Michael and Annie Murphy, the owners of Eco Relics. Annie Murphy is vice president of the Rail Yard District Business Council, a group working to improve the neighborhood.
Basch Report: Artifacts from the Titanic headed to auction PAGE 6 Ruth’s Chris Steak House giving two restaurants a face-lift PAGE 5 OBSERVER MEDIA GROUP
KMATHIS@JAXDAILYRECORD.COM @MATHISKB (904) 356-2466
THE MATHIS REPORT
Venus Fashion renovating its HQ PAGE 4 VOLUME 1, NO. 16 • ONE SECTION
WHAT’S TRENDING
Page 2 • Thursday, September 20, 2018
Jacksonville Daily Record/Jacksonville Record & Observer
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AIR TRAVEL
Spirit Airlines lands at JIA with new service Low-cost carrier Spirit Airlines announced Wednesday it will begin daily nonstop service from Jacksonville International Airport to Chicago O’Hare International Airport and Detroit Metro Airport. Service on both routes begins Dec. 20. One-way fares shown on the spirit.com website ranged from $123.19 to $210.18 in December. “We are so proud to be expanding service once again right here in the Sunshine State to my hometown of Jacksonville,” said Laurie Villa, Spirit Airlines senior vice president and chief human resources officer in a news release. “As we continue to expand, we want to make sure we continue to serve our neighbors with ultra-low fares right here in our home state.” Jacksonville is Spirit’s 69th city and sixth Florida destination, joining Orlando, Fort Lauderdale, Fort Myers, Tampa and West Palm Beach. “Their arrival means more low fares for the Jacksonville community,” said Steve Grossman, CEO of the Jacksonville Aviation Authority.
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Jacksonville Daily Record, Jacksonville Record & Observer and Realty-Builder are a division of Observer Media Group Inc. 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. 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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ENTERTAINMENT Ax throwing coming to Regency Court Those looking for a new way to spend time out can consider ax throwing. Starting Sept. 28, Jacksonville Axe Throwing Class Axe is scheduled to open in Regency Court at 9230 Arlington Expressway. There will be rules: No intoxicated participants; no ax-thrower under the age of 15; and no open-toe shoes. The venue will sell beer and no other alcohol. And don’t bring your own ax.
RETAIL Wawa plans location at Emerson, Spring Park Wawa Inc. continues its velocity of choosing sites for its gas stations and convenience stores. Its next identified location is at southeast Emerson Street and Spring Park Road. The Pennsylvania-based company opened four locations in Duval and Clay counties and has been developing or planning at least a dozen more in Duval, Clay and St. Johns counties on its journey to open up to 40.
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CITY GOVERNMENT Weinstein retiring as city chief financial officer Mike Weinstein announced his retirement as the city chief financial officer effective Nov. 9, while leaving the office Sept. 28. Weinstein came to town in 1975 and served with the State Attorney’s Office, in the state Legislature and with the mayor’s office as well as leading two nonprofits. Mayor Lenny Curry appointed city Treasurer Patrick “Joey” Greive to succeed Weinstein as CFO.
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Thursday, September 20, 2018 • Page 3
ECONOMIC TRENDS File image
St. Johns County is the wealthiest county in Florida when ranked by median income, according to personal finance technology firm SmartAsset.
St. Johns tops state for wealth, affordability Residents of the Jacksonville area on average earn enough money to make the cost of living more affordable. BY MARK BASCH CONTRIBUTING WRITER
St. Johns County is the wealthiest county in Florida, ranked by median income, and that gives county residents more purchasing power than anywhere else in the state. Not only that, a study by personal finance technology firm SmartAsset found St. Johns to be one of the most affordable counties to live in the entire country, based on residents’ purchasing power. SmartAsset calculated an index based on cost of living and median income for each U.S. county and determined St. Johns ranked first in Florida and 28th nationally in purchas-
NORTHEAST FLORIDA COUNTY AFFORDABILITY County St. Johns
Cost of living
Median income
$37,256
$69,523
28
Nassau $36,038 $59,196 77.47
2
217
Clay
$36,415 $59,179 76.64
3
246
Baker
$33,053 $53,327 76.09
5
275
Duval
$33,094 $49,196 70.11
13
722
ing power. Three of the other four counties in the Jacksonville metropolitan area also ranked highly in the state with Nassau coming in second, Clay third and Baker fifth. Duval County ranked 13th. Those rankings don’t mean the cost of living is lower in Northeast Florida than in the rest of the state, just that residents of the Jacksonville area on average make enough money to make the cost of living more affordable.
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Source: SmartAsset personal finance technology firm
The lowest cost-of-living averages in Florida came in two rural counties west of Jacksonville. Madison County was the lowest at $26,440 and Hamilton County was second at $30,234. Madison’s low cost of living ranked fifth nationally. St. Johns ranked 59th of Florida’s 67 counties with a cost of living of $37,256. SmartAsset calculated the cost of living in each county for a single adult with no dependents. The best purchasing power in
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the country comes in Williamson County, Tennessee, according to SmartAsset. Residents of the county just south of Nashville can afford a lot because of their high income. The median income is $100,140. However, another Tennessee county has the lowest average cost of living in the nation. Lake County, in a rural area in Northwest Tennessee, has an average cost of living of $26,018. SmartAsset’s data includes a cost-of-living calculator on its website (smartasset.com/
mortgage/cost-of-living-calculator) that allows you to see how much money you would need to maintain your standard of living in another city. For example, it shows a single Jacksonville resident making $50,000 a year would need to earn $65,722 to maintain his or her standard of living in New York City, a 31 percent increase, according to the calculator. The key components of those cost-of-living needs are housing, which costs 55 percent more in New York than Jacksonville, and income taxes, which average 46 percent higher. While Florida doesn’t have a state income tax, New Yorkers pay income taxes on a state and city level in addition to their federal taxes. The other big cost-of-living component, food, is 23 percent higher in New York, SmartAsset said. MBASCH@ JAXDAILYRECORD.COM
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THE MATHIS REPORT
Venus Fashion renovating headquarters
KAREN BRUNE MATHIS EDITOR
The $9 million project at swimwear maker will modernize building built in 1995 and expanded in 2000. Venus Fashion Inc. is working on a $9 million renovation of its EastPark headquarters at 11711 Marco Beach Drive. “We are anchoring ourselves to Jacksonville, obviously,” said Venus Fashion President Jim Brewster. “We expect the Marco Beach location will be our home office for at least the next 20 years.” The total includes furniture and fixtures in addition to construction, he said. The city approved a permit for a $1.14 million renovation of 18,342 square feet of space on the second floor of the twostory building. It will include interior walls, paint, flooring, ceramic tile, plumbing, HVAC, doors and hardware. Venus, a 36-year-old Brewster designer, maker and seller of swimwear and women’s apparel, recently expanded into 315,151 square feet of space at One Imeson in North Jacksonville to accommodate most of its fulfillment operation, which is to pick, pack and ship orders. Brewster said the move of Venus Fashion’s distribution functions opened space at the headquarters. “Prior to moving our distribution activity to Imeson, we were squeezing associates in every single space we could find,” he said, including a call center, returns, IT and marketing. “We basically used every inch of that building we could find, with closets converted to offices.” The distribution move will allow Jacksonville-based Venus Fashion to continue to expand its headcount to support its growth plans. “We’ve been planning it for over a year, but we are really starting the construction in earnest right now,” he said. Brewster said framework has started, windows already are in and the rooftop solar panels have been installed. The first permit covers the first phase of converting distribution space into a call center. Plans show four phases. “Every single square foot of the building will be redone,” he said. “We have to do the work in phases in order to keep operating while the work is completed.” Brewster said the Marco Beach building was developed in two phases by Venus
Photo by Karen Brune Mathis
The headquarters of women’s swimwear and clothing manufacturer Venus Fashion Inc. at 11711 Marco Beach Drive is getting a makeover.
founder Daryle Scott. He said the two-story original building of 64,000 square feet was built in 1995 and expanded to 128,000 square feet in 2000. Until the move to Imeson, all departments expanded in the building. Through that, departments, bathrooms and small cafeterias were added. “We have six little department cafeterias so we are consolidating it to one single cafeteria,” he said. The goal, he said, is to address how people work together in today’s work environment,” Brewster said. The contractor is Haskew Company & Associates Inc. He expects completion by the end of 2019. The exterior work will include landscaping. Brewster said the renovations add value to the way the company operates and will improve employee productivity. The work will modernize the building, he said, with upgraded lighting, more open and collaborative space and more ergonomic furniture. Venus sells bathing suits and clothing online and by catalog. The EastPark building contains administration, customer service, call center, swim manufacturing, returns processing, offices and other functions. Brewster said Venus employs almost 1,000 people, with 600 at the headquarters, 300 at the distribution center and about 50 in its fashion design office in Boca Raton. Brewster said annual sales exceed $300 million. Venus Fashion is a company within Germany-based Otto Group, which bought Venus in 2009.
