Jim Burnham embodies two of Northeast Florida's most prominent growth trends. As the owner of the new BoConcept furniture store in the St. Johns Town Center shopping plaza, Burnham has joined a booming market in upscale retail that includes a half-dozen large centers in various stages of development. As a new resident of St. Johns County, Burnham, his wife and two children reside in the ninth-fastest growing county in the country. According to the Census Bureau, St. Johns County grew 6.7% from July 2003 to July 2004.

Jim Burnham owns upscale furniture retailer BoConcepts in St. John's Conty. The New York City transplant and his family also live in the ningh-fastest growing county in the U.S.

"We've found a great environment for a growing business and family," says Burnham, who moved from New York City to start his BoConcept franchise.

The success of the sprawling St. Johns Town Center has kick-started similar projects across the region. Not far from Town Center's location on Jacksonville's Southside, West Palm Beach-based Goodman Co. is continuing to develop its 853-acre mixed-use Freedom Commerce Centre. And in Clay County, Buffalo, N.Y.-based Eastbourne Investments recently unveiled plans for a $70-million, 480,000-sq.-ft. complex that will mimic St. Johns Town Center's mix of upscale retail and entertainment.

The region's population growth has a distinctly suburban flair, as St. Johns, Clay, Nassau and Baker counties all report significant increases, while the annual growth rate in Jacksonville/Duval County hovers just above 1%.

Key Newcomer

» The push to redevelop downtown Jacksonville got a much-needed boost when Orlando developer Cameron Kuhn unveiled plans for a sprawling, $350-million project that is slated to include several downtown high-rises. Kuhn's goal: "Change downtown Jacksonville and the riverfront and ignite a new generation of downtown places and opportunities." The centerpiece of Kuhn's vision is River Watch at City Centre. Plans call for a 33-story tower with residential condominiums, first-floor retail, a four-star condo-hotel and commercial space. Kuhn spent much of the last year scooping up downtown property, including the 23-story SunTrust Tower, an office condo project that is part of River Watch, for $37 million and the historic Dyal-Upchurch Building, the city's first high-rise.

Jacksonville

Perhaps the year's most important newcomer came from Asia. Last fall, Jaxport inked a $100-million deal with Japanese shipping line Mitsui O.S.K., opening the door for container shipping between Jacksonville and lucrative Asian markets and creating more than 1,800 jobs. ... City officials continue to search for ways to bring industry to the former naval air station at Cecil Field. The latest idea: Use the Westside base's 12,500-foot runway as the centerpiece of a private spaceport. ... Jacksonville Sheriff John Rutherford announced an initiative to reduce the city's murder rate; last year, the city ranked 25th nationwide out of 68 cities with populations of more than 250,000.

Key Newcomers

» John Culbreth came from metro Atlanta to take command of the city's park system, the nation's largest with more than 340 parks and 50,000 acres of preserved land.
» Mac Brunson is the new pastor at the 28,000-member First Baptist Church, succeeding Jerry Vines. First Baptist is the third-largest Southern Baptist congregation.

St. Augustine

Though they hail from nearby Ponte Vedra Beach, developers Rich Newton and Matthew Merritt are arguably the city's most important newcomers as they steer construction of their $120-million Sebastian Inland Harbor residential/retail/commercial complex. The development, which includes 96 condominiums, 85 hotel rooms, 24,000 square feet of shops and a 65-slip marina, has been billed as the impetus for the long-awaited revitalization of the city's western entrance.

St. Johns County

According to the latest figures, developers have announced plans for nearly 70,000 residential units that will be built over the next two decades. ... Construction of the sprawling Nocatee project in northeast St. Johns has begun in earnest with land clearing for the development's central parkway. ... Growth even extends to the potato fields of Hastings, where Tommy Lee's 360-acre farm is slated to become a residential/commercial project that will include 750 homes and apartments.

Clay County

Raleigh, N.C.-based Stock Building Supply plans to open a 250,000-sq.-ft. facility in Green Cove Springs to manufacture roof trusses and other building materials. Matt Welch, chairman of the Economic Development Advisory Board of the Clay County Chamber of Commerce, says the company will initially employ 50 workers and has plans to add another 95 over the next three years at an average salary of $42,000.

Nassau County

The old S&G Packaging plant in Yulee got a new lease on life when Annandale Millwork/Allied Systems of Winchester, Va., announced it is opening a regional warehouse in the abandoned facility on U.S. 17. The manufacturer of residential building products -- such as wall panels, roof trusses, doors and windows -- says the plant will employ 52 at an average annual wage of $38,000. ... The 1,641-acre mixed-use community called Three Rivers is slated to become the county's first development of regional impact in more than a decade. Ambach Communities has plans to build 3,200 units ranging from townhomes to marsh-front residences along SR A1A in Yulee. ... A 5-cents-per-gallon gasoline tax approved by the county commission earlier this year will benefit road improvements throughout Nassau County.

Putnam County

Customer service company PRC is investing $4.2 million in a downtown Palatka business park and building a facility that could eventually employ 430 workers. PRC clients include FedEx, Match.com, Expedia and British Airways. Worldwide, the company employs more than 10,000.

Baker County

London-based Hanson Roof Tile, a manufacturer of concrete roof tiles, announced plans to build a $24-million manufacturing facility in Sanderson. The 96,000-sq.-ft. facility is expected to create 50 jobs. Hanson Roof executives say the plant will initially produce 300,000 tiles per year, with the ability to double capacity in coming years.

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