News archive
Older First Coast Observer coverage — page 6 of 21.
Infrastructure
St. Augustine public-service center consolidates permitting, records, licenses
A new 4040 Lewis Speedway facility brings county development permits and clerk-of-court services under one roof, eliminating multi-stop trips for builders, homeowners, and anyone recording deeds or pulling permits.
Infrastructure
Nassau County to evaluate bids for SR 200 median landscaping contract
A public evaluation meeting next week will review proposals to maintain landscaping and irrigation along the State Road 200 corridor in Nassau County, a key gateway route connecting Yulee, Fernandina Beach, and Amelia Island.
Education
St. Johns Schools ratify teacher, staff contracts for 2026–27
The district and its teacher and support-staff unions finalized collective-bargaining agreements that will govern salaries and working conditions for the coming school year.
Business Recognition
LGLN Weight Loss & Wellness Center Brings Membership Care to Jacksonville
The Emerson Street clinic combines membership-based primary care, a medically supervised weight-management program and selected wellness services, with in-person and telehealth options.
Business Recognition
RealtorInJax Combines Jacksonville Real Estate Guidance With Interactive Tools
The Jacksonville site combines buyer and seller representation with local decision guides and interactive tools for home searches, costs, neighborhoods and property due diligence.
Infrastructure
St. Augustine completes Court Theophelia flood-mitigation project
State-funded drainage upgrades and the city's first bioswale aim to end chronic standing water in a West Augustine neighborhood.
Public Safety
St. Johns County firefighter recognized for I-95 water rescue
Engineer Charles Cook pulled a family from a retention pond after a July crash on Interstate 95 North, crediting his training and encouraging others to "always do the right thing. "
Real Estate
Cash buyers reshape Northeast Florida housing market as boomers compete
Nearly half of baby boomers are purchasing homes without mortgages, using decades of equity to outbid financed offers in a competitive market that is pricing out younger buyers across the region.
Real Estate
Jacksonville agents navigate smoother brokerage transitions with prioritized training
As the local market remains competitive, real-estate professionals switching firms are learning to balance new systems with ongoing client work—and the approach could affect transaction timelines and service quality across Northeast Florida.
Infrastructure
New Traffic Signal Opens at Nocatee Intersection in St. Johns County
St. Johns County completed a seven-month project at Colonnade Drive and Preservation Trail, adding a traffic signal and protected crossings for golf carts and pedestrians.
Infrastructure
SR 16 widening near World Golf Village nears finish with traffic shift
Eastbound lanes shift to new pavement around October 1 on the quarter-mile section near International Golf Parkway as the $15 million project pushes toward early spring 2027 completion.
Economic Development
St. Johns County launches InvestSJC. com site, small-business push
A new digital platform and September 23 resource fair in St. Augustine are part of a suite of 2026 initiatives to help businesses start and grow in one of Florida's fastest-expanding counties.
Education
St. Johns schools launch Parent University for families
The district's new program kicks off Sept. 22 with a session on student attendance, offering in-person and online options for parents across the fast-growing county.
Real Estate
Jacksonville's Dream Finders seeks bondholders' blessing for Beazer acquisition
The city's largest homebuilder is asking noteholders to waive change-of-control provisions as it moves toward closing a major acquisition later this year.
Education
St. Johns County School Board to meet Tuesday evening
The September 8 meeting will be held in person at the district's Orange Street headquarters and via virtual platform, with public comment available.
Development
Jacksonville unveils Axe Handle Saturday marker, joins U. S. Civil Rights Trail
A new historical marker at James Weldon Johnson Park marks the first of 40 planned installations as the city joins a national network linking civil rights sites across the South.
Real Estate
Northeast Florida insurance premiums drop as litigation reforms take hold
Homeowners and drivers across the region paid nearly $3 billion less statewide in 2025, with falling rates and new insurers entering the market after years of some of the nation's highest premiums.
Real Estate
Manhattan Broker's Real Estate Discipline Offers Lessons for Jacksonville's Growing Market
A top New York luxury broker's approach to hands-on service and transaction discipline offers insights for agents navigating Northeast Florida's evolving housing market.
Real Estate
Manufacturing jobs grow in Northeast Florida, adding 86K earners to home market
Florida's manufacturing sector has added 120,000 jobs since 2010, with average wages 18 percent above the state mean — a shift that could reshape housing demand in areas where aerospace, healthcare, and advanced-manufacturing employers cluster.
Infrastructure
JAXPORT Pitches Heavy-Lift Gateway With 1M SF of On-Dock Cargo Space
The regional seaport authority is promoting its ability to handle oversized industrial cargo, heavy machinery, and transformers with specialized berths and more than 1 million square feet of on-dock warehousing as it competes for breakbulk freight business.
Public Services
Jacksonville City Offices Closing Labor Day; Parks, Libraries Affected
Most city administrative offices will close for the holiday Monday, but garbage collection continues on schedule and some recreation facilities will stay open with modified hours.
Development
Palm Coast eyes Land Development Code rewrite to match new Comprehensive Plan
Proposed code amendments coming to City Council this week would update zoning, land uses, and development procedures following a year of public workshops and adoption of the city's updated Comprehensive Plan.
Infrastructure
Fort Matanzas Beach Ramp in St. Johns County Reopens with ADA Upgrades
The county has completed resiliency and accessibility improvements to the popular Rattlesnake Island beach access, with the National Park Service funding the expanded project scope.
Real Estate
Jacksonville Realtors Urged to Track Customer Loyalty Over Production Alone
As lead generation costs rise, industry experts say Northeast Florida agents should measure referral rates and repeat business to gauge long-term health beyond close rates and average sale prices.
Real Estate
Jacksonville Realtors urged to test new ideas amid market shifts
At Florida Realtors' Wealth Building Summit, a best-selling author told agents that small creative experiments—not perfect plans—can unlock opportunity in a changing Northeast Florida market.
Real Estate
Jacksonville builders file 384 permits worth $87. 5M in July slowdown
Northeast Florida logged the lowest construction value among Florida's major markets as statewide home permitting fell 18% month-over-month, new industry data shows.
Real Estate
Fed rate decision looms over Jacksonville mortgage, real-estate market
A Federal Reserve governor's remarks signal a September interest-rate hike remains possible, with Northeast Florida homebuyers and developers watching inflation data due next week.
Real Estate
Mortgage rates hit 13-month high as Jacksonville homebuyers face rising costs
The average 30-year mortgage rate climbed to 6. 71% this week, adding hundreds of dollars monthly to borrowing costs as Northeast Florida's housing market navigates affordability headwinds.
Real Estate
Northeast Florida real estate agents get wealth-building roadmap at summit
A financial educator offered First Coast Realtors a formula for managing commission income and building long-term wealth through tax strategies and disciplined planning.
Infrastructure
Westside Regional Park playground opens in Hilliard
Nassau County will cut the ribbon on a new playground at Westside Regional Park Friday afternoon, marking the latest parks investment in the fast-growing county's western corridor.