DEVELOPMENT NOTES
Plans in review for Yulee shopping center Cross Regions Real Estate is marketing the new Tyler Plaza West Shopping Center for lease in Nassau County. Plans show five buildings on 5.24 acres along Florida A1A in Yulee. The St. Johns River Water Management District is reviewing plans for almost 47,000 square feet of space. Plans show a two-story, 17,000-squarefoot medical building; two one-story 7,350-square-foot retail buildings; a 8,400-square-foot, one-story banquet hall; and a two-story 6,600-square-foot event hall. Tyler Plaza West LLC, led by David Ergisi, is the applicant. Tocoi Engineering of Green Cove Springs is the civil engineering consultant. Ergisi is president and CEO of Cross Regions Group. n River City Marketplace intends to develop a 10,900-square-foot retail-restaurant building on a lot that now is part of a parking lot for Lowe’s. Plans show space for three tenants. Ramco Gershenson Inc. is the developer. RS&H Inc. is the agent. n Skyway Amelia LLC plans to develop a two-building, 14,225-square-foot officewarehouse project in Nassau County on
n RCW Properties Inc. intends to develop a 12,025-square-foot commercial building and parking lot on 1.28 acres at 8016 and 8036 Hogan Road at southeastern Parental Home and Hogan roads. Almond Engineering is the engineering consultant. Plans indicate a multitenant commercial office-storage building. The property is vacant. RCW is led by Richard Schuster. n The St. Johns River Water Management District is reviewing an application for the Residence Inn proposed on 1.8 acres in Brooklyn. Riverside Lodging LLC of Miami is the developer. The six-story, 135-room hotel is planned along Oak Street at Forest and Magnolia streets.
RETAIL NOTES
WGV area gains grocery-anchored center A venture of Cantrell & Morgan Inc. and Stiles Corp. intend to develop a groceryanchored retail development at World Commerce Center in St. Johns County. The 45,960-square-foot center on 16.6 acres is designed with an unidentified 30,000-square-foot grocery store and 15,960 square feet of retail space. There also are six outparcels of about 1 to 2 acres each. The site is at Florida 16 and International Golf Parkway. n Family Dollar is building-out at 4210 Old Middleburg Road N. at a cost of $150,000.
Be Still Float Studio under construction Pet Paradise Be Still Float Studio is closer relocating HQ to opening in Riverside. The city approved a permit for River City Contractors Inc. to renovate 3,405 square feet in Suite A at 1050 Riverside Ave. for the flotation therapy center to open in a former law office. The renovation cost is $433,457. Gina Schimpff, part of the ownership group that bought the property, is investing a little more than $800,000 into the studio, including the six float rooms. She said in August she wants to open the studio, which will take half of the building, in December.
2.06 acres at Amelia Road and Amelia Island Parkway in Fernandina Beach. Gillette & Associates Inc. is the project engineer. Plans show a multitenant 11,425-square-foot officewarehouse building and a 2,800-square-foot office building. Skyway Amelia LLC is led by Wilson Dale Cole of Yulee and Michael Gibbs of Tampa. Cole also is the president of Cole Builders Inc.
The city approved a permit for Tenant Contractors Inc. to build-out headquarters space for Pet Paradise at 1551 Atlantic Blvd. at a cost of $765,542. Pet Paradise will lease about 7,424 square feet of space on the second floor of the San Marco building. Jacksonville-based Pet Paradise Resort and Day Spa develops and owns boarding and day care centers for dogs and cats. It occupies about 5,000 square feet of office space in Southside at 5130 University Blvd. W. next to one of its pet centers.
Vision Contractors Inc. is the contractor for the 8,320-square-foot project. n The foundation was approved for Diamonds Direct at 4888 Town Center Parkway in The Strand at Town Center. ShayCore Enterprises will build the foundation for a new retail shell building at a cost of $500,000. Diamonds Direct, formerly Global Diamonds, will move from 4865 Town Center Parkway in The Markets at Town Center across the street to the new 6,000-square-foot site, which will be about 2,000 square feet larger.
The 16-year-old company will move to accommodate its growing staff, which is working on adding eight to 10 Pet Paradise centers a year. Brian Franco, vice president of real estate for its corporate parent American Pet Resort LLC, said previously the company is “expanding exponentially” and needs more space. About 25 corporate staff members will move to the second floor of the Atlantic Boulevard building. Franco said Pet Paradise intends to add 10 or so full-time employees at the headquarters and also will continue to boost systemwide employment as centers open.
Franco said that upon the relocation, the company’s call center will move from the Baymeadows area into the University Boulevard offices. That also is about 25 employees. Pet Paradise operates 35 locations with more than 800 employees throughout the South. In Northeast Florida, Pet Paradise will open its fourth location Oct. 1 as a prototype at 14976 Walden Springs Way in the Bartram area. KMATHIS@ JAXDAILYRECORD.COM @MATHISKB (904) 356-2466
Jacksonville Daily Record/Jacksonville Record & Observer
Thursday, September 20, 2018 • Page 5
Ruth’s Chris Steak House remodeling restaurants Downtown, in St. Johns Upgrades will cost a total of nearly $1.5 million. BY KAREN BRUNE MATHIS EDITOR
Ruth’s Chris Steak House intends to remodel its Downtown Southbank restaurant in the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel Jacksonville Riverfront. The restaurant opened there in the fall of 1997 when the property was the Hilton Jacksonville Riverfront. The hotel also operated as Crowne Plaza before becoming the DoubleTree. Ruth’s Chris seeks a building permit to renovate the Southbank restaurant’s bar, lobby and dining areas at a job cost listed at $450,000. No contractor is listed, and that cost could change because the plans are in for review. The work includes new floor finishes; wall covering and finishes; paint; curtains; lighting fixtures; tables, chairs and stools in selected areas; and minor millwork and floor tile revisions. No kitchen or exterior work is included. Of the 8,614-square-foot restaurant, 5,698 square feet will be altered, according to the permit. The restaurant is owned by Ruth’s Hospitality Group Inc. of Winter Park. HMD Group
Architects of Doral is the architect. The property is owned by MHI Jacksonville LLC in care of Sotherly Hotels LP of Williamsburg, Virginia. Plans show 263 seats, comprising 172 in the main dining room, 34 in the lounge, nine at the bar, and 24 each in two private dining rooms. A spokeswoman for Ruth’s Chris said the company could not respond at this time. It also is renovating its Ponte Vedra Beach restaurant at 814 A1A N., No. 103. St. Johns County issued a building permit Aug. 10 for an interior remodel at a job cost of $800,000. Restaurant General Manager Christine Griggs said Sunday renovations began on the 270seat restaurant in early August and the completion date should be late October or early November. It will not be closed during work. She estimated the work to be about $1 million and its purpose is “to enhance the guest experience.” Griggs said the interior work is similar to that of the Downtown restaurant with some exterior work on the entrance. No kitchen work is involved.
