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Northeast Florida Business Briefs - Feb. 2006
GAINESVILLE -- Plans for a biomedical sciences building got a boost when the University of Florida's board of governors approved $53.5 million in construction and maintenance projects for 2006. The facility is scheduled to open in 2009...
>> Eclipse Aviation will lease a new 61,000-sq.-ft. maintenance center at Gainesville Regional Airport. Eclipse will service small jets at the $9.5-million facility.
BAKER COUNTY -- The city's Naval Air Depot will add 120 workers as part of a contract with Dayton, Ohio-based SoBran Inc. The company was awarded $40.3 million to support aircraft engine maintenance at the depot...
>> A federal showdown was averted when West Palm Beach's Goodman Co., developers of the Freedom Commerce Center retail complex on the city's Southside, withdrew its appeal of an Army Corps of Engineers permit denial involving the proposed destruction of 166 acres of wetlands. Instead, Goodman asked the Army Corps for permission to fill in just 48.5 acres...
>> A third extension granted by U.S. Middle District of Florida Bankruptcy Court Judge Jerry Funk gives Winn-Dixie Stores until March 20 to file a reorganization plan...
>> Gate Petroleum Co. will build 400 residential units and two hotels with up to 250 rooms on the city's Northside. Heckscher Village will be built on 80 acres along the St. Johns River at Heckscher Drive and State Road 9A...
>> Reese's Xtreme Cup Challenge, an amusement park ride designed by Jacksonville-based Sally Corp., will open next year at Hersheypark in Hershey, Pa. Riders will shoot targets with laser guns as they are guided through displays of 10 extreme sports.
NASSAU COUNTY -- The Northeast Florida Builders Association is suing the county, claiming commissioners did not give builders enough time to prepare for a new school-related impact fee that took effect last summer. Builders say they had to absorb the $3,700-per-home charge on at least 22 homes where a purchase contract was signed prior to the fee's effective date. When construction permits on the homes were pulled in the fall, builders claim they were unfairly assessed.
PALATKA -- The St. Johns Water Management District hired Harrisburg, Pa.-based GeoDecisions to provide technical support for environmental monitoring, restoration and management.
PONTE VEDRA BEACH -- St. Johns Service Co., the sewer and water utility for northeast St. Johns County, agreed to spend $680,000 to repair its facilities in anticipation of its $27-million acquisition by the St. Johns County Commission. The Service Co.'s problems were uncovered after the commission agreed to the deal.
ST. JOHNS COUNTY -- Tousa Homes, a subsidiary of Hollywood-based Technical Olympic USA, has purchased 544 acres in the Twin Lakes development on County Road 210 for $75 million. At 3,050 acres, Twin Lakes is the largest residential community in the fast-growing CR 210 corridor and will include 5,000 single- and multifamily homes, 900,000 square feet of retail and office space and 2 million square feet of light industrial use...
>> Haven Trust Bank has applied with the state Office of Financial Regulation to become the fourth bank with headquarters in the county. CEO Matthew Greene says the bank will have a minimum capitalization of $14.5 million and focus on customers in the northern part of the county.
