A new website has been launched to explain Jacksonville to people thinking about moving here. FindYourJax.com is filled with information relocating firms and employees need to learn about the area.

Launched by JAXUSA Partnership, the site features profiles of residents, links to information about schools, the Jacksonville Chamber of Commerce’s relocation guide, profiles of the region’s counties and a link to Trulia’s Jacksonville page with homes on the market.

Judith Sisler Johnston, president, Sisler Johnston Interior Design, authored a two-page feature article  in the recent issue of Florida Home Builder magazine, produced by the Florida Home Builders Association. To see the article on pages 31-32, click here.

The article on Interior Design trends showcased in model homes in Florida’s new home communities begins:

“New home communities in Florida showcase trends in interior design. Model homes are built and merchandised to provide a visual display for homebuyers of available options and current trends in colors and features.

Trends in interior design include a fusion of styles, a connection of old with new and modern. This is reflected in furnishing choices, finishes and fabrics such as mixing a charcoal painted dining table with grey washed linen upholstered chairs.”

The feature also contains several color photographs illustrating trends such as this one from a model home built by ICI Homes.

Chef kitchens are defined by upscale commercial quality appliances which sit flush with the cabinets for a sleek streamlined appeal.

Sisler Johnston Interior Design offers comprehensive interior design services for commercial and residential clients. The company specializes in marketable designs for active adult and continuing care senior lifestyle communities. Sisler Johnston Interior Design also designs community centers, builder model homes, private residences, hotel guest accommodations and office suites.

Judith Sisler Johnston, president of Sisler Johnston Interior Design, is a licensed Interior Designer (FL ID 217) and an allied member of the American Society of Interior Designers (ASID), the International Interior Design Association (IIDA), the Certified Green Professional (CGP) Council and is a Certified Aging-in-Place Specialist (CAPS). She is Florida’s leading authority on designing spectacular environments that are inspiring, functional and contribute to the wellness and self-esteem of their occupants. Sisler Johnston and the company’s team of licensed, talented designers work with clients to enhance their surroundings with designs that range from traditional elegance to contemporary classic.

Sisler Johnston’s design work has been featured in numerous books, newspapers, magazines and television programs. The company has worked with clients throughout Florida for 30 years and has received more than 200 industry awards.

For more information about Sisler Johnston Interior Design, call (904) 288-0908 or visit www.sislerjohnston.com.

The Bluffs on Plummers Cove, an exclusive riverfront community by elacora offering new homes in Old Mandarin, is open for sales.

“We are thrilled to announce the opening of our spectacular new community in Northeast Florida,” said Victoria Robbins, exclusive agent for elacora Northeast Florida. “The Bluffs on Plummers Cove is a very special place, offering riverfront vistas and exceptional new homes by elacora in Historic Mandarin.”

Southwest view of the St. Johns River from The Bluffs on Plummers Cove

Situated on the east bank of the St. Johns River in the Mandarin area of Jacksonville, The Bluffs on Plummers Cove offers only 21 executive homesites averaging 90 feet in width. Three of the homesites are located directly on the St. Johns River and have private docks.

“A new riverfront community in the heart of an established neighborhood sounds impossible, but it’s true,” Robbin said. “The property is picturesque and showcases the charm and desirability of Old Mandarin.”

The Bluffs on Plummers Cove sits atop an elevated bluff overlooking the St. Johns River. The community site is richly wooded and filled with mature oak trees.

“The location of The Bluffs on Plummers Cove is secluded yet the community is close to everything today’s homebuyers want and need,” Robbins said.

Along with opening for sales, elacora has opened its first model at The Bluffs on Plummers Cove. The model is furnished and decorated by Barbara Ondo Design Group.

Six new single-family home plans have been selected and four were designed specifically for The Bluffs on Plummers Cove, where homes by elacora range in size from approximately 2,200 square feet to more than 4,000 square feet. Homes by elacora are expertly crafted with wonderfully designed living areas featuring gourmet kitchens with furniture-quality cabinetry and stainless steel appliances and gracious outdoor living areas.