Photo by Karen Brune Mathis
The Ruth’s Chris Steak House in the Doubletree by Hilton Hotel Jacksonville Riverfront is slated for a renovation of at least $450,000.
RESTAURANT NOTES n Cantina Louie is in city and St. Johns River Water Management District review for a restaurant and retail building along Monument Road at Interstate 295. Plans show a 5,100-square-foot restaurant and four retail units of 1,400 square feet each, totaling 10,700 square feet on 1.89 acres. ZT Holdings #06 LLC of Jacksonville Beach is the developer. n Starbucks is building-out its stand-alone store at 4761 Hodges Blvd. in Windsor Commons at a cost of $190,000. Elfrink Custom Construction Inc. is the contractor. n Five Guys is renovating at 3267 Hodges Blvd., No. 6, in Pablo Creek East at a cost of $302,000. Wathco Inc. is the contractor.
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n McDonald’s is renovating at 7359 103rd St. at a cost of $489,780. Stansell Properties & Development LLC is the contractor for the 3,942-square-foot project. n Cinco de Mayo at 11043 Crystal Springs Road in Crystal Springs Plaza seeks a zoning exception to sell and serve beer, wine and liquor. n Waffle House will build a restaurant at 2688 Firestone Road. Waffle House is the contractor for its 1,726-square-foot location at a cost of $400,000. n Wingstop is converting space at 4375 Southside Blvd., No. 12, for a takeout restaurant. Adkins Construction Co. LLC is the contractor for the $65,000 project.
Page 6 • Thursday, September 20, 2018
Jacksonville Daily Record/Jacksonville Record & Observer
THE BASCH REPORT
Titanic artifacts finally to be sold at auction
MARK BASCH CONTRIBUTING WRITER
Bankrupt Premier Exhibitions Inc. owns 5,500 items from the ill-fated ocean liner. The two-year bankruptcy saga in a Jacksonville courtroom over artifacts from the RMS Titanic appears close to a resolution. U.S. Bankruptcy Judge Paul Glenn approved an order last week setting an auction in October for the artifacts owned by Premier Exhibitions Inc. The assets will be sold together to the highest bidder. Premier, which owns 5,500 artifacts from the famed ocean liner that sank in 1912, filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy reorganization in June 2016. Glenn Premier valued the collection at $218 million when it filed its bankruptcy petitions, but a consortium of hedge funds has submitted an offer of $19.5 million to buy the assets, which will be treated as the bid floor. The auction is scheduled for Oct. 11 and a hearing is scheduled in U.S. Bankruptcy Court in Jacksonville for Oct. 18 to approve the winning bid. Premier, which listed $12 million in unsecured debt in its court filings, had hoped to pay off its debts by selling a limited portion of its collection. However, Glenn rejected that plan two years ago because of a 2011 federal court decision in Virginia that restricted the sale of Titanic artifacts in the interest of preserving history. Glenn’s order last week said he would approve a sale that also is likely to be approved by the U.S. District Court in Virginia, which has an interest
“in maintaining the integrity of the Titanic collection.” The reorganization plan now estimates that unsecured creditors will receive 59 percent to 71 percent of their claims after the auction. Stockholders of publicly traded Premier are unlikely to get anything. Premier’s stock has continued to trade in the OTC market and was trading near the $5 level early this year before a previously scheduled auction to sell the assets was canceled. The stock dropped sharply after that auction was canceled and was trading at 75 cents before Glenn’s order last week, which sent the stock below 50 cents. Premier is headquartered in Atlanta but it filed for its Chapter 11 reorganization in Jacksonville because the company and some of its subsidiaries are incorporated in Florida. Besides owning the artifacts, Premier’s business was producing museum-quality exhibits on the Titanic and other subjects. An exhibit on the television show “Saturday Night Live” that turned out to be “incredibly unprofitable,” according to court documents, caused financial problems that led to Premier’s bankruptcy.
TapImmune sets shareholder meeting TapImmune Inc. filed an updated proxy statement last week setting its annual shareholders meeting for Oct. 16, when stockholders will vote on matters related to its proposed merger with Marker Therapeutics Inc. Jacksonville-based TapImmune agreed in May to the merger of equals with Marker. Both companies are developing cancer therapy treatments but neither has products on the market. According to financial projections in the proxy, TapImmune does not anticipate revenue until 2024 and Marker doesn’t expect it until 2025. The merged company will be headquartered in Houston, where Marker has a relationship with the Baylor College of Medicine. TapImmune moved its headquarters from Seattle to Jacksonville in 2015 when it began trials of a breast cancer
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Jacksonville-based IT services company SharedLabs Inc. now lists its headquarters at the Dyal-Upchurch Building Downtown at 6 E. Bay St.
treatment at the Mayo Clinic. TapImmune has maintained a small headquarters office since moving and only had seven employees, according to its 2017 annual report. The companies did not have a name for the merged company when the agreement was announced in May, but the proxy statement said it will be named Marker Therapeutics. The original merger agreement called for shareholders of the two companies to end up with an equal number of shares in the company. But after a private placement of stock by TapImmune in June, a group of institutional investors will end up with 45 percent of the stock. Current TapImmune shareholders will end up with 27.5 Hoang percent, and Marker stockholders also will get 27.5 percent. The merged company will be run by TapImmune’s executive team, including CEO Peter Hoang. The board of directors will comprise three members each appointed by the two companies. Even without any sales in the foreseeable future, investors are encouraged about the potential of the merged company. TapImmune’s stock has risen from about $3 when the merger was announced to between $9 and $10 recently.
The stock has traded as high as $13.55 since the merger agreement was signed. TapImmune trades under the ticker “TPIV” but after the merger, it expects to trade under the symbol “MRKR” on the Nasdaq Capital Market. The merger is expected to close in the fourth quarter this year.
SharedLabs details IPO terms SharedLabs Inc. last week filed an updated prospectus with the Securities and Exchange Commission saying it intends to sell 2.5 million shares of stock at $5 to $7 each in its initial public offering. The Jacksonville-based IT services company first filed for an IPO in May but did not detail how much stock it wanted to sell. Since its first filing, SharedLabs received Jacksonville City Council approval for more than $100,000 in incentives to move its headquarters to the DyalUpchurch Building Downtown at 6 E. Bay St. and create 107 jobs. The updated prospectus lists the company’s headquarters address at that building, after it was previously headquartered in the Schultz Building at 118 W. Adams St. SharedLabs said in its incentives application that it only had six local jobs, but its prospectus said the company had 567 employees as of Aug. 31 with additional offices in five
states and Montreal. The incentives agreement calls for the company to create the first 31 local jobs by the end of 2019. SharedLabs reported revenue of $36 million and a net loss of $3.1 million in the first six months of this year, according to the prospectus. The company expects about $13.6 million in net proceeds from the IPO if it sells the shares at the midpoint of its target range. It plans to use the proceeds for general purposes including expansion of the company and a possible acquisition. The company was formed in 2016 and had no revenue until completing two acquisitions in 2017. Besides the new shares issued in the IPO, current stockholders have filed plans to sell up to 1.1 million of their shares. Investment firm Race Holdings LLC is SharedLab’s second largest stockholder with 2.125 million shares, or 24.5 percent of the stock. The original IPO filing said Race was looking to sell all of its shares but last week’s filing said it now plans to sell only a portion and retain 16.7 percent of the company after the IPO. CEO Jason Cory is the largest stockholder with 2.55 million shares, or 31.9 percent of the stock. He has not filed plans to sell any of his holdings. SharedLabs plans to list its stock on the Nasdaq Capital Market under the ticker “SHLB.” No date has been set to bring the IPO to the market.
