Building permit pulled for Vilano Publix

Publix in the Vilano Town Center is one step closer to opening since the afternoon on January 12th when Historic City News reporters watched seventeen participants unearth a ceremonial gold shovel of dirt at the groundbreaking ceremonies.

Elkins Constructors Inc., of Jacksonville, has received a St. Johns County building permit to build the $2.2 million Publix Supermarket now that V. J. Usina is wrapping up the demolition and site work.

The store, whose address will be 55 Ava Way, includes 31,791 square feet of area according to the permit. The store will anchor the shopping center with 8,800 square feet of adjacent retail space.

The Vilano Beach Town Center is part of an area redevelopment project. $5.5 million of the $6 million construction is funded with tax-exempt recovery zone facility bonds made available through the federal stimulus program.

BB&T is providing the financing at a discounted rate of interest to Vilano Beach Town Center Partners LLC, because the bank will receive a tax exemption from income earned from that loan — thanks to the use of the recovery zone bonds.

Robert A. Bentz and Joe Lelonek, development partners for the new Vilano Town Center grocery store site estimated at groundbreaking that they were about three months out for the land clearing and infrastructure to be in place. So far, construction of the grocery store and retail space has continued on scheduled.

Lelonek told Historic City News that he expects the Publix grocery and pharmacy to be open during the first quarter of next year, however, he offered some hope that they could be ready to open as soon as New Years.

Photo credits: © 2011 Historic City News staff photographer