The community’s open and spacious plans include three-car garages and unique customizable options – including additional bedrooms, sunrooms, extended lanais and bonus space – so that buyers can select a floor plan designed to best suit their lifestyle. All of elacora’s homes at The Bluffs on Plummers Cove offer a choice of exterior elevation and are designed with tile roofs, paver driveways and environmentally responsible building practices. Homes at The Bluffs on Plummers Cove are priced from the $400,000s to $1.8 million.

“The initial interest in this new community has been exceptionally strong,” Robbins said. “I encourage everyone interested in learning more about this community to contact or come see us today at our beautiful new model home to avoid missing out on this highly desirable opportunity.”

The Bluffs on Plummers Cove is located on Scott Mill Road just north of the Interstate 295 overpass. The Bluffs on Plummers Cove will provide quick and easy access to major roads, employment centers and neighborhood shopping and dining amenities.

The Bluffs on Plummers Cove Sales Center is located at 2767 Chapman Oak Drive, Jacksonville, Fla., 32257. The sales center is open from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday, from 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Sunday and by appointment. For more information, call (904) 899-0115 or visit www.elacora.com.

To visit The Bluffs on Plummers Cove, head south on San Jose Blvd. (SR 13), turn right on Oak Bluff Road, to left on Scott Mill Road for ½ mile to The Bluffs on Plummers Cove on the right.

The Jacksonville Armada FC will kick off 2016 reprising its annual preseason matchup with MLS’ Philadelphia Union at 6 p.m. on Saturday, Feb. 6 at Community First Park at the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville.

Tickets are available now as part of the Armada’s 2016 season ticket package (17 games) starting at $10. Seats are also available for the match on a single-match basis starting at $15. Tickets are available at armadafc.com/phillyunion or by calling the Armada FC ticket office at 1.844.2.ARMADA.

Designed to introduce aspiring and new business owners to the core elements of business management and planning, Achieve Your Business Dream is a four week entrepreneurial training program powered by SCORE.

Beginning Tuesday, Feb. 2, at the JAX Chamber, the program is offered quarterly for four consecutive Tuesday evenings.  Each week is dedicated to a topic of business management: Foundations for Business, Business & Financial Basics, Marketing Strategies, and Create a Plan for Your Business.

The cost of the program is $99. While most impactful when completed together as a series, individual workshop attendance is available space permitting for $30 per class.

About Session One

Foundations for Your Business: Discover the fundamentals for small business success

– A proper foundation is important for the success of your small business. Examined are the different types of business structures (Sole Proprietor, LLC etc) and the professionals needed to help you start or grow your business. Discover who makes your business successful – your customer (target market) and how to determine who is best suited to utilize your product or service. Look forward to in class interactive exercises including developing your unique customer profile and creating your business identity

For registration, questions about program enrollment or workshop attendance, contact Shirley Moore, Small Business Center at [email protected].

Jacksonville’s New Town is brighter after Habitat for Humanity of Jacksonville, Inc. (HabiJax) in partnership with Wells Fargo volunteers celebrated Martin Luther King, Jr. Day with a MLK Day of Service activity, completing more than 20 beautification projects in the neighborhood.

Focusing on State Street West between Acorn and Tyler streets in New Town, volunteers completed a variety of jobs to boost homes’ curb appeal, including landscaping enhancement, Right-of-Way cleanup, exterior repairs and painting projects.

“We are thrilled to see the impact Rock the Block volunteers made in one day,” said Mary Kay O’Rourke, president and CEO of HabiJax. “With the generous support of our volunteers, we were able to transform and beautify a neighborhood block in New Town. Projects like this that connect the community and help our neighbors are very rewarding for everyone involved.”

New Town Success Zone Executive Director George Maxey welcomes and thanks volunteers

Rock the Block kicked off with a community Welcome Rally celebration at the Edward Waters College Adams Jenkins Community Sports & Music Complex. The celebration featured music, a drumline and a short program with remarks from Wells Fargo North Florida Regional President Kelly Smith and Jacksonville Director of Community Affairs Dr. Charles Moreland.

After the rally, volunteers set off to complete service projects. Following the conclusion of Rock the Block, volunteers enjoyed a complimentary lunch in New Town.