International Baler Corp. sales drop
International Baler Corp. reported sales dropped 35 percent in the third quarter ended July 31 to $2.02 million. The Jacksonville-based company, which makes balers used for recycling and waste disposal, reported net income of $4,939 in the quarter, down from $81,134 the previous year. International Baler said in its quarterly report filed with the SEC that shipments of balers and conveyors fell in the quarter because of market conditions, including lower prices for recycled materials. MBASCH@ JAXDAILYRECORD.COM
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Thursday, September 20, 2018 • Page 7
GlobalGiving co-founder will start in January.
The Avenues mall, 10300 Southside Blvd., contractor is FGC Inc., 1,200 square feet, restroom remodel, upper level, $306,745.
FROM STAFF
Mari Kuraishi, co-founder and president of GlobalGiving, was named president of the Jessie Ball duPont Fund. Kuraishi succeeds Sherry Magill, who retired in June after leading the Jacksonville-based charitable foundation for 25 years. Kuraishi will start work in January. “Mari’s energy, vision and experience in innovative philanthropy were the essential attributes we desired in the Fund’s next president,” Jessie Ball duPont Fund
trustee Leroy Davis, chair of the search committee, said in a news release. “We are confident Kuraishi that she is the right person to lead the Fund in its next chapter.” “I am honored to have been selected by the board to take over the helm of the Jessie Ball duPont Fund,” Kuraishi said. “The fund’s accomplishments over the last 40-plus years, its catalytic role in collaborative place-based philanthropy, and its fidelity to Mrs. duPont’s vision form an exciting foundation for the next chapter.”
GlobalGiving is a global crowdfunding platform. Founded in 2002, the Washington, D.C.-based company has supported more than $340 million in giving by more than 814,000 donors to more than 20,000 projects worldwide. Before co-founding GlobalGiving, Kuraishi led the Corporate Strategy Group at the World Bank. Kuraishi also is chair of the board of directors for GuideStar, USA; DataKind and APOPO U.S. She is a member of the board of advisers for the Davis Center for Russian and Eurasian Studies at Harvard University. Kuraishi is a graduate of Harvard University.
PEOPLE ON THE MOVE Promotions, hirings and happenings for business people in Northeast Florida. Send items to ssailer@jaxdailyrecord.com
Piacente
Dean Piacente was named vice president of sales and marketing for industrial products at CSX Corp. He previously was vice president of intermodal and has more than 30 years with the company.
Maryclare Kenny was promoted to vice president of sales and marketing for intermodal and automotive. She joined CSX Corp. in 2011.
BUSINESS IN BRIEF UNF climbs in rankings: The University of North Florida was named a Southern “Best Regional” university for the eighth consecutive year by U.S. News & World Report. In the magazine’s 2019 “Best Colleges” edition, UNF ranked No. 42, up six spots from 2018; No. 14 in “Top
OTHER
ROOFING TJT Investments, 9875 Atlantic Blvd., contractor is Barber & Associates Inc., $114,100. Boxwood Condominium Association, 4915 Baymeadows Road, contractor is Apex Roofing and Consulting Inc., $39,000. 1606 King Street LLC, 1606 King St., contractor is K&G Construction Co. Inc., $37,200. Ephesians Missionary Baptist Church, 1841 Third St. W., contractor is Alpha & Omega Builder and Roofer of Jacksonville, $20,100. TransMontaigne Operating Co. L.P., 3425 Talleyrand Ave., contractor is TurnKey Construction & Maintenance Inc., $18,375. SIGNS Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers, Chicago Dogs, Turtle Sundaes, 4458 Town Center Parkway, contractor is Shark Signs of NE FL Inc., 11 wall signs, $11,000. Baptist Outpatient Center, 1235 San Marco Blvd., contractor is Heritage Signs, wall sign, $8,900. Lina African Hair Braiding, 5136 Blanding Blvd., contractor is Shark Signs of NE FL Inc., wall sign, $5,000. AT&T, 4495 Roosevelt Blvd., contractor is Shark Signs of NE FL Inc., wall sign, $3,000. Aficionado, 9332 Arlington Expressway, contractor is Power and Control Installations Inc., wall sign, $1,900. NEFBA, 6747 Southpoint Parkway, contractor is Shark Signs of NE FL Inc., wall sign, $1,000. UTILITIES
Public Schools”; No. 29 in “Best Colleges for Veterans”; and No. 58 in “Best Value.” UNF wins AmeriCorps grant: University of North Florida’s College of Education and Human Services was awarded $283,708 for the Jacksonville
Teacher Residency program from AmeriCorps. The grant prepares teachers for the urban classroom setting. The money will support 29 teacher candidates serving in Duval County’s high-need schools.
T-Mobile, 298 Cherry Ridge Drive, contractor is SBA Network Services LLC, add and replace antennas and associated equipment on existing cell tower, $65,000. T-Mobile, 7730 Philips Highway, contractor is UCI Construction, replace antennas, $65,000. Compliled by Karen Brune Mathis
Compiled by Scott Sailer
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DEVELOPMENT TODAY
Kuraishi named duPont Fund president
These are the largest commercial building permits by job cost issued Tuesday by the city of Jacksonville.
Page 8 • Thursday, September 20, 2018
Jacksonville Daily Record/Jacksonville Record & Observer
Photos by Jay Schlichter
Jeff Edwards, right, shares details about the Rail Yard District Business Council during a meeting of the Urban Land Institute at Tabula Rasa Brewing, a new business that had its grand opening Sept. 14.
Rail Yard District: Improvements sought CONTINUED FROM PAGE 1
Points, the district’s boundaries are Interstate 10 on the south, I-95 on the east, Kings Road on the north and Huron Street on the west. Within that zone are industrial businesses like Load King and Drummond Press, retail entities like the Jacksonville Farmers Market, nonprofits like Rethreaded and entertainment venues including three breweries and an indoor Airsoft arena. Since incorporating as a 12-member board early this year and holding its first meeting in May, the members have been spreading the word about their goals to capitalize on the district’s untapped economic potential while improving the neighborhood and, they hope, the city. They want to improve the poor drainage and some of the worst roads in Jacksonville, said President Jeff Edwards, the chief financial officer for Beaver Street Fisheries, which also operates the Jacksonville Farmers Market. Members said those infrastructure issues stem from underinvestment by city, state and federal governments. Edwards said there have not been people, businesses or organizations speaking up for the neighborhood, so when government agencies are allocating resources, projects needed in the area aren’t funded. He said it seems other parts of Jacksonville get all the attention. When Edwards spoke with LISC officials about problems in the area, he said the need was obvious to “create a vehicle for advocacy,” so the council was formed. Its goal is to be the voice that’s been missing. They plan to lobby
Eco Relics is a 50,000-square-foot architectural salvage, antique and curio shop and custom woodworking operation inside the Rail Yard District.
