News archive
Older First Coast Observer coverage — page 7 of 14.
Public Services
St. Johns County Library Launches Public Survey to Shape Future Services
St. Johns County Public Library System is seeking resident input through September 15 to guide programming and resource decisions, while rolling out new education partnerships and the 2027 St. Johns Reads community reading program focused on Florida.
Infrastructure
South Amelia Island Shore Stabilization Board to Meet on Beach Protection
The association overseeing erosion control and beach management on Amelia Island's south end will convene publicly next week to discuss ongoing shore stabilization efforts in Nassau County.
Government
St. Johns County Spotlights GIS Mapping Department in New Video Series
The county's latest Inside SJC episode showcases the Geographic Information Systems team that maintains location data for commissioner districts, school sites, road networks, and development projects across one of Florida's fastest-growing counties.
Infrastructure
Palm Coast Closes Rolling Sands Drive for Two Days to Complete Storm Drain Work
The City of Palm Coast will shut down a section of Rolling Sands Drive Aug. 6-7 to finish roadway repairs over recent stormwater infrastructure, rerouting traffic through the neighborhood as crews complete drainage improvements.
Public Service
St. Johns County Parks Employees Honored for Lifesaving Response at Usina Boat Ramp
Two Parks and Recreation Department staffers received official recognition from county commissioners for their quick action during a medical emergency at the popular St. Johns River boat ramp in May.
Real Estate
Smaller Generation Alpha Could Reshape Northeast Florida's Rental, Starter Home Market
Generation Alpha has 2 million fewer members than Gen Z at the same age, a demographic shift that could affect Northeast Florida's demand for apartments, starter homes, and multigenerational housing as affordability pressures delay household formation among young adults.
City Government
Jacksonville's $2B budget proposal heads to town halls across Duval County
Mayor Deegan will host eight public meetings in August and September to gather resident input on the proposed FY 2026-2027 budget, which emphasizes public safety, infrastructure, health, and housing without raising taxes.
Education
Five Candidates Vie for Jacksonville Westside School Board Seat in $208K Race
The District 6 Duval County School Board race has drawn more campaign money than nearly any other school board contest in Florida, as candidates debate school safety, discipline, and spending on the county's far Westside.
Development
Jacksonville Urban Planners Look to Minneapolis Model for Downtown Clustering Strategy
A new analysis of Minneapolis' downtown transformation offers a blueprint for Jacksonville's revitalization efforts, showing how concentrating complementary uses—housing, dining, entertainment, and cultural venues—within walkable districts can generate sustained economic momentum and attract private investment.
Education
Two Candidates Vie for Vacant Flagler County School Board Seat in August Election
Retired federal executive Cathy Moon and former teacher Jill Woolbright are competing for the District 1 seat left vacant when Derek Barrs joined the federal government. The nonpartisan race centers on kindergarten readiness, teacher retention, and fiscal management.
Infrastructure
Palm Coast Releases 2025 Water Quality Report Amid $500M Utility Expansion
The city's annual drinking water report details testing at three treatment plants and over 100 sites, as officials advance a half-billion-dollar capital program to expand capacity for a growing Flagler County population.
Real Estate
Florida Realtors warned rental ads, screening practices could trigger lawsuits in Jacksonville market
General counsel for Florida Realtors told agents at a legal summit that seemingly routine advertising language and tenant screening policies expose professionals to fair housing claims and costly litigation, even when practices don't violate license law.
Real Estate
Mortgage Rates Expected to Rise in Northeast Florida as Iran War, Inflation Pressure Markets
Ongoing conflict in the Middle East and the Federal Reserve's stance on inflation are pushing mortgage rates higher in August, adding challenges for Jacksonville-area home buyers navigating an already competitive market.
Real Estate
Wealthy buyers assemble private compounds in Northeast Florida luxury market
A national trend dubbed 'landmaxxing' sees affluent buyers purchasing neighboring properties to create sprawling private estates, reshaping high-end neighborhoods from Ponte Vedra Beach to Amelia Island as luxury-property searches and land demand surge.
Development
UF Jacksonville Campus Seeks LaVilla Community Input on Historic Neighborhood Design
The University of Florida will hold a public workshop Thursday evening to gather ideas on incorporating LaVilla's cultural heritage into its Jacksonville campus design, marking a step forward in the downtown expansion project.
