Building Up Jax: City moves to terminate Landing owner’s lease

CITY VS. SLEIMAN RE: LANDING, PART 5000

The battle between the city and The Jacksonville Landing’s ownership has reached its climax.

On Friday, the city informed Jacksonville Landing Investments LLC that they were considered to have defaulted on their lease agreement, and that the city will therefore terminate the company’s lease of the city-owned property on which the Landing sits.

In the letter sent to JLI, the city demands that ownership turn over the leased property along with its sub-lease contracts. It states that the company’s failure to take actions to correct several alleged breaches of contract constitute a default on the lease agreement, and indicates that mortgage holder PNC Bank declined to pursue action of its own.

Jacksonville Landing Investments LLC is a subsidiary of Sleiman Enterprises. Toney Sleiman acquired the Landing in 2003, and has been at odds with the city ever since over issues such as parking and property maintenance.

Mayor Curry had indicated a desire last year for the city to take control of the Landing property, frustrated by what many see as Sleiman holding the key downtown venue hostage. Sleiman has refused to redevelop or even properly maintain the struggling venue, claiming the city still owes him more parking, and most recently had filed a grievance over the poor condition of the dock that sits directly in front of the Landing along the Riverwalk.

The notice of termination is just the latest in a series of escalations between the city and Sleiman – and given the combative styles of both Curry and Sleiman, it will almost certainly not be the last.

NOTED PROJECTS

Clothing retailer UNTUCKit will celebrate its grand opening at the St. Johns Town Center this Wednesday.
Wawa submitted plans for two of its future locations this past week: one at Monument and McCormick, and the other at Beach and Brougham.
Baptist Health received a permit for the demolition of an existing 4-story parking garage at 800 Prudential Dr.
RaceTrac received a permit for construction of a new gas station at 2009 Mayport Rd.
El Jefe Tex-Mex is now open at 947 Edgewood Ave. S. in Murray Hill.