local, state and federal elected officials for support. “We are focused on what businesses can’t do themselves. I can’t fix Beaver Street, Kings Road, Stockton Street, Myrtle Avenue and the rest. The city, state and feds have to do that,” Edwards said. Edwards said many of the area’s businesses operate out of older buildings and that when people drive into the district, the poor quality of the roads, as well as some of the homes and businesses, steer them away. “People don’t even know they (businesses) exist. For all those reasons, this neighborhood is invisible,” he said. Despite the negatives, many point to the district’s assets like its proximity to more successful neighborhoods like Riverside and Brooklyn, its location near the St. Johns River, having five exits off the region’s two interstate highways, the low cost of property for new or relocated businesses, the presence of three railroads and its
history as a prominent AfricanAmerican neighborhood. “The area has the natural opportunity to be something more than it is now,” Edwards said. Based on research by LISC and its consultants, the district is home to about 350 businesses with about 6,000 employees that generate about $3 billion a year in revenue. While the area is home to many long-term operations, like Beaver Street Fisheries, and newcomers like Eco Relics and the breweries. One of the newest is Tabula Rasa Brewing, which had its grand opening Sept. 14. Janet Owens, executive director of LISC Jacksonville, said the nonprofit organization’s mission is to help economically depressed neighborhoods like the Rail Yard District and their businesses and partners rebuild and revitalize their areas. “We’re trying to help older urban neighborhoods achieve the kind of vitality and health we
know they have the potential for,” she said. “We do that by helping create the pathway and opportunity for reinvestment in those communities.” Its tools include real estate lending, acquisition and predevelopment financing and grants. Owens said LISC Jacksonville hasn’t provided financial support to a Rail Yard District business but that “the potential is there.” “Our team is actively trying to make sure that (the district’s) businesses are aware that this is accessible to them,” she said, adding that LISC is a resource that offers lending options that often are more accessible than at traditional banking institutions. Edwards and Annie Murphy said the council initially is focused on spurring the city and other agencies to fix the district’s infrastructure so that more businesses will invest there. Improved infrastructure also could lead to higher property values, which increases tax revenue to the city. The council also would like to later add voices to the board from area residents and plans to work with the Jacksonville Sheriff’s Office to implement a neighborhood watch. “I think all the businesses (in the district) are happy we’re doing this,” Murphy said. “I think we can really make a difference not only for businesses but also for residents here, to even Jacksonville as a whole.” Since the first council meeting in May, the district has attracted more than 20 business members representing more than 2,500 of the district’s employees. Dues range from $125 to $2,000, based on the number of employees for businesses in the district, or $25 to $500 for associate mem-
berships for those who live or work outside the district but who support the council’s mission. The dues will pay for establishing a website and hosting events like a speaker series, candidate forums, art shows, district mailings, eligibility to serve on committees and the board and more. Murphy said the council has discussed the idea of forming a business improvement district, which would result in additional funds for the community that could be used for area improvements. “We have poked at it, but nothing official,” she said. “It’s something to work toward.” She said members want to involve Jacksonville’s elected leaders. District City Council member Garrett Dennis has been attending the group’s meetings and said he supports its mission. “That area is oftentimes overlooked,” Dennis said, adding that many people don’t realize how many businesses operate there and how much revenue they produce. “It’s a powerful economic area. It’s a diamond in the rough.” Dennis said the business council can help him when he proposes projects for the district. “Who better to tell the story about the district than the businesses that have been there?” he said. “They are the muscle that can help me get things for that area.” The Rail Yard council’s next general meeting, which is open to the public, is 5 p.m. Sept. 26 at Beaver Street Fisheries, 1741 W. Beaver St. JAYS@JAXDAILYRECORD.COM @JAY_SCHLICHTER (904) 356-2466
Jacksonville Daily Record/Jacksonville Record & Observer
Thursday, September 20, 2018 • Page 9
Jacksonville’s highest occupational wages
PREVIOUS YEARS
Occupation
Annual mean wage
Pediatricians, general
$275,540
Surgeons $244,420
BY SCOTT SAILER • EDITORIAL RESEARCH DIRECTOR
Chief executives
$222,570
The medical professions dominate the top 10 highest-paid occupations in the Jacksonville Metropolitian Statistical Area, according to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics.
Obstetricians & gynecologists
$209,120
May 2017 Average mean wage
Occupation
$243,330
Psychiatrists* Pediatricians, general
$218,430
Obstetricians & gynecologists
$213,440
Physicians & surgeons
$212,400
Surgeons
$208,000
Veterinarians** $188,880 Physicians & surgeons
$188,740
Dentists, general
$182,130
Health specialties teachers, postsecondary
$180,750
Family & general practitioners
$167,460
Financial managers
$151,750
May 2015 Occupation
Annual mean wage
Pediatricians, general
$280,750
Obstetricians & gynecologists
$262,510
Surgeons $252,930 Internists, general***
$201,890
Chief executives $167,800
Health specialties teachers, postsecondary
$159,490
Dentists, general Nurse anesthetists
$144,840
Financial managers
$142,460
Source: Bureau of Labor Statistics, Occupational Employment Statistics
Intellectual Property
$209,260
Psychiatrists* $163,910 Family & general practitioners
$161,300
Dentists, general
$156,010
Nurse anesthetists
$154,020
Financial managers
$145,620
* Information not provided for 2016 ** Information not provided for 2017 *** Information not provided for 2016 & 2017
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Page 10 • Thursday, September 20, 2018
Jacksonville Daily Record/Jacksonville Record & Observer
THE CAWTON REPORT
DIA pledges millions for redevelopment
DAVID CAWTON STAFF WRITER
Conversion of the Berkman Plaza II into a resort wins approval for $36 million. The Downtown Investment Authority reviewed $56 million in city-backed financial incentives, loans and grants at its monthly meeting Wednesday. Topping the list is the proposed redevelopment of Berkman Plaza II, the unfinished condominium shell that has been idle for more than a decade. The DIA approved $36 million in incentives for Barrington Development’s estimated $122 million project which includes a 341-room hotel, family entertainment center and a parking garage along East Bay Street. The package comprises a 20-year Recapture Enhanced Value Grant, which is a rebate on 75 percent of the ad valorem taxes generated over that time, worth up to $20 million; an $8.25 million Operational Performance Subsidy; and a $3.25 million grant when the resort gets a certificate of occupancy. The city also could sell up to 3 acres from the Shipyards property to the developer, at $584,000 per acre, if needed. THE AMBASSADOR
Then there’s the pending conversion of the historic Ambassador Hotel at 420 N. Julia St. into a 127-room hotel, a 200-unit apartment complex, a structured parking facility and other possible uses. Augustine Development LLC wants to subsidize its $53 million project with $6.4 million in incentives. The DIA approved those. That includes a $1.5 million grant from the Downtown Historic Preservation and Revitalization Trust Fund and a 15-year, $4.9 million REV grant.
Special to the Daily Record
Barrington Development plans to redevelop the former Berkman Plaza II condominium into a hotel and entertainment center.
LOFTS AT BROOKLYN
The Vestcor Companies wants to begin its fourth project in the Downtown area in as many years with a 133unit affordable and workforce housing development called the “Lofts at Brooklyn.” The estimated $28.6 million project could be supported with the help of a Low-Income Housing Tax Credit from the Florida Housing Finance Corp. Vestcor is seeking incentives to cover about 9 percent of the construction cost. The company also wants a $625,750 no-interest, 20-year Local Government Support Loan to offset the cost for the 80 affordable housing units. It seeks a 15-year REV grant worth up to $3.98 million funded through the Northbank Tax Increment District Trust Fund. If Vestcor receives its incentives, the project could start in 2019. The DIA approved the request.
VENTURES SOUTHBANK TOWER RETURNS
After 10 months of legal fighting between neighboring property owners, a Southbank residential tower could soon proceed. Ventures Development Group LLC owns what is also called the Hines property along Prudential Drive between the Acosta Bridge and the Eight Forty One building. The group’s original proposal included 300 apartments, but
was challenged by the Eight Forty One building owner, who said the development blocked river views along with other grievances. The project was rejected and appealed to City Council and then ended up in court. The parties have a working settlement agreement to reduce the scope of the project to 185 residential units. In January 2017, the DIA approved a 15-year REV grant worth up to $7.66 million to help subsidize the estimated $62.3 million construction cost. According to a DIA resolution, the modified project will now cost $44.8 million and the development group is seeking to restructure its REV grant. Under the new terms, the REV grant is worth up to $7.88 million over 20 years. BRYAN BUILDING
At the Bryan Building, new art studios also could be coming to North Hogan Street. Owner 217-219 N Hogan Street LLC wants to redevelop the second floor of the Bryan Building at 217 N. Hogan St. with the help of a forgivable DIA loan. The owner wants to convert the second floor into 12 art studios with exhibition space. It is asking for a $55,000 forgivable loan with a sevenyear term. A DIA resolution states that the loan will be reduced by 14.29 percent every 12 months until it matures.
