MONDAY December 17, 2018
Public
jaxdailyrecord.com • 35 cents
legal notices begin on page 3
Daily Record JACKSONVILLE
New Downtown parking garage wins DDRB approval to expand
THE MATHIS REPORT
Daily Record JACKSONVILLE
VyStar looking for more spaces as it prepares to move hundreds of workers to the SunTrust Building.
Daily Record Daily Record JACKSONVILLE
BY DAVID CAWTON STAFF WRITER
The Downtown Development Review Board approved changes to a parking garage proposed for the corner of Laura and Forsyth streets and cleared the way for new apartments near Hemming Park. SouthEast Development Group is partnering with The Molasky Group of Companies to build what will be an 807-space parking garage to service the Barnett Building, the Laura Street Trio and VyStar Credit Union employees relocating to the SunTrust Tower in 2019. The DDRB approved the garage in May, but the development group said increased demand for parking required changes. The garage at 28 W. Forsyth St. will now comprise 286,047 square feet of unenclosed space in seven stories, a level higher with 122 more parking spaces than in the original plan. The project includes almost 7,900 square feet of retail that will front Laura Street. No retail partners have been named. BLT Parking LLC, a subsidiary of The Molasky Group, applied for a city permit to build the garage at a cost of $17 million. The garage is expected to break ground
JACKSONVILLE Renderings special to the Daily Record
The new parking garage at 28 W. Forsyth St. will have seven stories and 807 parking spaces.
in 2019 and open as construction on the Laura Street Trio is wrapping up. Currently, the development group is working on the Barnett Building. When it opens next year, it will have 100 marketrate apartments, office space, a University of North Florida satellite campus, retail banking and a Vagabond Coffee Co. shop. The Laura Street Trio, comprising the Bisbee, Marble Bank and Florida Life buildings, will be transformed into a Courtyard by Marriott hotel, restaurants and other retail. That project is expected to begin in 2019. SouthEast Development Principal Steve Atkins could not be reached for comment.
In his place at the Thursday meeting was project architect, Thomas Hurst, of Dasher Hurst Architects. Hurst said the city approached the group about additional parking after VyStar pledged to relocate at least 700 employees Downtown. In July, the credit union paid $59 million for the 23-story SunTrust Tower at 76 S. Laura St. along with an adjacent 612-space parking garage. It will rename the high-rise as VyStar Tower. The credit union could eventually move nearly 1,000 employees Downtown. VyStar representatives did not respond to emails or phone calls on Friday. CHAMBLIN’S NEW APARTMENTS
Also on Thursday, the DDRB gave Ron Chamblin conceptual and final design approval for 225 N. Laura St. where he plans to convert a three-story building into four apartments and a first-floor restaurant. The structure was built about 1904 and Chamblin intends to update the exterior to reflect the historic look. Construction could take eight to 10 months after permits are approved. Chamblin plans to have two one-bedroom and two two-bedroom units on the top floors. The restaurant will feature indoor and outdoor seating.
Ron Chamblin plans to redevelop 225 Laura St. into a restaurant and four apartments.
DCAWTON@JAXDAILYRECORD.COM @DAVIDCAWTON (904) 356-2466
KAREN BRUNE MATHIS EDITOR
Fabletics plans store at St. Johns Town Center
Actress Kate Hudson co-founded the women’s activewear chain. Fabletics, the women’s activewear brand co-founded by actress Kate Hudson, intends to open a store at St. Johns Town Center. No contractor is listed for the estimated $400,000 tenant improvement of a 2,521-squarefoot space at 4663 River City Drive for Hudson Fabletics. Fabletics has 25 locations in North America. Its three Florida stores are in Boca Raton, Sarasota and Tampa. A spokeswoman for Fabletics said she did not have details about the 2019 retail plans. According to Fabletics.com, JustFab Inc. co-CEOs Don Ressler and Adam Goldenberg launched Fabletics with Hudson in 2013. They are marketing the brand as one that offers “stylish and high quality gear at an accessible price point.” Fabletics, based in El Segundo, SEE MATHIS, PAGE 2
Green, Macquarie Group awarded JAXUSA Partnership on Thursday honored JaxPort CEO Eric Green with its International Industry Leader Award and Macquarie Group as its International Company of the Year. Green’s achievements include gaining funding for the Jacksonville harbor deepening project and record port container and vehicle volumes. Macquarie is an Australia-based financial services company that is expanding in Jacksonville. From left, Green and Anthony Glenn, head of the Jacksonville office for Macquarie.
VOLUME 106, NO. 22 • ONE SECTION