Q: Do you have any information about what is going on with the old SunTrust/Truist bank property on San Jose Boulevard?
A: Yes. This property will be rebuilt as a tire store. The property is already zoned for this purpose. I think it’s important to note that the city doesn’t dictate what kind of private development is built in a particular place. Our responsibility is only to make sure that it is zoned properly for the purpose, that road capacity exists, and that the construction is completed properly and safely. The type of business that opens in any location meeting these qualifications is all market-driven.
Q: How about the old Shell gas station on the corner of Loretto Road and San Jose?
A: The last conversation I had with the owner of the property, First Coast Energy, I learned that they were making no efforts to market this property at this time.
Q: Can you comment on general citizen concerns regarding tree cutting in Mandarin?
A: I hear laments about this frequently, but few people seem to notice the number of trees we have planted. Many trees have been added to the medians on San Jose Boulevard plus Mandarin Road and the property behind the old JTA commuter lot. We try to more than replenish trees taken down for development in our area so we can keep Mandarin beautiful.
Q: Do you have updates on a couple of ongoing projects: Cissell property on Loretto Road and the County Dock project?
A: For the Cissell property, there haven’t been any really meaningful changes except the prospect of a church as an added option for development. I presume there must be an active interest for this.
Regarding the County Dock property, the last conversation I had I was told that the neighborhood committee will review the community survey results at a meeting in late September. One question that came up was that a one acre parcel of the property was listed for sale on Zillow, and it looked like the seller wanted to divide the property into a six-acre parcel and a one- acre parcel. The representative for the applicant said they were just testing the market, but the application was still moving forward.
Q: As of the date of this interview [Sept. 19], what is the latest with the construction on the bridge on Julington Creek Road?
A: I received a report on Sept. 18 that said the construction was 75 percent complete; the contracted completion date is Sept. 26.
There is a new director of Public Works, Nina Sickler, and I had the opportunity recently to sit down with her and communicate the frustration we all feel with projects like this that seem to lack urgency in getting them completed. I also brought to her attention road resurfacing that is needed on Beauclerc Road and in the Mandarin Lakes neighborhood. I asked her for a listing of street resurfacing and sidewalks underway in District 6 so I can respond to constituents. It’s important to keep in mind that the transitions in administration in the city government are also affecting ongoing projects.
Q: What is the best way for our readers to contact you?
A: Community members can email me at MBoylan@coj.net or call (904) 255-5206.