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File image
The Brewster Hospital project was granted an additional $100,000 from the DIA for a parking lot.w
The loan forgiveness is contingent on the owner hosting at least two public functions in the space per month during the seven-year term. The DIA approved the request. BREWSTER HOSPITAL
The cost to redevelop the historic Brewster Hospital for the North Florida Land Trust Inc. has risen $144,000, according to the group. The land trust returned Wednesday to the DIA and was granted an additional $100,000 to complete a parking lot on the public property. This year, the trust was approved to receive $50,000 to rebuild the parking area, but those costs rose, according to its contractor, Danis Builders. The $100,000 is in the form of a grant, provided the project is completed.
DYAL-UPCHURCH BUILDING
A development company named 10 H Investments LLC wants to make improvements to the Dyal-Upchurch building at 6 E. Bay St. The building’s owners say it is 28 percent vacant, higher than the average Downtown. They’re asking the DIA for a $280,000 forgivable loan. According to a term sheet, the 10-year loan has a seven-year forgiveness period. It comes with no interest and no payments due unless the loan is in default or has a principal balance when it matures. The loan’s principal balance would be forgiven by 14.29 percent for each year the building is occupied at 80 percent or higher. DIA tabled the request.
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Thursday, September 20, 2018 • Page 11
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, Nassau and St. Johns counties. The sales were recorded Sept. 10-14.
File image
A New York City-based real estate investment and management firm purchased Summit at Southpoint, an office complex, for $29.55 million.
$29,550,000
$6,827,357
$2,700,000
$2,013,195
$2,000,000
6410, 6420, 6430 and 6440 Southpoint Parkway, Jacksonville, Duval County
Jacksonville and Jacksonville Beach, Duval County
Gate Parkway West, Jacksonville, Duval County
Jacksonville, Duval County
8220 Dix Ellis Trail, Jacksonville, Duval County
Type: Summit at Southpoint office park Size: 23.44 acres Buyer: 2150 Realty Corp. and Summit Southpoint Investors LLC Seller: Bluerock Summit S LLC and BR Summit 1-22, 24-28, 30-34 LLC Previous sale: $3,818,100 in 2007
Type: 78 single-family homes Size: Not available Buyer: Hoose Freddie LLC Seller: Hoose Homes and Investments LLC
Type: Vacant commercial/ residential Size: 16.87 acres Buyer: Banyanwood Partners LLC Seller: Gate Parkway Holdings LLC Previous sale: $2,200,000 in 2017
$1,925,665
$1,850,000
$1,750,604
$1,704,475
$1,625,301
Jacksonville and Jacksonville Beach, Duval County
11 La Vista Drive, Ponte Vedra Beach, St. Johns County
Jacksonville, Duval County
11507 Village Crossing Drive, Jacksonville, Duval County
Bella Nika at Tamaya, Jacksonville, Duval County
Type: 22 single-family homes and condominiums Size: Not available Buyer: Hoose Freddie LLC Seller: Hoose 7 LLC
Type: Single-family Size: 0.67 acres Buyer: Roy and Kimberly S. Tonning Seller: Ryan M. and Leah Rathvon MacClellan Previous sale: $1,500,000 in 2018
Type: Noah’s Event Venue Size: 1.38 acres Buyer: Christopher C. Fucci Seller: Rockwell Jacksonville LLC
Type: 17 single-family lots Size: Not available Buyer: HCC Tamaya Residential LLC Seller: Tamaya Loan Acquisition LLC
Type: 20 townhomes Size: Not available Buyer: Hoose Freddie LLC Seller: Hoose 11 LLC
Type: 23 townhomes Size: Not available Buyer: Hoose Freddie LLC Seller: Hoose 4 LLC
Type: America’s Best Inn Size: 3.71 acres Buyer: Bracha Vhatzlacha 770 LLC Seller: TEJ Jacksonville Hospitality Ltd. Previous sale: $1,400,000 in 2016
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Page 12 • Thursday, September 20, 2018
Jacksonville Daily Record/Jacksonville Record & Observer
LEGAL COMMUNITY A look inside revising the state constitution Politics guided the process, says attorney Hank Coxe. BY MAX MARBUT ASSOCIATE EDITOR
A
ttorney Hank Coxe, one of 37 members of the Florida Constitution Revision Commission, said the group’s nearly 14 months of work to consider possible amendments to the state’s most fundamental law was a once-ina-lifetime experience. “It was an interesting process and I made some friends,” said Coxe, who addressed the Rotary Club of Jacksonville at its meeting Monday at the Omni Hotel. He said the process and its results could have, and should have, been more aligned with the original intent of the revision that’s conducted every 20 years. “It was supposed to be a citizens’ review of the constitution,” he said. It was instead controlled by politics, Coxe said, based on the commission’s structure in terms of appointments to the board. The commission comprises the state attorney general, 15 members appointed by the governor,
nine appointed by the Senate president, nine appointed by the speaker of the House and three appointed by the chief justice of the state Supreme Court, one of whom was Coxe. When the commission was sworn in on March 20, 2017, Coxe was one of three Democrats among the 37 members, and many were elected officials already planning for their 2019 campaigns. “They were going to do whatever didn’t jeopardize their getting re-elected,” Coxe said. The political atmosphere guided the commission’s deliberations as the group traveled the state, conducting 15 public meetings to hear what Florida’s citizens wanted to see changed in the constitution. It then distilled thousands of public comments into the set of amendments that will appear on the Nov. 6 general election ballot. Coxe cited one revision in particular – a proposal to include in the constitution a bill of rights for victims of crime. It was patterned after California’s “Marsy’s Law.”
Photo by Max Marbut
Attorney Hank Coxe and Rotary Club of Jacksonville President Traci Jenks. Coxe, who addressed the club at its meeting Monday, was a member of the Florida Constitution Revision Commission that placed proposed changes to the state’s fundamental law on the Nov. 6 ballot.
He said Florida has in place some of the strongest protections for victims in the U.S. In addition, he’s concerned that if approved by at least 60 percent of voters and enacted, the amendment could negatively affect how criminal justice is achieved by giving victims much more authority over the operations of the courts. “It’s touted as a victim’s rights law, but it would turn the system inside-out,” Coxe said. For example, “It would allow a
victim to change a trial date that was already set by a judge.” The most frustrating issue for Coxe was the commission’s rejection of even considering amending the constitution to include more stringent laws regulating access to assault weapons and high-capacity magazines. The change was proposed by families of students murdered in the Parkland school mass shooting just days after the tragedy. “All hell broke loose and the Rules Committee said it was too
late to be introduced,” he said. Another amendment on the ballot Coxe cited is the proposed amendment that would prohibit wagering on greyhound races. “The Legislature could have dealt with that issue any time,” but the majority of the commission “wanted an emotional issue,” he said. MMARBUT@ JAXDAILYRECORD.COM (904) 356-2466
THE MARBUT REPORT
Holland & Knight helps spruce up Child Guidance Center
MAX MARBUT ASSOCIATE EDITOR
For the eighth consecutive year, the Jacksonville office of Holland & Knight participated in the firmwide 9/11 National Day of Service and Remembrance. The initiative was created in part by Jay Winuk, brother of Glenn Winuk, a Holland & Knight partner and volunteer EMT who, on 9/11, exited the firm’s New York office and died while rescuing others. More than 100 volunteers visited the Child Guidance Center on Sept. 8 and spent the day painting and landscaping the grounds at the nonprofit’s Southside location. Holland & Knight’s community partners for the program were The Association of Corporate Counsel North Florida Chapter, BNY Mellon, Florida East Coast Railroad, Hope Worldwide, Interline Brands,
Special to the Daily Record
More than 100 Holland & Knight volunteers painted and did landscaping at the Child Guidance Center.
JetBlue, Krystal Klean and Taylor Tree Service. The annual project commemorates the heroes and victims of 9/11 by promoting service throughout the United States to improve the lives of others. Holland & Knight has 25 U.S. offices and more than 2,000 employees.
