March 29, 2024

Central Florida In the News - July 2005

Bob Snell | 7/1/2005
ALACHUA COUNTY -- County officials are reviewing plans for a 1,000-home subdivision on Parker Road on the south side of SW 24th Avenue.

BAKER COUNTY -- Architects say it could cost more than $390,000 to convert the former SouthTrust Bank Building into county offices.

CLAY COUNTY -- More than 300 residents attending a civic forum called for term limits, salary cuts and other changes they say will stem corruption and reform the county commission. The meeting, sponsored by Citizens for Term Limits and Accountability, was held as state and federal officials continue to investigate widespread illegal dumping at county landfills.

FERNANDINA BEACH -- Investcorp, an international investment and real estate firm, and partner Titan Real Estate Investment Group purchased the 230-unit Nassau Lakes Apartments for $20 million.

City officials established a Historic District Council Fund after mistakes by City Hall and Nassau County's Ocean, Highway & Port Authority led to the demolition of two historic homes. The fund, which begins with $5,000 in seed money, will pay for surveys to demark homes in the city's two historic districts.

GAINESVILLE -- The University of Florida signed an exclusive, 10-year agreement with Pepsi Bottling Group that could earn the university upward of $27 million. Coca-Cola and its products will be banned from vending machines on campus and other university-affiliated facilities, including Shands hospital.

University of Florida researchers say they have created a genetically engineered bacterium that will convert farm and forest waste products (known as biomass) into ethanol, a popular, clean-burning gasoline additive.

JACKSONVILLE -- A survey by CenterBank of Jacksonville concluded that 77% of north Florida small businesses profited little from last February's Super Bowl. While organizers predicted the big game would pour more than $300 million into the local economy, most of the business owners questioned said the game had no impact on their operations.

Flagler County will join Duval, St. Johns, Clay, Nassau, Baker and Putnam counties as part of the Cornerstone regional economic development partnership. Dues are $45,000 annually.

Virginia-based MHI Hospitality Corp. bought the 292-room Hilton Jacksonville Riverfront hotel for $22 million.

Jacksonville Symphony Orchestra officials say ticket sales for the past season rose 17% and concert attendance was up 27% over the previous year.

A subsidiary of New York-based Case Pomeroy Properties won the right to develop the former Southside Generating Station site. Case will pay JEA $40.6 million, $4.2 million more than national home builder Toll Brothers offered for the 25-acre riverfront parcel.

Lennar Communities of Florida will build more than 2,500 homes near Jacksonville International Airport over the next 10 years.

Saying the supermarket chain's finances are improving, federal bankruptcy Judge Jerry Funk denied JEA's request to have Winn-Dixie pay a $1.4-million "security deposit" to cover future electric charges. Utility lawyers argued the deposit is needed in case the financially troubled grocer (JEA's second-largest private customer) stops paying its bills.

Longtime volunteer Jack Morgan was named CEO of the Northeast Florida chapter of the American Red Cross.

MAYPORT -- A consultant hired by the city of Jacksonville estimates it will take 40 months and cost $138 million to convert Naval Station Mayport into a base capable of docking a nuclear-powered aircraft carrier. City officials commissioned the study after the Navy revealed plans to scrap the conventionally powered USS John F. Kennedy, which calls Mayport home.

PALATKA -- Precision Response Corp. will open a 430-employee call center in the Putnam County Business Park. The Plantation-based company manages telephone and e-mail customer service for Expedia, British Airways, AT&T and other corporations. As part of its incentives package, the Governor's Office of Tourism, Trade and Economic Development will refund Precision $2.1 million in taxes over the next five years.

ST. AUGUSTINE -- Flagler College and the U.S. Postal Service are working on a land swap that will allow the college to build much-needed dorms at the corner of King Street and M.L. King Avenue. In exchange, the Postal Service will receive a parcel with room enough for a larger mail distribution center.

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.