Education
St. Johns County Libraries Draw 17,500 to Summer Reading Program
The county library system's eight-week 'Stars, Stripes, and Stories' program brought families to six branches and bookmobile stops, awarding more than 8,000 prizes to children tracking their summer reading to combat learning loss.
Education
St. Johns Schools Spotlight Valley Ridge Academy's Character, Literacy Programs
Superintendent Tim Asplen toured the elementary school to highlight its BOB character recognition system and family literacy initiatives as the district continues to grow its program offerings across schools.
Education
Jacksonville Longshoremen's Scholarship Fund Awards Record $82,000 to Local Students
The ILA Local 1408 Scholarship Fund distributed its largest-ever scholarship total to 24 area high school and college students, reflecting surging demand for college financial aid among families connected to Jacksonville's maritime workforce.
Real Estate
FHA proposes change to partial claim process affecting Northeast Florida home sales
A proposed Federal Housing Administration demonstration program would eliminate a separate lien that sometimes complicates closings when homeowners who received mortgage relief are ready to sell.
Real Estate
Jacksonville-area buyers gain leverage as new construction increases supply
Growing housing inventory across Northeast Florida is shifting negotiating power toward homebuyers, with new construction creating more competition for sellers in markets from Nocatee to Clay County, according to industry data.
Real Estate
Federal Reserve Rate Signal Could Keep Northeast Florida Borrowing Costs High
The Fed held its benchmark rate at 3.50%–3.75% this week, with three officials voting for an increase instead of the widely anticipated cut. The shift could keep mortgage and development financing costs elevated across Jacksonville and Northeast Florida for the foreseeable future.
Public Safety
Jacksonville Opens Cooling Centers July 29 as Heat Safety Plan Activates
The city will open 69 air-conditioned facilities across Duval County as cooling centers Wednesday, with free JTA bus rides to help residents escape dangerous heat.
Education
Jacksonville literacy push logs 3M reading minutes as city launches new tracking app
Mayor Deegan's River City Readers initiative hits major milestone and introduces PageHive, a new district-developed app to track reading habits for all Duval County Public Schools students as the city works to lift grade-level literacy.
Corporate
Jacksonville's Dream Finders Homes Pushes Back on Beazer Board Over $32/Share Acquisition
Dream Finders Homes, headquartered in Jacksonville, is pressing Beazer Homes USA's board to negotiate terms for an all-cash $32-per-share takeover bid, escalating a public dispute over confidentiality agreement terms that could reshape one of Northeast Florida's largest homebuilders.
Real Estate
Jacksonville-Based Dream Finders Homes Reports Record Sales Amid Margin Squeeze
The Jacksonville homebuilder closed 2,290 homes in Q2 2026, a company record, but falling home prices and rising land costs compressed profit margins as the company expands to 353 communities across the Southeast and Mid-Atlantic.
Education
Gadsden County School Board race heats up as enrollment, budget challenges loom
Four candidates are vying for Gadsden County School Board District 2 as the North Florida district grapples with declining enrollment, teacher shortages, and financial pressures.
Real Estate
Northeast Florida home construction dips 4% as statewide market cools in 2026
The region recorded 8,766 residential permits in the first half of 2026, outperforming the state's 7% decline but reflecting the slowdown after years of explosive growth that reshaped Jacksonville and surrounding counties.
Arts & Development
Union Terminal Warehouse Unveils Six-Figure Public Mural Collection in Downtown Jacksonville
A 600-foot tunnel beneath the century-old Union Terminal Warehouse has been transformed into 'Duuuval Walls,' a permanent public art gallery featuring works by 25 artists. The collection aims to create a new cultural draw along the future Emerald Trail.
Real Estate
Dream Finders Homes Adds Former Lennar Co-CEO as Board Co-Chairman in Jacksonville
Jacksonville-based homebuilder Dream Finders Homes has appointed Rick Beckwitt, former Co-CEO of Lennar Corporation, as Co-Chairman of its board alongside founder Patrick Zalupski, bringing decades of major homebuilder executive experience to guide the company's next growth phase.
Development
Palm Coast Eyes 7,000-Acre Raydient Annexation in Major Western Expansion
The Palm Coast City Council will hold first readings on August 4 for ordinances annexing roughly 7,041 acres owned by Raydient Palm Coast LLC on the city's northwest edge, part of a broader 20,144-acre expansion area that could eventually bring nearly 22,000 homes.
