David Weekley Homes, the first builder to stake a claim for development at E-Town in South Jacksonville, bought property in the emerging mixed-use community off Florida 9B.
DRP CND-ICI LLC, the Houston-based homebuilder bought land Jan. 31 for $6 million from Eastland Timber LLC, led by members of the Davis family.
The Duval County Property Appraiser calculates the purchased acreage at 111.28 acres.
DRP CND-ICI LLC is led by managers DM Weekley Inc., led by Chairman David Weekley, and DW General Partner, both of Houston.
Keith Donnelly, land acquisition manager with David Weekley Homes, said the parcel will be a gated community of 143 homesites that are 50 feet wide and 79 that will be 60 feet wide.
He said the land will be developed as a joint venture between David Weekley Homes and ICI Homes.
“We expect to have David Weekley model homes under construction before the end of the year,” he said in a statement.
Donnelly said 36 acres of the parcel will be preserved as conservation area and parks will be included in the community development.
Western Alliance Bank of Phoenix, Arizona, issued a $9 million construction loan to DRP CND-ICI LLC the same day as the purchase.
A conceptual site plan filed with the city shows that David Weekley Homes wants to develop a 222-home subdivision east of Interstate 295 and Florida 9B in the E-Town development.
A Mobility Fee Calculation Certificate covers a 75.45-acre site along E-Town Parkway, also known as R.G. Skinner Parkway.
The site plan shows the single-family lots, buffers, three ponds and two parks.
The mobility fee of $477,072 is designed to mitigate the traffic impact the development would create. The certificate was issued in January.
The fee application shows Weekley Homes LLC of Ponte Vedra as the agent and developer and Estuary LLC of Jacksonville as the property owner. The Davis family also leads that LLC.
Roger O’Steen, chairman and founder of The PARC Group, which develops Davis family property, said previously that several builders are working on preliminary plans and permits for neighborhoods within E-Town.
E-Town comprises Davis-owned land east and west of Florida 9B.
O’Steen said a master community plan is under development to include parks, amenities, electric-cart paths, walking trails, neighborhood shops, restaurants and job centers.
In another move at the property, E-Town Development Inc. asks the St. Johns River Water Management District to modify a permit for city utility JEA to install a utility pipeline to provide service to the Phase II project area.
A project location map shows the pipeline south of I-295 and west of Florida 9B. It is northeast of Philips Highway.
Jed Davis, a director and vice president of Eastland Timber and Estuary LLC, leads E-Town Development Inc. The project agent and environmental consultant is Environmental Services Inc.
A letter to the district from Environmental Services explains that the proposed 4.51-acre utility pipeline will provide utilities to the RG Skinner Phase II project area.
O’Steen said there are multiple JEA infrastructure projects underway and a major power line underground corridor.
He said some will serve E-Town and some are regional.