The largest affiliate of Habitat for Humanity International in the U.S., HabiJax has provided housing services to more than 2,000 families since 1988. In order to make a greater impact in Jacksonville neighborhoods, HabiJax has committed its experience, housing products and services to revitalizing the historic neighborhood of New Town and is a partner in the New Town Success Zone. HabiJax has built more than 250 homes to date in New Town and HabiJax has invested $16 million to complete more than 400 homeownership and rehabilitation projects in the area and is on track to meet its goal.

During its 27 years of building communities with its partners, HabiJax has improved the city of Jacksonville with high-quality affordable homes and enhanced neighborhoods, providing a better quality of life for homeowners and their children in five areas of the Urban Core of Jacksonville.

For more information about HabiJax or to learn about its mission, volunteer opportunities and more, visit www.HabiJax.org.

The Jacksonville Business Journal will host its annual Book of Lists Celebration on Thursday, Feb. 11, where top industry and community leaders throughout Northeast Florida will be recognized for their inclusion in the 2016 Book of Lists.

The celebration will be held from 6 to 8 p.m. at Veterans Memorial Arena, 300 A. Philip Randolph Blvd., Jacksonville.

Tickets to attend are $100 for an individual, or 4 tickets can be purchased for $320.

Click here for more information.

WG Pitts, an award-winning General Contracting, Architecture and Construction Management firm, announces the appointment of David Christine, AIA, LEED AP as Principal/Vice President of Architecture.

“We are thrilled to welcome Dave back to WG Pitts,” said WG Pitts President Will Pitts. “He is a consummate professional with immense knowledge in the areas of healthcare programming, planning, design, management and construction for large and complex multi-discipline projects. I am confident his experience, commitment and passion for design will make him a valuable asset to WG Pitts.”

In his new role, Christine is responsible for leading the company’s strategic design priorities and implementing processes to ensure consistent execution. His duties include staff and client management as well as direct project participation as a licensed architect and LEED accredited professional.

Christine’s career in the architectural industry spans more than 35 years. He worked at WG Pitts as a Project Director from 2011 to 2013, prior to accepting a position as a healthcare design manager in Kentucky. During his career, Christine has planned and managed projects for private and public sector clients including governmental, industrial, corporate and healthcare clients. His extensive experience includes new construction, additions and renovations of multiple phases in existing buildings. Throughout his career, he has achieved great success navigating the design and construction approval process with regulatory agencies.

Christine is well-known for providing clients with solutions in planning, design, technical documentation and management of multiple projects simultaneously. His collaborative management style brings design teams, consultants and owners together, maximizing the opportunity for a balance between design, budget and schedule conformance to meet a project’s goals.

Christine earned a bachelor’s degree in Architecture Design from the University of Illinois at Chicago. For more information, visit www.wgpitts.com.

The Palazzo on St. Johns, a scenic waterfront condominium located in the heart of Jacksonville’s San Jose, Baymeadows and Mandarin neighborhoods, has opened two new decorated models that showcase its stunning residences. The Palazzo offers three- and four-bedroom condominiums, combining convenient urban living with a unique natural setting.

The two model homes feature the San Jose and the San Marco floor plans. The three-bedroom, two-bathroom San Jose has nearly 2,000 square feet of living space. The home’s bright and airy living areas have stunning views of the water and nature preserve, and are adjacent to a beautiful covered patio.

The San Marco floor plan includes four bedrooms, plus a study, and three bathrooms, totaling 2,500 square feet of living space. The rotunda foyer opens into a light-filled open kitchen and great room, with access to a peaceful, breezy wrap-around covered terrace.

Priced from the low $400,000s, residences feature superb amenities including a private elevator directly to each home, hand-scraped wide-plank hardwood floors, nine-foot ceilings, gas fireplaces, luxury finishes and more. Kitchens have the finest in stainless steel appliances, and master bathrooms are appointed with garden tubs, separate showers and two spacious walk-in closets.

“We are pleased to have two beautiful new model homes to show, and we encourage everyone to visit to experience this unique community,” said Michael Bugg, Principal, The Condo Group. The Condo Group, powered by RE/MAX WaterMarke, is managing sales and marketing activities for The Palazzo on St. Johns. “Homes are selling quickly, but we have one penthouse and several other residences available for immediate move-in.”

