Looking for a condo in the historic Riverside Avondale area? The John Gorrie a condominium features studios, one- and two-bedroom condominiums, and two-story townhomes ranging in size from 800 square feet to 1,800 square feet. Select residences at The John Gorrie a condominium, highlight original architectural details including Palladian windows, soaring ceilings, a combination of old and new hardwood floors, and exposed brick walls. In addition to the unique historical features, the homes also include modern luxuries such as stainless steel GE appliances, CaesarStone countertops, gourmet kitchens and pedestal sinks in the bathrooms. See for yourself below!

Interested in making The John Gorrie a condominium your home? For more information or to schedule a sales appointment with onsite Prudential Network Realty representative Lee Elmore, call (904) 383-3688.

With all the talk about the outlook for condominium sales in 2012, it is worth noting that there is a condominium sales leader right here in Northeast Florida.

Ocean’s Edge, located one block from the Atlantic Ocean in south Jacksonville Beach, achieved the highest number of new sales for any condominium community in the Northeast Florida region including Clay, Duval, Nassau and St. Johns counties.

As of December 31, 2011, Ocean’s Edge has sold and closed 34 new beach condominiums, the highest number of new condominiums sold in any condominium community in the four counties listed above. Also in 2011, Ocean’s Edge captured more than 40 percent of the total beaches market (Atlantic Beach, Neptune Beach, Jacksonville Beach and Ponte Vedra Beach) for condominiums priced $150,000 to $300,000, according to Multiple Listing Services (MLS) data.

“Homebuyers recognize the value of this outstanding community,” said Victoria (Vikki) Robbins of Victoria Robbins Realty, Inc., the real estate company responsible for sales at Ocean’s Edge.

Ocean’s Edge, which is owned by Denver-based Condo Capital Solutions LLC, is more than 70 percent sold out. The community appeals to all types of buyers, including first-time homebuyers, retirees and multi-generational families. Residents currently in the community range from newlyweds to buyers purchasing vacation or second homes.

The community has the distinction of being approved for both Federal Housing Administration (FHA) and Fannie Mae (FNMA) conventional mortgages, making it possible for qualified buyers to obtain low down payment, fixed-rate mortgages at competitive rates. In addition to these financing programs and having a very desirable property, amenities and location just steps from the beach. Ocean’s Edge offers one-, two- and three-bedroom residences ranging in price from $161,000 to $259,000.

More information is available here. Congratulations to Ocean’s Edge. We look forward to hearing about its continued success this year.

We heard some very exciting news this morning when Mayor Alvin Brown, JAXUSA Partnership and JAX Chamber representatives, and other community leaders congratulated Web.com Group on its plans to create more than 200 new jobs during the next two years, with a majority of the new positions slated for its Jacksonville headquarters.

Web.com provides a range of Web services for small businesses worldwide. The publicly traded company has steadily grown since its inception in Jacksonville in 1997 and now has 450 employees locally. After the acquisition of Register.com in 2010 and Network Solutions in 2011, Web.com tripled its sales volume and increased its number of customers from 275,000 to nearly 3 million.

The new positions include writers, editors, graphic designers, and web fulfillment as well as managerial positions in marketing, finance and information technology. The compensation packages range from $25,000 to $150,000.

Web.com has more than 1,700 employees and operations in 14 locations throughout North America, South America and the United Kingdom.

With the most recent acquisition of Network Solutions, the company is adding resources in Jacksonville to accelerate the marketing outreach to new customers and reinforce office support for the additional 2 million customers it now serves. Its Jacksonville employee base has increased by 10 percent in just the last two months.

The Jacksonville Business Journal has called Web.com a company to watch in 2012. Stay tuned to WhatsUpJacksonville for future updates!

We have great news to share about two Jacksonville companies doing work together in the Brooksville area. Sisler Johnston Interior Design has been selected to design the interior and exterior living spaces of the Pinemore, the first model home by GreenPointe Homes at Southern Hills Plantation.  The model home is under construction and anticipated to open in Spring 2012.

The team of designers selected to work on the model will include the president of the full-service, award-winning design firm, Judith Sisler Johnston, allied member, ASID.