62.5 percent pass rate on Bar exam for Florida Coastal Of the 104 graduates of Florida Coastal School of Law who sat for the Florida Bar exam for the first time July 24-25, 65 passed and were approved for admission by the
state Supreme Court. Students from three schools achieved a pass percentage greater than 80, led by Florida International University College of Law at 88.1 percent. Florida State University College of Law was second with 84.8 percent, followed by the University of Miami School of Law at 83.2 percent. Graduates of the University of Florida Levin College of Law turned in a 70.9 first-time pass percentage. “We are very proud of our students who performed nearly as well as students from the University of Florida. Being only eight points below a first tier law school ranked 41st in
US News and World Report is a great accomplishment for our students and our faculty,” said Florida Coastal Dean Scott DeVito in a news release. St. Thomas University College of Law placed fifth (70.2 percent), followed by Stetson University College of Law (67.2), Florida Coastal, Ava Maria School of Law (58.5), Florida A&M School of Law (50.6), Barry University School of Law (45.5) and Nova Southeastern School of Law (42.9). The average pass rate for all Florida law schools was 65.9 percent.
Arnold joins Fisher, Tousey, Leas & Ball CaseyArnold joined Fisher, Tousey, Leas & Ball as a shareholder. He focuses his practice in trust, guardianship and probate disputes, real property disputes, disputes involving fiduciaries, and busiArnold ness and commercial litigation. A 2008 graduate of the University of Florida Levin College
of Law, Arnold is a barrister in the Chester Bedell American Inn of Court and a 2016 graduate of Leadership St. Johns.
Allen
Wubker
Abel Bean Law adds Allen, Wubker Abel Bean Law added Erin Allen and Kathleen Wubker to the firm as associate attorneys. Allen, a 2008 graduate of the University of Florida Levin College of Law, previously worked at Holland & Knight and most recently at Florida Blue. Wubker most recently was general counsel for Ice House America, a Jacksonville-based ice and water vending machine franchiser. She received a J.D. in 2001 from from the University of Florida Levin College of Law. MMARBUT@ JAXDAILYRECORD.COM (904) 356-2466
Jacksonville Daily Record/Jacksonville Record & Observer
Thursday, September 20, 2018 • Page 13
Teacher urges JBA members to help students learn about legal system “The challenges don’t stop,” says Amy Donofrio of Lee High School and co-founder of the EVAC movement.
BY MAX MARBUT ASSOCIATE EDITOR
BY LARRY HANNAN CONTRIBUTING WRITER
It’s been an amazing time for Amy Donofrio. In the last few years, the Robert E. Lee High School teacher has, with her students, met Barack Obama when he was president, testified on Capitol Hill, saw herself quoted in a front-page story in The New York Times and given a TEDx Jacksonville talk. But on Sept. 12, speaking to the Jacksonville Bar Association meeting, Donofrio said even with those highs, she still deals with at-risk students every day of her teaching career that face disadvantages that many cannot comprehend. “The challenges don’t stop,” Donofrio said. “That’s something we have to understand if we want to help our youth.” Donofrio said her students, who are mostly African-American males, have been detained and questioned by the police multiple times, had immediate family members locked up in prison for a significant amount of time, been shot at, seen someone shot at and had a close loved one murdered. The experiences led Donofrio to cofound the EVAC movement to help create change in her students’ lives. The movement has had its own class period at Lee High School where the students worked on criminal justice reform and juvenile justice issues. The EVAC name came from spelling cave backward, a reference to Plato’s
Candidates sought for state Supreme Court
Photo by Larry Hannan
Robert E. Lee High School teacher Amy Donofrio speaks at the Jacksonville Bar Association member luncheon Sept. 12 at the Prime F. Osborn III Convention Center.
“Allegory of the Cave.” She does not have a class for it this year. “You have to come to the schools to truly help out,” Donofrio said to an audience that included State Attorney Melissa Nelson, Public Defender Charles Cofer and numerous Jacksonville judges. Donofrio encouraged attorneys to recognize that they can use their privilege to help, especially since many youth who are arrested don’t have access to lawyers. One of Donofrio’s students was arrested and sent to adult court even though he was a minor. Donofrio said the efforts of her class helped get him sent back to juvenile court. He ended up with two years of probation and will not have an adult criminal record.
“Once you know the story, it’s hard to treat these kids as criminals,” Donofrio said. U.S. District Judge Brian Davis introduced Donofrio and said it was people like her who helped make real change possible. Donofrio returned the favor by saying Davis, the first African-American chief assistant state attorney in the 4th Judicial Circuit before he became a judge, was a hero of hers. Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry also attended the luncheon and declared the week of Oct. 21-27 Pro Bono Week in Jacksonville. Members of the Jacksonville Bar have been providing pro bono legal services to the poor for 80 years.
The state Supreme Court Judicial Nominating Commission is seeking applicants to fill three positions on the Supreme Court. The vacancies will follow the mandatory retirement of Justices Barbara Pariente, R. Fred Lewis and Peggy Quince. The new justices will be appointed by the governor. Based on the court’s current composition, one seat must be filled by a qualified applicant who resides in the 3rd Appellate District (Dade and Monroe counties in South Florida). The other two seats are at-large. Applicants must submit an original application, an electronic copy of the original application in pdf format and an electronic redacted copy of the original application, which excludes all material that is exempt or confidential under applicable public records laws. The original signed, unredacted paper application must be received no later than 5 p.m. Oct. 8 by JNC Chair Jason Unger at GrayRobinson in Tallahassee. Applications and more information may be obtained from https:// www.floridabar.org/directories/ jnc/applications/. Potential justices selected for an interview will be notified by e-mail. MMARBUT@ JAXDAILYRECORD.COM (904) 356-2466
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IN THE LAW
Page 14 • Thursday, September 20, 2018
Jacksonville Daily Record/Jacksonville Record & Observer
KIMBERLY WOODS
KIMBERLY J. WOODS
Associate attorney, Baumann, Gant & Keeley P.A.
BY MAX MARBUT • ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Age: 31
Kimberly Woods is the communications director of the Jacksonville Women Lawyers Association.
Education: California State University, Sacramento, bachelor’s in government, 2009; Florida Coastal School of Law, J.D., 2014
Who or what inspired you to become a lawyer? I grew up in Richmond, California, wanting to be a teacher. When I was in the eighth grade, Mr. Steele, my history teacher, held a mock trial for Civil War participants. I was selected as one of the attorneys and Mr. Steele took the time to teach us the basic overview of the legal system and how it is designed to be fair and just. Ever since that lesson, I have wanted to devote my life to the practice of law.
Hometown: Richmond, California Family: Husband, Nathan Woods; baby girl due in November and 1-year-old puppy, Jaylen Ramsey Woods
People other than my spouse who inspire me: My grandmother, who grew up in rural Mississippi and has never let anything stand in her way. And my mother. She taught me the value of hard work and perseverance. How do you relate your undergraduate degree to your practice of law? My degree is in government with a concentration in international relations. The majority of my classes focused on interpersonal communication among people of different backgrounds. This helps me with everything from client communications to working with other counsel. How did you decide your practice area? And why have you chosen that? Throughout law school and in the years immediately after, I worked on the plaintiff’s side. I made the change to defense last year because I wanted the experience of working on both sides of civil litigation. What do you think will be the next biggest change in your area of law? I think it will involve personal injury protection or PIP benefits. It seems like there is a shift toward heavy modification or even complete abandonment.
Special to the Daily Record
If I could change anything in the legal system, I would: Make it more affordable or increase funding to organizations like Jacksonville Area Legal Aid or Three Rivers Legal Services. I would also require, instead of encourage, pro bono hours for every attorney. That would encourage employers to accommodate those attorneys who want to branch out into pro bono pursuits. What community service have you pursued and why that? I pursue community service through organizations like the Jacksonville Bar Association and Jacksonville Women Lawyers Association. My biggest project, thus far, has been heading the JBA Senior Holiday Project. This is my second year as
chair of the committee and seventh year as a participant. My 94-year-old grandmother lives back home in California and she still goes out every holiday and buys blankets for homeless people. She always wants to find ways to help those who are less fortunate. She is the inspiration for my involvement with the project. What’s your advice for new lawyers? Join your local organizations and get out there. You never know where your connections are going to lead you. There is so much you’re not going to know, and you have so many resources that you’re not going to know about. Make friends – it’ll make everything so much easier.
