QuoteVacant, run-down and aging properties in the neighborhood on the edge of Downtown attracting interest.
by: David Cawton Staff Writer
A group of companies is quietly purchasing property in Brooklyn.
Since 2014, the group has amassed entire blocks along Park Street, between Forest Street and Myrtle Avenue, totaling at least 11.6 acres.
The investment so far tops $4.4 million.
Altogether, 13 companies have invested in Brooklyn.
Each is tied to three other Jacksonville-based groups — Contega Business Services LLC, North Platt LLC and Ascona LLC.
The common denominator is a Jacksonville law firm. All share an address with the Driver, McAfee, Hawthorne & Diebenow PLLC law firm at One Independent Drive, Suite 1200, in the Wells Fargo Center.
Attorney Steve Diebenow said his client was not interested in discussing the purchases. "I am afraid you are going to have to write from the public records," he said.
While the buyer's identity is private, what is planned is surfacing.
"They're looking to do mixed-use development similar to what's started in Brooklyn already," said Downtown Investment Authority Chief Executive Officer Aundra Wallace...
Full story with more details: https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/article/whos-buying-up-brooklyn-a-group-of-companies-all-linked-to-the-same-law-firm-is-spending-millions
I am confused about the area discussed, "Park Street, between Forest Street and Myrtle Avenue" - Park and Myrtle never intersect.
I found it interesting that the agent for the buyer characterizes some land owners as "totally unreasonable with their asking prices." Maybe they just want what the new market demands. Guess they should have been more clever with their shell companies.
This is also the area around McCoy's creek that the Mayor's Budget committee wants millions of dollars to clean up. Coincidence?
"For example, the city would spend about $56 million over four years along McCoys Creek in the downtown area and other neighborhoods on a wide range of activities such as raising bridges, restoring channels, creating greenways, building kayak launches, and in some cases, removing bridges and building a new pedestrian bridge across the creek. The first year would authorize $10.65 million in the 2018-19 budget." http://www.jacksonville.com/news/20180626/uf-health-emerald-necklace-and-hart-bridge-ramps-highlight-draft-capital-plan (http://www.jacksonville.com/news/20180626/uf-health-emerald-necklace-and-hart-bridge-ramps-highlight-draft-capital-plan)
If it's not a coincidence I'm completely fine with that. The creek could be an amazing asset but it's a shit hole right now. If the entire length of it was opened up and turned into a linear urban park it would be an amazing asset. Right now it's a trash filled cesspool with the mouth completely covered by a parking lot. I hope when the TU site is redeveloped that they open the creek back up. One can always dream.
Has anyone told Putnam County about this?
Quote from: remc86007 on June 29, 2018, 12:37:27 AM
Has anyone told Putnam County about this?
Classic. I feel sorry for the Baltimore guys though.
If they are planning anything remotely resembling what most people would consider 'mixed-use' they must be tickled pink over the initial plans for the Marriott hotel. [/sarc]