Business

Gov. Ron DeSantis expressed opposition Friday to a Senate proposal that would increase unemployment benefits, as Florida’s jobless rate held steady at 4.7 % in March.

The City Council approved a bill 18-0 on April 13 to rezone the former Regal Cinemas property on Beach Boulevard to allow for multifamily development.

Las Vegas-based Sugar Factory American Brasserie, known for couture lollipops, celebrity sightings and $43 tropical cocktails, intends to take over the closed Brio Tuscan Grille site in The Markets at Town Center.

JWB Real Estate Capital LLC has submitted new conceptual images to the city of its proposed multifamily residential buildings for College Park, the former Town & Country Shopping Center in Arlington.

Chase Properties Inc., which had been planning to redevelop the Reddi-Arts property as Southbank Crossing, sold the almost 1-acre San Marco property for $2 million, according to a deed recorded April 8 with the Duval County Clerk of Courts.

Fidelity Investments has announced a big national hiring spree, which will include filling 375 new full-time jobs in Jacksonville by mid-year.

Plans show Chipotle Mexican Grill intends to open in the Lakewood area by renovating a closed Whataburger restaurant at 3860 University Blvd. W.

The annual Richest People in the World list from Forbes is out and two First Coast residents are on it, along with Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shad Khan.

Amazon.com is preparing to install a material handling system and free-standing rack modules in its 1 million-square-foot fulfillment center under construction in Imeson Park at 10501 Cold Storage Road in North Jacksonville.

Downtown investors Jim and Ellen Wiss, through AWP331 LLC, bought more Downtown property from First Baptist Church of Jacksonville.

WJCT News partner the Jacksonville Daily Record reports the Wisses paid $292,500 on March 8 for the parking lot of the warehouse purchased the same day by JWB Real Estate Capital at 331 W. Ashley St.

JWB and the Wisses are allowing the building and parking lot to be used temporarily for homeless services.

Olio owner Greg DeSanto is contemplating several options for the future of his Downtown restaurant, including a possible sale.

Florida is considering legal avenues to challenge federal guidelines that keep passenger cruise ships from sailing because of the COVID-19 pandemic, as efforts continue to convince the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention to lift restrictions. Jacksonville is among the Florida cities where cruises have been halted since the pandemic.

The city issued a permit for construction of a Walmart Health clinic at the retailer’s Southwest Jacksonville Supercenter in Collins Plaza.

Downtown Development Review Board members said March 23 the latest design for Miami-based Related Group’s RD River City Brewery apartments is “moving in the right direction” and granted conceptual approval.

The Mayor’s Budget Review Committee agreed March 22 to send City Council a $15.69 million incentives package for a Miami-based developer’s plan to replace the River City Brewing Co. restaurant on the Downtown Southbank with apartments.

Main & Six Brewing Company plans an expansion that would bring another dining option to Springfield and the neighborhood’s first rooftop bar. 

New research from online real estate company Zillow finds low income renters have been especially hard hit by the pandemic.

Best Buy in Regency has closed permanently, according to the store’s phone recording and a sign posted on the door.

Municipal utility JEA paid almost $2.45 million March 18 for 2.27 acres in LaVilla targeted for its “hardened” secondary headquarters.

The Downtown Investment Authority board voted  9-0 March 17 to approve a $24.67 million taxpayer-backed incentive package to partially finance SouthEast Development Group LLC’s planned historic Laura Street Trio renovation.

Almost five years after opening in Harbour Village at San Pablo Road and Atlantic Boulevard, Blue Orchid Thai Cuisine chose Riverside for its second Jacksonville location.

Downtown Investment Authority board members signaled March 15 they still want for-sale town houses in the historic LaVilla neighborhood west of Downtown.

Despite the leisure and hospitality industry still struggling during the coronavirus pandemic, Florida’s unemployment rate continues to improve as vaccinations increase and people return to the workforce.

Tampa-based Southport Financial Services expects to buy the unused parking structure at the edge of Springfield at the end of May for site redevelopment into Parkview Commons.

Developers of eTown in South Jacksonville are preparing to open up the west side of Florida 9B with almost 96 acres for office, commercial and multifamily projects.