“The Pinemore is a wonderful plan that flows very nicely and features an abundance of natural light,” Sisler Johnston said. “The new model will showcase the Southern Hills lifestyle as well as the outstanding design quality of GreenPointe Homes.”

The Pinemore is a four-bedroom, three-bathroom floor plan with more than 3,000 square feet of living space and priced from $240,520. The Pinemore model will include a second level bonus room with full bath and spacious balcony overlooking the Pete Dye-architected 15th fairway and a gorgeous 41-foot covered lanai with a summer kitchen to enjoy the best of outdoor living.

Stay tuned to What’s Up Jacksonville for future updates. We look forward to sharing the Pinemore’s color palette and design style when it becomes available!

Calling all biking enthusiasts! The Cystic Fibrosis Foundation will host the 2nd annual CF Cycle for Life on March 18. This one-day bike ride will pass through some of the most scenic country roads in Northeast Florida and incorporates all the essentials of a fully-supported bike tour. Cyclists will enjoy well-stocked rest stops every 10-12 miles, support and gear (SAG) vehicles, bike mechanics, on-site medical services, complimentary breakfast, lunch and finish line festivities. This event is a great way to help the local community and the 30,000 people who live with cystic fibrosis.

CF Cycle for Life offers not only beautiful cycling routes but a healthy challenge and a good time for recreational and experienced riders. The tour starts and ends at the Ring Power Corporation in St. Augustine, and bikers have the option of a 30-mile, 60-mile or 100-mile route. Registration begins at 6 a.m. and the bikers will depart at 7:15 a.m.

Register early for the best price! Registration is $25 per person through Feb.1, $35 through March 1, and $45 through March 15. Each rider is also responsible for raising a minimum of $150, with fundraising tools and support are provided. Register online today at www.cff.org/Chapters/nfl/.

Downtown Jacksonville will soon have a new front door! The JAX Chamber has unveiled plans to redesign its downtown location including the renovation of the building’s interior and exterior facade, designed by Content Design Group, and a complete redesign of the adjacent parks and a new sustainable parking area, designed by Marquis Halback Inc.

“Downtown speaks to the character of our community,” said Mayor Alvin Brown. “I applaud the Chamber for its efforts to lead by example in taking steps to revitalize Downtown by redesigning its headquarters.”

With sustainable design as a guiding principle, the Chamber’s vision is to create a welcoming and professional environment that honors Downtown’s history and place in the community while improving the facility’s ecological features, energy efficiency and value to its membership.

The design incorporates space for members of the business community to meet, attend training sessions, network and utilize common area work spaces with free WiFi.  While there are numerous features to improve members’ overall experience, leaders are also looking at the bigger picture.

“In the national and global competition for new business—downtowns—not their suburbs, frequently serve to define the communities,” said outgoing JAX Chamber chair Hugh Greene and CEO of Baptist Health. “This project is an integral part of the efforts to improve our Downtown, which ultimately plays a role in economic development and job creation.”

More information is available at www.downtownsnewfrontdoor.com. Follow the blog about downtown’s new front door at www.myjaxchamber.blogspot.com.

Northeast Florida has one of the country’s top sales people in its own backyard! The PGA TOUR recently announced Jared Rice, director of sales & marketing for THE PLAYERS Championship, as its top sales person for the 2011 season at the organization’s winter tournament meetings in Boca Raton, Fla. Of the 15 events that the PGA TOUR owns and operates, Rice was the top sales person for his achievements with THE PLAYERS in Ponte Vedra Beach. Rice and his team increased hospitality and sponsorship sales by 21 percent from the 2010 tournament to the 2011 tournament.

“Jared was the driving force behind boosting sales among corporate partners and sponsors for the 2011 event,” said Matt Rapp, executive director for THE PLAYERS. “What makes those accomplishments even more impressive is the fact that 2011 was his first year in the role. We continue to be impressed with his leadership, drive and dedication to customer service and look forward to another successful year in 2012.”