Favorite book: “The Lion, The Witch and the Wardrobe” by C.S. Lewis Books I’m reading now: “The Hate U Give” and “Crazy Rich Asians” App I can’t live without: Instagram Favorite nonwork activities: Hanging out with my husband and Jaylen, watching football (college or NFL) and baseball (go A’s)
MARBUT REPORT:
Max Marbut
LEGAL AFFAIRS, ASSOCIATE EDITOR
Hometown: Annapolis, Maryland Currently living: Jacksonville Daily Record employee: 13 years Alma mater: Proud product of Duval County Public Schools What you do when you are not working? In my off time, I enjoy nature photography. Understanding the work of the legal community is important because the law is the foundation of not only civilization, but business and community as well. It’s equally important for the public to understand the contributions made outside the courtrooms and conference rooms by the women and
It’s a relaxing and enjoyable contrast to photojournalism. Connect: mmarbut@jaxdailyrecord.com
men of Jacksonville’s legal community.
Max Marbut
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TO SUBSCRIBE VISIT JAXDAILYRECORD.COM/SECUREORDER OR 877-231-8834
Jacksonville Daily Record/Jacksonville Record & Observer
Thursday, September 20, 2018 • Page 15
‘I strive for work-life effectiveness’ NELSON’S SUGGESTIONS She offered suggestions for creating balance among work and personal, family and social activities: n Stop micromanaging people and setting unreasonable expectations for yourself and others. n Hire people smarter than yourself and trust them to do their job. n Set priorities, milestones and deadlines so people know what’s expected. n Build an organizational chart, a visual display of how authority, responsibility and information is designed to flow within the organization. n Incorporate wellness into the office. For example, the State Attorney’s Office added vending machines with healthy snacks and created a quiet room “where people can go and sit and breathe for a while.” n Reimagine the workplace culture. Millennials, in particular, are motivated by benefits such as flexible schedules, time off or telecommuting.
Photo by Caren Burmeister
State Attorney Melissa Nelson, right, talks with Marie Watson, vice president of commercial lending at FirstAtlantic Bank, after the CREW Jacksonville meeting Sept. 11.
State Attorney Melissa Nelson shares with CREW Jacksonville how she balances work, personal life. BY CAREN BURMEISTER CONTRIBUTING WRITER
S
tate Attorney Melissa Nelson was asked by a Jacksonville business women’s group to give a talk about work-life balance. Nelson challenged the term “work-life balance,” explaining that it can set up people for failure. “I strive for work-life effectiveness,” Nelson told members of CREW Jacksonville, an organization for women executives in
commercial real estate. About 70 people attended the Sept. 11 event at The River Club Downtown. A few weeks prior, on Aug. 26, Nelson had her heart set on taking a yoga class to restore her energy and clear her head. But just before class she received a phone call from a colleague about a mass shooting at the Jacksonville Landing. A Baltimore man who had lost a qualifying event for the Madden NFL 19 video game tournament shot and killed two people,
injured 11 others and killed himself. “Needless to say, I didn’t make it to yoga,” Nelson said. “It’s a very reactive job.” Nelson was elected state attorney for the 4th Judicial Circuit and took office Jan. 3, 2017. The work-life balance issue hit home with Nelson last year when her mother, who lives out of town, became gravely ill. In preparation for taking time off to care for her mother, the selfdescribed Type A personality had to parcel out office responsibilities to members of her executive team. “I had no choice but to let go,” Nelson said. “I had to give up con-
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trol.” The experience revealed the benefits of hiring people smarter than yourself, Nelson said, noting her colleagues did a great job running the office while she was away. Whether you work in public service or customer service, “being responsive means whenever, all the time,” Nelson said. Asked how she juggles a demanding high-profile career while raising three children, she credited her husband, Jason, whom she described as “the most incredible partner.” “It’s our families that allow us do what we’re meant to do,” Nelson said.
n Ask employees what they need. Based on that practice, the State Attorney’s Office expanded its family leave time after the birth of a child to six months. n Schedule time to think and brainstorm outside the office, away from distractions. n Set and keep boundaries. Schedule specific time slots when work, including emails and texting, is off limits. n Live a life of gratitude. Every morning, before getting out of bed, find five reasons to be thankful.
YOU SHOULD KNOW
Page 16 • Thursday, September 20, 2018
Jacksonville Daily Record/Jacksonville Record & Observer
CINDY KANEER BY KAREN BRUNE MATHIS • EDITOR
Cindy Kaneer joined Cantrell & Morgan Inc., a privately held Jacksonville-based commercial real estate firm, Aug. 13 as senior vice president of property management. She also is president of CREW Jacksonville, a 68-member network for women in commercial real estate. I am responsible for the property management and I’m going to be helping with build-outs for new retail tenants. I was mostly in commercial office space, so this is a change. Everyone’s talking industrial now. We’re in the market to grow any of those. I have a background in all of it and we’re hoping to put that to good use.
happening? Finding the answer makes me feel proficient at what I do. I love CREW. I had been encouraged by Craig to go and I kept saying, I don’t have time for this, and another friend said, just go and check it out. I went, and it was amazing. It’s inspiring to have these women around you who are successful, accomplished people who are there to help you.
I was working at AT&T Universal Card in the claims department and saw a job posting for a facilities associate to coordinate trash removal, landscaping and maintenance of the vehicles. I thought, are they kidding? This sounds like a dream job. I applied and was hired and promoted to facilities manager and it’s history from there. I started as a facilities manager at AT&T Universal Card, and they sold us to Citi Cards. Our services were outsourced to Grubb & Ellis. Two years in, my boss said, “You’re going on an interview today.” I said no, I’m quite happy here. He said, “You’re going on this interview.” So I went on this interview with Craig Meek of The Meek Companies and a few months later I was working for him as a property manager. I discovered I had a niche for the business development side. I was there at Metro Square Office Park for 16 years. I grew up in Yulee and went to school in Jacksonville. I graduated from Stanton High School. My mom and dad still live in the house I grew up in. Yulee has changed tremendously, from one flashing light to traffic jams. The small-town feel is gone, but it’s nice. We drove to town 30 minutes to get groceries or go to dance class, or whatever
This is my third year at CREW. It is a networking organization to help support women in the commercial real estate industry. They do a great job of it on a global level. My son just graduated from the University of North Florida and my daughter will graduate from Florida State College at Jacksonville in December. My husband and I have two businesses – we lease refrigerated trailers and we have a trucking business. My son works there with my husband. My daughter decided she wanted to continue her career in logistics and that’s what she’s doing at McKesson Corp. Special to the Daily Record
I was doing as a kid. It was, we have to go to town! Now they are the town. I wanted to be an elementary school teacher. I met my husband and plans changed and I fell into facilities management and I love it. Facilities and properties are full of problems that always need to be solved and I’m a problem-solver. My friends call me the fixer. I like figuring out, why is this
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I’m a runner. That’s what brings balance. I love spending time with my family. We do a lot of fishing and going to the beach. The economy is great. People are investing, they’re building. I don’t think we’re seeing cranes all over like some of the other cities, but we’ve got a lot going on. KMATHIS@JAXDAILYRECORD.COM @MATHISKB (904) 356-2466
ABOUT KANEER Title: Senior vice president of property management Organization: Cantrell & Morgan Inc. Age: 46 Family: Robert, husband of 27 years; son, Bobby, 27, and daughter, Caitie, 26 Education: BOMI International certification and designation as a Real Property Administrator and Facilities Management Administrator; licensed Florida sales agent and Florida Community Association Manager Hometown: Yulee Hobbies: Fishing, reading and competitive running Website: cantrellmorgan.com
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