FEBRUARY 19 TO FEBRUARY 25, 2026 | JAXDAILYRECORD.COM
BUSINESS & LEGAL NEWS IN BAKER, CLAY, DUVAL, NASSAU AND ST. JOHNS COUNTIES
NO DEAL ON THE SOUTHBANK
The plan for Duval County Public Schools to sell its riverfront headquarters and move to Baymeadows dies.
INSIDE
RESTAURANTS
Restaurant with pickleball courts to open in Mayport PAGE 3
REAL ESTATE
JEA reviewing North Jacksonville project PAGE 10
Photo by Monty Zickuhr
The Duval County Public School headquarters building on the Downtown Southbank.
BY MAX MARBUT ASSOCIATE EDITOR
A
n agreement for Chase Properties to buy the Duval County Public Schools headquarters building on the Downtown Southbank is dead, along with a linked plan for the district to move to Baymeadows.
A deal that came together after years of discussion about a potential DCPS relocation and the ramifications for its Downtown property fell apart in one day. Chase announced Feb. 12 that it ended its agreement to buy the building along the St. Johns River at 1701 Prudential Drive for $17.2 million. “Chase Properties has made the difficult decision to terminate its purchase agreement for the former Duval
County School Board property after discovering the existence of a substantial Community Development District (CDD) encumbrance that was not disclosed during the solicitation, appraisal, or negotiation process,” Chase said in a news release. Also Feb. 12, Duval County Public Schools announced it is “adjusting its SEE EDUCATION, PAGE 6
RESTAURANT
Cafe San Marco and Bar San Marco take over former Bistro AIX Cafe San Marco offers Cuban cuisine breakfast and lunch; Bar San Marco will sell tapas in the evening. PAGE 12 THE BASCH REPORT
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THE MATHIS REPORT
Teso Life department store leases space in Arlington
Proficient Auto Logistics’ stock drops again
Joining Jacksonville’s growing Asian-influenced retail landscape, New Yorkbased Teso Life intends to open a department store at the former Conn’s HomePlus and Rooms To Go space in Arlington. PAGE 4
Proficient executives say sales slowed after spring 2025 and expect 2026 demand to remain below 2025 levels. PAGE 8
VOLUME 113, NO. 15 | TWO SECTIONS | PUBLISHED SINCE 1912