Owners of the historic Seminole Building Downtown applied to the city for a permit to build a rooftop patio on the third floor of the three-story building at 400 N. Hogan St.
River City Contractors is the contractor for the $131,182 project, which will create the patio on the roof above the second-floor.
Alex Sifakis, president of the ownership group, said it should be completed in the first quarter.
Sifakis said Dec. 8 the patio will create about 800 square feet of outdoor space to complement the interior event space.
It could be used for outdoor cocktails, music, photos and other uses. Umbrellas will provide shade.
He said it has a “great view of City Hall and James Weldon Johnson Park.”
Robbins Design Studio is the architect. Codes-ABC Inc. is handling code compliance.
It’s the next step in ownership’s plans to renovate the 111-year-old building for more uses. It is anchored by Sweet Pete’s candy company, which leases space on the first and second floors.
The city issued a permit July 22 for property owner 400 Hogan LLC, led by Sifakis, to renovate the third floor.
River City Contractors is the contractor for the $99,251 project, and Robbins Design Studio is the architect.
Sifakis said July 27 the owners turned the third floor back into an event space.
“We really wanted to make it into a high-end wedding and corporate event venue,” he said.
The third floor is called White Hall. Sifakis contracted with Destination Planning, owned by Anne Urban, to manage the space.
White Hall’s main ballroom can accommodate up to 200 for a seated dinner.
Sifakis said the 5,000-square-foot space is available for events and also can continue to host Sweet Pete’s field trips. It previously was used as a Sweet Pete’s toy shop as well as party-demonstration space and an event space.
Sifakis has been making cosmetic renovations to the third floor. The July permit shows the third floor would be renovated to include a bridal room, groom’s room and a lobby.
Sifakis estimates a total $250,000 investment, including roof work and turning the deck, previously cosmetic, into an outdoor venue.
Sifakis said Dec. 8 that while Sweet Pete’s has held smaller parties there, just a few larger events have taken place during the pandemic.
JWB Real Estate Companies LLC, led by Sifakis, paid $1.7 million for the 22,500-square-foot building Jan. 31 through 400 Hogan LLC.
Jacksonville-based Sweet Pete’s leases part of the first floor as a candy shop and the second floor as a candy store and dessert shop.
The second floor continues to comprise production space, the dessert bar, retail sales and a balcony.
The other part of the first floor is on the market as restaurant space. Previous tenants closed. Sifakis said there has been interest but no lease signed.
The Sifakis group bought the property from JAX Club Property LLC, which is led by Marcus Lemonis, the TV host of “The Profit.”
Lemonis continues to own the Sweet Pete’s company with Peter and Allison Behringer.
They signed a five-year lease at the building.
