With the area fenced and demolition soon to begin, owners of the vacant St. Johns Village retail site in Avondale hope to start building new apartments this spring.
Interior demolition has begun at the next-door 16-story Commander Apartments, which will be renovated as part of the 5.8-acre development at St. Johns Avenue and Herschel Street.
Developer Chance Partners LLC founder Judd Bobilin said Thursday that demolition of the retail center could start in mid-February and take about two months.
Construction could start by early summer for the 140 units at 4000 St. Johns Ave.
Bobilin said the project comprises two four-story buildings, two carriage houses of two units each and two townhome buildings of two units each. There also will be an on-site garage.
The four-story buildings comprise 132 units. LandSouth Construction is the contractor.
The Commander, at 3946 St. Johns Ave., is being renovated from 90 units into 88, creating a 228-apartment project. That contractor is Midway Services Inc.
Bobilin said the property will be rebranded, but no name has been chosen. Pegasus Residential will manage it.
The Commander property should be renovated no later than April 2018 followed by the new construction no later than July 2018, he said.
Rents have not been determined.
The Commander, built in 1961, sits on 2.5 acres. St. Johns Village, developed in 1987, is 3.3 acres. The project has been estimated as a $40 million development.
Plans show amenities that could include a pool, fire pit, barbecue and a yoga pad at the Commander site, along with several pavilions. The former shopping center site shows two small parks.
Hyatt Place applies to build at The Strand
Hyatt Place Jacksonville is preparing for construction at The Strand at Town Center.
The 160-room hotel will be developed on the lakefront at 4800 Town Center Parkway.
Concord Jacksonville TC LLC of Raleigh, N.C., will develop the five-story hotel on 2.79 acres.
Plans show a dock at the lakefront, as well as an outdoor pool. Those will be permitted separately.
Inside, the first floor will feature the “guest kitchen” dining area, a fitness room and business center, a lobby and lounge area and two meeting rooms.
All rooms are queen and king.
No contractor is listed for the $2 million construction job. Base 4 International Inc. in Pompano Beach is the architect.
Hyatt Place is near the Ravella Town Center Apartment Homes, also at The Strand, as well as the 98-room Tru by Hilton hotel at the adjacent Town Center Promenade development.
Hyatt Place is a brand of Chicago-based Hyatt Hotels Corp.
The company’s website says it was created for “multi-blenders with 24/7 lifestyles seeking a select-service hotel that will allow them to balance work and play.”
Sian Martin, Hyatt associate manager for brand communications, said in November the company is interested in increasing its brand representation in Florida and is actively pursuing opportunities to do so.
The 127-room, six-story Hyatt Place Jacksonville Airport at 14565 Duval Road is owned by another group.
Robbins Electra buys Orange Park apartments
Robbins Electra announced Thursday it acquired Maple Glen, a 358-unit apartment community in Orange Park, from Starwood.
The property, at 1863 Wells Road, will be rebranded as The Parkland at Orange Park.
Robbins Electra said the sale closed Wednesday for $35.05 million.
The community comprises one-, two- and three-bedroom apartments with average monthly rents of about $850. It is 95 percent occupied.
Amenities include a business center, clubhouse, fitness center and two swimming pools.
Robbins Electra said it intends to make a multimillion-dollar property renovation, including an upgrade to apartment interiors and additional or enhanced community amenities.
Tampa-based Robbins Electra is a national multifamily owner-operator.
It said Maple Glen is its eighth property in the Jacksonville region and its first acquisition of 2017.
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