March 28, 2024

Northeast In the News - May 2005

Bob Snell | 5/1/2005
Alachua County -- The county commission voted to raise the hotel bed tax by 1 cent to finance construction of a 5,000-seat baseball stadium at Santa Fe Community College. The stadium will be home to a Single A team.

Drinking water wells to four homes in an area known as Copeland Settlement are contaminated with dangerous levels of arsenic, lead and nitrates. County environmental officials haven't determined the source of the pollution.

Callahan -- Town officials finally agreed to pay the Florida Department of Transportation $320,000 for moving the town's water and sewer lines along Highway A1A -- part of a road-widening project started 10 years ago. Previous town councils had refused to pay for the work, saying the state had waited too long to send its bill.

Clay County -- Cleaning up years of illegal dumping at two county "borrow pits" could cost taxpayers millions of dollars, according to an environmental consultant. State investigators are looking at possible criminal charges in connection with the dumping of demolished houses, boats and even a fire truck at Knowles Pit and Sleepy Hollow.

Gainesville -- The University of Florida is working with the U.S. Department of Energy to remove weapons-grade uranium from the school's research reactor. The federally funded program replaces highly enriched uranium in the university's training reactor with a lower-grade fuel.

The San Francisco-based Gordon and Betty Moore Foundation awarded UF $1.9 million to promote conservation of rain forests in the Amazon. The university will use the money to establish the Amazon Conservation Leadership Initiative and pay for scholarships, workshops and a faculty exchange program with Amazonian institutions.

Jacksonville -- The $158-million St. Johns Town Center, a 1.1 million-sq.-ft. outdoor mall with more than 100 stores and restaurants, has opened in Jacksonville. The so-called "lifestyle center" is designed to mimic a downtown and is the first new mall in the city since 1990.

Duval County Superintendent of Schools John Fryer resigned after seven controversial years as head of one of the state's largest districts. Deputy Superintendent Nancy Snyder has been named interim superintendent while the school board searches for a permanent replacement.

Warner Robins, Ga.-based Campbell Roofing & Construction is moving its headquarters to a 12,000-sq.-ft. industrial building on Jacksonville's Northside. Executives predict the local office will eventually employ 200.

Downtown's troubled Adam's Mark hotel, the city's largest, was sold to an unidentified West Coast investor group. The new owners will likely convert a portion of the 996-room facility into condominiums and operate the rest of the hotel under the Hyatt banner.

Sleiman Enterprises purchased the struggling Normandy Mall on the city's Westside from Potter's House Christian Fellowship and says it plans to redevelop the 80,000-sq.-ft. mall.

Orange Park -- Phyllis Renninger is the new mayor following a unanimous vote by her fellow town council members.

Ponte Vedra Beach -- Citing an ongoing dispute over blocked beach access points along Ponte Vedra Boulevard, Rep. Aaron Bean (R-Fernandina Beach) introduced a bill that would make it illegal to obstruct public access to the beach.

Putnam County -- A St. Petersburg property management company paid $7.4 million for the 284-unit River Run apartment complex. Executives from WRH Income Properties say the company plans $2.4 million in renovations to the 1970s-era complex.

The Palatka Yacht Club received permission from the city commission to moor a floating clubhouse on the city's riverfront. The 85-foot vessel -- which will be accessed from a 25-foot gangplank -- still faces St. Johns River Water Management District review.

St. Johns County -- Days after his board unanimously hiked impact fees on new residential and commercial construction, County Commission Chairman Bruce Maguire said he had made a "mistake" and vowed to help local developers fight the increase.

Former County Commissioner Marc Jacalone is in hot water with the Florida Elections Commission for allegedly sending contributions from his campaign account to several other candidates, including President George W. Bush. An Ethics Commission report found "probable cause" that Jacalone "willfully" violated a rule that bars such transactions.

Flagler Hospital christened a $7-million, 30,000-sq.-ft. emergency room that boosts capacity from 23 to 48 beds.

Tags: Northeast

Florida Business News

Florida News Releases

Florida Trend Video Pick

Bitter-to-swallow cocoa costs force chocolate shops to raise prices
Bitter-to-swallow cocoa costs force chocolate shops to raise prices

Central Floirda chocolate shops are left with a bitter taste as cocoa prices hit an all-time high earlier this week.

Video Picks | Viewpoints@FloridaTrend

Ballot Box

Should Congress ban the popular social media app TikTok in the U.S.?

  • Yes
  • No
  • Need more details
  • What is TikTok?
  • Other (Comment below)

See Results

Florida Trend Media Company
490 1st Ave S
St Petersburg, FL 33701
727.821.5800

© Copyright 2024 Trend Magazines Inc. All rights reserved.