Global Outreach buys two Arlington church properties for charter schools

Two Arlington church properties are slated for a $16.5 million conversion for grades 3-8 and a high school for Global Outreach Charter Academy Inc.

The deal also indicates that the former Belk store at nearby Regency Square Mall might be put to use by its new owner.

Global Outreach Charter Academy Inc. plans to open a new high school next year at the former Calvary Hill Baptist Church property in Arlington.

Global Outreach, through Regency Charter Property LLC, bought the property at 1211 Lee Road from Calvary Hill Baptist Church Inc. on Sept. 13 for $450,000. 

The 5-acre site comprises a two-story, 29,127-square-foot building built in 1974.

The church acquired the property in 1994.  Church representatives did not return calls for comment.

On the same day it bought the Calvary Hill property, Regency Charter Property LLC also bought the Impact Church of Jacksonville Inc. property at 8985 Lone Star Road for $6.1 million.

Gary Montour, senior director of Colliers International Northeast Florida represented all parties in the sale of the Impact Church property.

The Impact Church property comprises 15.8 acres with a 63,463-square-foot, two-story building constructed in 2001. It is adjacent to Arlingwood Park.

 Church representatives did not return calls.

Global Outreach operates a K-8 charter school split among two campuses: The Cub Campus, grades K-2, at 8711 Lone Star Road, west of Mill Creek Road, and the Grizzly Campus, grades 3-8 at 9570 Regency Square Blvd., near Regency Square Mall.

Global Outreach plans to relocate its Grizzly Campus to the Impact Church property next summer.  The Cub Campus stays where it is.

Regency Charter Property LLC is managed by Regency Charter Property Manager LLC. That LLC is led by Seminole Educational Facilities LLC, managed by Taylor M. Smith.

Smith has been involved with charter schools in Florida since 1998, he said. Charter schools are public schools operated by nonprofits under a performance contract with school boards, Smith said.

Seminole Education Facilities is an investment group that facilitates the development of charter schools. Smith said the $16.5 million investment will be used for interior alterations, science labs, a new gym at the Impact location and outdoor recreation facilities.

Regency Charter Property LLC obtained a $13.2 million mortgage from Sunflower Public Finance LLC and a $3.2 million mortgage from Regency Charter Property Credit LLC to be used at both properties.

Global Outreach, which opened in Arlington in 2009, specializes as a school for English as a Second Language students. 

Global Outreach Chief Operating Officer Anna Korchuk said the school was founded by immigrants to support language learning. She said Spanish speakers make up more than 50% of its students.  A Title 1 school, it receives federal money for additional resources to help economically disadvantaged students.

The school offers special focus language programs including international exchange, world travel and global visitors and support for families and community. Learning Spanish and Russian languages is a part of the curriculum, she said.

The Duval County School Board approved the Global Outreach Charter Academy High School in May for a five-year contract that includes grades 9-12 for up to 600 students.

Impact Church, founded in 1996, bought the former Belk store at Regency Square Mall, at 9501 Arlington Expressway, in 2016.

Upon the purchase, Impact Church said the almost 200,000-square-foot space will become The Impact Center to function as the international headquarters for the church.

Belk closed the Regency store in February 2015 and opened a new center at Atlantic and Kernan boulevards.

By: Scott Sailer

From: Jaxdailyrecord