Wednesday, February 27, 2002
OFFICE-CONDOS: More office-condos are going up, too. Developers plan to break ground about May on the $6.5 million Chimney Lakes Office Center in southwest Jacksonville and within 30 days on the third and final phase of the $13 million Windsor Parke Professional Center in Southside.

Such developments are marketed to small businesses and professionals who decide to buy, rather than lease, their offices.

Chimney Lakes is proposed along Argyle Forest Boulevard. CLOC Inc., the development group headed by Pike Hall, proposes to build nine structures, including a 13,800-square-foot retail center.

The eight office structures comprise 31 units and total about 35,000 square feet. Each unit is about 1,127 square feet, and prices start about $135,000 or $140,000 each. J. Lucas & Associates Inc. is the project engineer.

Hall expects construction to be completed within two years.

Full Story at: http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/022702/bum_8730835.shtml

Karen Brune Mathis can be reached at 359-4305, by fax at 359-4090 or by e-mail at kmathis@jacksonville.com.

Site Clearing Approved 8-26-2002

Monday, August 26, 2002

Site clearing was approved for the $6.2 million Chimney Lakes Office Center at 7855 Argyle Forest Blvd., in southwest Jacksonville near Clay County.

The eight buildings will comprise almost 35,000 square feet on 5.84 acres. Each of the 31 units is 1,126 square feet, and they can be combined to make larger units.

Developer Pike Hall said construction will start on three buildings in September for completion in March, and the remaining phases will be finished within two years.

Hall, president of the Chimney Lakes development group, said he sold five units before construction has begun.

''Sales have been terrific since we haven't started clearing yet,'' he said. ''That whole area over there is a huge growth corridor of Jacksonville, and we think we are right in the middle of that.''

Hall said the units will sell for the upper $130,000 to low $140,000 range. There also will be a 13,900-square-foot multi-unit retail-office center in another phase, creating total space of about 48,800 square feet.

Full Story at: http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/082602/bum_10265816.shtml

Senior staff writer Karen Brune Mathis can be reached at 359-4305 or via e-mail at kmathis@jacksonville.com.

Development Irks Some 12-14-2002

Saturday, December 14, 2002
BUSINESS: Development irks some

By Mary Maraghy Clay County Line staff writer

The wooded backdrop behind the big brick Chimney Lakes sign is a dirt lot soon to become an office complex.

The bulldozer brigade on the barren 5-acre site on Argyle Forest Boulevard is a sign of what's to come, said some Argyle residents who anticipate more tree loss and construction noise when the widening of Argyle Forest Boulevard begins in early 2003.

''We'll have to get used to it,'' said Kristy Davis of the Highland Lakes subdivision directly behind the construction site.

Single-story, red-brick, colonial-style office buildings are planned for the Chimney Lakes Office Center, according to Mark O'Connor, the center's sales and marketing director.

The center will be similar to one on Perimeter Park Boulevard in Southpoint.

Jacksonville City Councilwoman Alberta Hipps, who represents the Chimney Lakes area, said she has received a few calls from residents upset about the trees being removed.

(Continued)

Office Complex in Works 8 Years.

(Continued from Development Irks Some 12-14-2002)

Hipps said the office complex has been in the works for about eight years and the commercial zoning of the property was done prior to her term in office.

Hipps said she expects doctors, dentists and other professionals to lease space in the complex.

''Those type of professional services could serve the community and keep people from having to go on Blanding Boulevard,'' Hipps said. ''It's a growing area.''

O'Connor said his company sent out about 1,800 letters to residents in the area explaining what was happening.

Plus, he said, other than a small complex near Blanding Boulevard, he thinks the area is in desperate need of more office space.

''This whole area really has nothing,'' he said. ''There are so few services out here.''

O'Connor said he expects slabs to be poured in January. Initially, eight buildings, each housing four offices, will be built. Leases start at $1,450 a month.

Meanwhile, Jason Simons, a newcomer to Highland Lakes, said he had no idea that his home was so close to Argyle Forest Boulevard until construction crews began chopping down the trees behind his home.

Now his buffer is gone and he can see and hear motorists from his back yard.

Simons said perhaps the office complex will generate some new jobs. But he's not too happy about the traffic it will generate.

''There's enough traffic as it is,'' he said.

Staff writer Mary Maraghy can be reached at (904) 278-9487, extension 19, or mmaraghy@jacksonville.com .

Full Story at: http://www.jacksonville.com/tu-online/stories/121402/nec_11218436.shtml