Alliance Residential Co., which wants to build the Southbank Broadstone River House and already owns the Beach House, doesn’t intend to stop there in Jacksonville.
“We have an appetite for a couple more deals,” said Alliance Development Manager Tim Graff, based in the company’s North Florida Division offices in Winter Park.
The Phoenix-based company completed the 228-unit Broadstone Beach House apartments in 2009 in Jacksonville Beach. The project is 95-98 percent occupied, Graff said.
Alliance hopes to buy the land and start construction in May on the 263-unit Broadstone River House Downtown. Completion would take about two years.
Alliance is looking at other areas for more apartment development, but doesn’t have additional sites under contract.
Graff said Alliance is looking at areas closer to the Beaches, the St. Johns Town Center area and Riverside/Avondale.
North Florida is a smaller market than some metro areas, he said, “but it still has a good job story. Good quality jobs, a lot of health care jobs. That is one reason we like the Southbank.”
The Southbank site along Prudential Drive is near Baptist Medical Center and several of its health care services, including the location for the new Baptist MD Anderson Cancer Center that should open in 2018.
It also is across the street from the duPont Center office buildings that Baptist Health bought last year to house some of its offices.
Graff said the additional apartment sites would be for new development rather than rehabilitation of existing apartments. They rely on some factors.
“We look for job generators, retail services close by, good schools — we look at school rankings,” he said.
Alliance also looks at home values and likes to develop where values are higher.
Graff said additional projects will depend on the market, and for now Alliance is focusing on Broadstone River House.
Zoo applies to build manatee care center
Manatees are closer to their own critical care center at the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens.
The city is reviewing a permit for Perry-McCall Construction Inc. to build the manatee critical care center at a construction cost of $2.125 million.
The center, at 370 Zoo Parkway, comprises two concrete rehabilitation pools and a small utility building.
The zoo broke ground in July on the facility and hopes to complete it by the end of the year.
The zoo is raising the funds for the project, including a $500,000 grant from the state and $1.1 million from private donors.
Fundraising continues for construction and for operating costs, which include food for the manatees. One eats more than 100 pounds of greens a day.
The zoo expects most of the rescued manatees will be suffering from cold stress. Others could be injured from entanglements or boat strikes. It also will treat orphaned calves.
Zoo visitors will have a limited view of the center, which will be between the Education Campus and gorilla exhibits.
Freddy’s working on Orange Park site
Freddy’s Frozen Custard & Steakburgers proposes a location along Blanding and Loch Rane boulevards in Clay County.
Plans filed with St. Johns River Water Management District show the restaurant at 380 Blanding Blvd. in Orange Park.
It’s designed as 3,380 square feet on less than an acre.
Freddy’s is based in Wichita, Kan.
Wingstop building out at Gateway Town Center
Wingstop is preparing for its Gateway Town Center restaurant.
The city is reviewing a permit application for DG Development of North Florida Inc. to renovate space for Wing Stop at 5290 Norwood Ave. The project cost is listed as $250,000.
Landlord Terranova said in January the casual restaurant would open a 1,639-square-foot location there this summer.
Wingstop has a Jacksonville location along Blanding Boulevard.
The chain is based near Dallas.
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