ULI NORTH FLORIDA ANNOUNCES 2015 AWARDS FOR EXCELLENCE WINNERS
Tallahassee, Florida – October __, 2015 – Four real estate developments have been selected as winners of the 2015 Urban Land Institute (ULI) North Florida Awards for Excellence and were honored at the Jessie Ball duPont Center on October 21 in Jacksonville, FL. The awards competition, now in its fourth year, recognizes real estate projects that achieve a high standard of excellence in design, construction, economics, planning and management. Award criteria is also based on contribution to the community, innovation, public and private partnerships, response to societal needs and financial viability.
“The winners and finalists of this year’s event represent the highest standards of achievement in the development industry,” said ULI North Florida Chair Tom Ingram, Akerman LLP. “Each entry exemplifies true vision and execution of ULI’s mission and we could not be more pleased with their accomplishments.”
The winners are:
220 Riverside – Downtown Category. Located in the historic Brooklyn neighborhood of Jacksonville, this mixed-use development encompasses a total of seven stories, garage parking, 294 apartments and 18,000 square feet of retail space overlooking Unity Plaza with views of the St. Johns River. This urban living environment offers on-site pet grooming stations, a fitness studio, cyber café and a sky box lounge.
Unity Plaza – Public Sector/Non-Profit Category. Located on Riverside Avenue in Jacksonville, Unity Plaza was created to uplift, educate, entertain and electrify the community. It is the city’s first outdoor amphitheater and urban park dedicated to showcasing local talent and the city’s cultural assets.
Jessie Ball duPont Center – Reuse/Repurpose Category. Located in Jacksonville, and once the city’s public library, this mid-century modern structure offers affordable space in a collaborative environment to 11 local non-profits. The center raises the visibility of the non-profit sector in Northeast Florida.
CollegeTown – New Development Category. Located two blocks from Florida State University’s main campus and overlooking Doak Campbell Stadium in Tallahassee, FL, this 156,000 square foot mixed-use development includes retail, restaurants, entertainment venues and student housing.
Southern Charm Kitchen – Judges’ Choice Award. Located in Gainesville, this stylish eatery offers contemporary southern cuisine in a traditionally underdeveloped area of the city. The original cinder block building has been converted to a small café providing healthy, affordable options for residents of the eastside redevelopment district. The café has become a destination and sought after cultural experience.
ULI also presented Ms. M. Lynn Pappas of Gunster with the 2015 Visionary Leader Award.
Over the course of her robust career, Lynn has been recognized with numerous awards for her leadership excellence in real estate and environmental and land use law.
She has served as a past chairwoman for the Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce, and chairwoman of the Cornerstone Economic Development regional partnership. She is an active participant in numerous state and regional civic endeavors including chairing local growth management task forces, service on the State University System board of governors and the University of North Florida board of trustees, and several transition teams for Florida governors and City of Jacksonville mayors. Lynn has also served as a past chairman of the prestigious Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce, as well as past chairman of the Cornerstone Economic Development regional partnership. She has been engaged in numerous local, regional and statewide efforts focused on economic development initiatives, and in transactions involving economic development incentives and corresponding local government and other agency approvals. Lynn has also served as a past chairman of the prestigious Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce, as well as past chairman of the Cornerstone Economic Development regional partnership. She has been engaged in numerous local, regional and statewide efforts focused on economic development initiatives, and in transactions involving economic development incentives and corresponding local government and other agency approvals. Lynn has also served as a past chairman of the prestigious Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce, as well as past chairman of the Cornerstone Economic Development regional partnership. She has been engaged in numerous local, regional and statewide efforts focused on economic development initiatives, and in transactions involving economic development incentives and corresponding local government and other agency approvals. Lynn has also served as a past chairman of the prestigious Jacksonville Regional Chamber of Commerce, as well as past chairman of the Cornerstone Economic Development regional partnership. She has been engaged in numerous local, regional and statewide efforts focused on economic development initiatives, and in transactions involving economic development incentives and corresponding local government and other agency approvals.
She has counseled many of the region’s largest community developers, including the developers of Sawgrass, Nocatee, World Golf Village, Flagler Center and OakLeaf Plantation, in their efforts to build thriving and sustainable communities. Lynn currently provides counsel for the “Healthy Town” project, a company formed by ULI members Peter Rummell and Mike Balanky.
Lynn served on the ULI North Florida Advisory Board from 2011 to 2014 and continues to play an active role in the District Council’s mission.
ULI would like to thank all of the nominations, the 2015 winners and the sponsors for their contributions to the community, and continued support of ULI North Florida and promotion of the ULI mission.
To learn more about the winners and finalists, please visit www.northflorida.uli.org.
About ULI North Florida
The Urban Land Institute is a nonprofit education and research institute supported by its members. Its mission is to provide leadership in the responsible use of land and in creating and sustaining thriving communities worldwide. Established in 1936, the Institute has more than 37,000 global members representing all aspects of land use and development disciplines.
The ULI North Florida District Council was formed in 2005 and currently has more than 425 members from Flagler to Escambia Counties, including Jacksonville, St. Augustine, Gainesville, Tallahassee, Panama City and Pensacola. The District Council is currently chaired by ULI member Tom Ingram, of counsel, Akerman LLP in Jacksonville, and Carolyn Clark is the Director.
More information about ULI North Florida is available online at www.northflorida.uli.org or www.uli.org.