News

The Cra-Z-Art manufacturing and distribution center under development in Imeson Park appears to need up to 319 parking spaces, a lot more than what would be used by the 21 jobs tied to the company’s incentives legislation.

VanTrust Real Estate, the developer of the 300,000-square-foot Cra-Z-Art building, requests an administrative deviation for the property at 10501 Cold Storage Road to allow additional parking.

 The Tree Steakhouse, a Jacksonville institution since 1969, is rebranding. In May, the Mandarin restaurant will become ChopHouse Thirteen.

Established by Paul Hanson, first in Arlington and later in Mandarin and at the Beaches, the sole remaining location is at 11362 San Jose Blvd., behind a large oak tree in The Gates of Olde Mandarin shopping center.

Artsy Abode, a boutique gift shop chain that sells jewelry, accessories and home decor, will close its flagship St. Johns Town Center location.

Staff is telling customers that the store will close when its lease expires in June.

Co-owner and founder Leah Lytle attributes the closing to the popularity and convenience of online shopping as well as the cost to rent space at Town Center.

The Jacksonville Planning Commission approved a zoning exception Thursday to allow Jazzy’s Restaurant and Lounge at 901 King St. to serve alcohol and have sidewalk seating on King Street.

Local chef Celestia Mobley opened the restaurant in March. The space formerly was used as Hamburger Mary’s Pub House and The Blind Rabbit.

The exception was approved with conditions similar to the previous restaurants, limiting the number of seats, hours of operation, the location of outdoor seating and not allowing outside music.

With three projects developed or nearing completion in LaVilla, The Vestcor Companies is shifting its focus to neighboring Brooklyn, where it plans to build workforce and affordable housing. 

Ryan Hoover, president of Vestcor’s TVC Development Inc., said construction of the 133-unit Lofts at Brooklyn could begin by mid-summer. 

“We’re moving full speed ahead,” said Hoover. “We’re in the design stages right now and we’ll head to the DDRB in May,” he said referring to the Downtown Development Review Board.