Once complete, The Palazzo on St. Johns will be comprised of 72 waterfront residences among four buildings. Amenities include an entry gate with controlled community access, private parking garage, outdoor living area and pool cabana with summer kitchen, resort-style swimming pool, an electric vehicle charging station, and state-of-the-art fitness center. Residents also enjoy an exclusive boardwalk with a canoe and kayak launch and a marina with boat slips available for convenient access to the St. Johns River, as well as a social gathering area along the scenic waterfront.

The Palazzo on St. Johns is one of the area’s most unique and convenient communities, offering homeowners walking distance to shops and restaurants while tucked away in a natural setting with sweeping views of the waterway and wildlife preserve. The Palazzo is also just a short drive from Downtown, the Beaches, entertainment venues, cultural attractions and top medical facilities.

For more information, visit www.PalazzoOnStJohns.com or call (904) 627-4762. The Palazzo on St. Johns is located at 3958 Baymeadows Road, Jacksonville, Fla. and its Sales Center is open Monday to Friday, 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Saturday 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. and Sunday noon to 5 p.m.

After weeks of record-setting snowfall and freezing cold temperatures, Bill Rights and his wife, Donna Robillard, were ready for Florida sunshine. Winter-weary and not wanting to endure another long, cold winter, the couple decided the time had arrived to relocate from the New England area to Northeast Florida.

Looking online at new homes for sale, Rights discovered the master-planned community of Madeira in St. Augustine, where new homes by elacora offer flexible plans to suit every type of homebuyer. After visiting the community in person and seeing all it had to offer, it did not take long for Rights and Robillard to purchase an elacora home at Madeira.

“elacora at Madeira in St. Augustine had everything we were looking for and more,” Rights said. “It is the best buying experience we have had. We had a deposit with another builder at a different location and when we found Madeira, we decided to purchase our new home here. We love the Residents Club and pool. From the sales associates, to the builders, to our new neighbors, everyone has been great.”

Like many, Rights and Robillard have discovered that the best place to start or end their day is from an elacora home at Madeira. They purchased a move-in ready home featuring the Sorrento plan with bonus room. The couple was drawn to the home’s exceptional quality construction, included energy-efficient features, and designer appointments. They also found great appeal in Madeira’s naturally beautiful setting.

Rights and Robillard like the community’s numerous amenities. Rights is a big fan and frequently visits the Residents Club’s fitness center and pool. In their free time, they enjoy exploring the area and riding their bikes to nearby historic Downtown St. Augustine. Both appreciate Madeira’s convenient location and its proximity to shopping, dining, the beach and Jacksonville International Airport.

“We love it here and can’t say enough about how happy we are at Madeira,” said Robillard. “Our new home is perfect and elacora’s customer service is impeccable. This is a beautiful community with an ideal location. We are so pleased that we were able to find Madeira.”

To learn more about why Madeira at St. Augustine is one of the most sought-after addresses in St. Johns County, visit the community and elacora. The company offers two different home collections at Madeira, ranging in size from 1,797 square feet to more than 3,300 square feet and priced starting from the mid-$200,000s. For those looking to move soon, elacora has a dozen homes available for purchase and expedited move-in at Madeira.

Homes by elacora are expertly crafted with wonderfully designed living areas featuring gourmet kitchens with furniture-quality cabinetry and stainless steel appliances and spectacular outdoor living areas. All of elacora’s homes at Madeira include advanced energy-efficient standards, such as solar panels on concrete tile roofs and tankless gas hot water heaters. Visitors to the community are invited to see elacora’s award-winning model homes furnished and decorated by Barbara Ondo Design Group. The models are open daily.

Madeira’s private Residents Club has the look of a luxurious resort and is the community’s social hub. The thriving amenity center includes a pool with lap lanes, clubhouse, fitness center and expansive outdoor gathering areas. Membership to the Residents Club is included with the purchase of a home at Madeira.

Madeira is located off U.S. 1 in the city of St. Augustine. The community is districted for top-rated St. Johns County schools. The Madeira Sales Center is open from 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m. Monday through Saturday and from 1 p.m. to 5:30 p.m. on Sunday. For more information, call (904) 484-9024 or visit www.elacora.com.