QuoteCross Regions Group, the developer of The Fountains at St. Johns mixed-used development in St. Augustine, is planning a comparable development in West Jacksonville.
David Ergisi, president and CEO of the commercial real estate company, said he intends to build a similar but smaller project, which will bring retail, restaurants, health care and hospitality to the area.
The Fountains at Westside is on 26.2 acres at southeast Lane Avenue and Ramona Boulevard south of Interstate 10. The site is mostly undeveloped, except for an Office Depot that will be updated and incorporated into the overall Fountains at Westside project, Ergisi said.
QuoteAt full build-out, Fountains at Westside could have as many as 17 buildings on seven or eight outparcels. Ergisi estimated the project will have 100,000 square feet of retail, medical offices and an outpatient surgery center, potentially a hotel and multifamily or senior care.
Full article: https://www.jaxdailyrecord.com/news/2025/jan/13/cross-regions-group-plans-mixed-used-development-in-west-jacksonville/
I love this project.
And, it's so cool to hear all of the different parties that came together to help it happen.
QuoteRafael Godwin was born and raised in Riverside, frequenting Chamblin's on Herschel Street to buy comic books as a 7-year-old boy. Decades later, his relationship with Ron Chamblin and love for the city his family has called home for a century has led him to the revitalization of a prominent downtown corner. Next to Chamblin's Uptown, Rafael Godwin and his wife Carmen laid the groundwork for redevelopment at 225 N. Laura St. but recently lowered their ownership stake to enable them to purchase Mag's Café at 231 N. Laura St. and the adjacent buildings on Monroe Street at 38-44 W. Monroe St.
Throughout that process, Bobby Knight, owner of Coastal Commercial Real Estate, told Rafael Godwin that Mag's Café would soon be available for sale. He told the Business Journal this excited him, but redeveloping the whole corner was beyond their scope. Then, JWB Real Estate president Alex Sifakis stepped in and connected Allan and Ellen Cottrill of Avant Construction with the Godwins. The Cottrills took majority ownership of the property now referenced as Juliette Balcony and brought the project to the DIA in December, which received approval and awaits City Council.
The Godwins remain a minority owner but were then freed up to focus on the rest of the corner. The couple purchased the property on Dec. 19 for $1.4 million. Now, Carmen Godwin, who served as the executive director of Riverside Avondale Preservation for eight years, is working toward the historical landmark designation for the Mag's Café and Monroe Street property to unlock the DIA's Downtown Preservation and Revitalization Program incentives.
Lending proved difficult as many credit unions wouldn't provide loans to purchase the vacant downtown property. But after Renasant Bank came to see the corner during a first Wednesday Downtown Vision Inc. art walk, they told Rafael Godwin they wanted to be part of the downtown revitalization, and LISC is providing loans for construction.
The Godwins are in discussion with the DIA, mayor's office and council member Jimmy Peluso, and everyone is supportive, Rafael Godwin said.
That's the way to do it. For anyone who may have property and dreams but not the capital, this appears to be a good example of being willing to be flexible to piece a capital stack together to get it off the ground.
Ken, I think your post about Meg's Cafe is in the wrong thread (been there. done that)
I'm excited about this opportunity. I live in the general area and we have been in the need for something like this. Hopefully it may be able to help the area out, too.
Quote from: Charles Hunter on January 13, 2025, 05:37:49 PM
Ken, I think your post about Meg's Cafe is in the wrong thread (been there. done that)
Not even CLOSE to the right topic.
Not even in the same BALLPARK ;D
It's funny, one of my New Year's resolutions was to sleep 7-8 hours a night, instead of like 4 hours a night.
Two weeks in, I feel like my brain is barely functional on all this sleep. Making more typos. Making more boneheaded mistakes like this. Maybe 4 is my lucky number after all.
Quote from: thelakelander on January 13, 2025, 04:30:41 PM
That's the way to do it. For anyone who may have property and dreams but not the capital, this appears to be a good example of being willing to be flexible to piece a capital stack together to get it off the ground.
Thanks for thoughtfully responding to my post despite the fact that it had
nothing to do with a mixed-use development in West Jacksonville :D
You're a true gentleman, Ennis.