Rice has worked for the PGA TOUR since 2006, during which he worked in the corporate marketing and retail licensing divisions. Prior to working with the TOUR, Rice was in sales and marketing for the Detroit Red Wings, the Anaheim Angels and the Anaheim Ducks. Rice is actively involved in the Northeast Florida community where he serves on the board of directors for the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens, the Ponte Vedra Chamber of Commerce and the Winston Family YMCA. Rice has a bachelor’s degree from the University of South Carolina.

THE PLAYERS will take place May 7-13, 2012. More information about THE PLAYERS is available at www.PGATOUR.COM/theplayers. Stay tuned here to find out exciting news and updates about this year’s tournament!

Did you know??

Mentored students are 52% less likely to skip school.

Mentored students are 46% less likely to use illegal drugs or abuse alcohol.

January is National Mentoring Month and  Mayor Alvin Brown is encouraging Jacksonville to give back to our community this year by donating time to help a young person reach his or her full potential. The Mayor’s Mentors program is a partnership among City Hall and nonprofit agencies that specializes in pairing new, highly qualified mentors with students in Duval County Public Schools. The plan grows from the mayor’s vision to enhance the quality of public education for the good of students as well as workforce development and employer recruitment in Jacksonville. Through the program, the mayor will be deploying dedicated volunteers – including retired school teachers – into mentorship programs with proven performance metrics to ensure the best quality for Jacksonville’s youths.

By giving just one hour each week after a short training period, you will be developing a meaningful relationship that will inspire a young person to work his or her hardest in academics and in life. Your choice to become a mentor could be the difference between a young person becoming a dropout or a graduate.

The Mayor’s Mentors program is off to a great start with 322 mentors currently, but there are thousands of Jacksonville students who could still benefit from mentoring.  Please consider becoming a Mayor’s Mentor today. For more information on becoming a Mayor’s Mentor, please call United Way’s 2-1-1 or visit www.nefl211.org.

Did you work on an innovative and creative project developed in the Northeast Florida region in 2011? There is an opportunity for accolades and recognition from JAX Boldest, a new regional contest launched today.

JAX Boldest is seeking entries and votes from the public to identify the best company, non-profit organization and project of 2011.

Northeast Florida residents can submit entries starting today until March 31 in the form of a video, picture or written description. Residents can choose the entries they think are the best by voting on the website.

A leaderboard will be displayed on the site throughout the duration of the contest, which will provide an overview of the current winning entries. JAXUSA Partnership, a division of the JAX Chamber, is driving the contest and will announce the winners at the Innovate Northeast Florida launch event on April 19.

The individual who submits the winning entry for each category will receive a cash prize of $500. Those submitting their ideas are encouraged to be as creative as possible as a video may receive more attention from voters than just a written summary. The selected best new project, company and non-profit will receive an inscribed commemorative tablet that may be prominently placed in the winning location.

This contest, which is part of the #ilovejax campaign, celebrates all of the great things about the JAX region and encourages citizens to talk about the city and region to family, friends, colleagues and visitors outside of the region.

For more information about the contest and details about the submission categories, click here.

NAIOP of Northeast Florida, the region’s commercial real estate trade association, hosted approximately 150 guests this past Friday at a luncheon featuring Lt. Gov. Jennifer Carroll. During the lunch, Lt. Gov. Carroll discussed the state’s progress and focus on education, jobs and economic growth, as well gave the group an update on Northeast Florida’s business and education sectors.

Prior to her role as Florida’s 18th Lt. Governor, Carroll was a state legislator for more than seven years, a small business owner, former executive director of the Florida Department of Veterans’ Affairs and a Navy veteran. Carroll was born in Port of Spain, Trinidad West Indies, immigrated to the U.S. as a young child and served her adopted nation honorably by enlisting in the United States Navy in 1979. Carroll rose from the ranks of an enlisted jet mechanic to retire as a Lieutenant Commander Aviation Maintenance Officer after 20 years. Carroll ran for the Florida House of Representatives in 2003 and after winning she became the first African-American female Republican elected in the Florida Legislature’s history.

To learn more about Lt. Gov. Carroll, visit www.flgov.com and to learn more about NAIOP of Northeast Florida, visit www.naiopnefl.com. The organization will be announcing its next guest speaker soon, so stay tuned!