Submitted by Suanne Z. Thamm

Reporter – News Analyst

July 9, 2014 4:25 p.m.

The Fernandina Observer welcomes the following businesses newly licensed to operate in our city last month.

Business	Address	Owner	Type of Business
East Coast Dumpsters LLC	2618 McGregor Blvd.	Gary Lepierre	Home local business
Alvin’s Island	1575 Sadler Road	Marco Destin LLC	Retail dept. store
Mystic Systems Marine Supply	593 Amelia Circle	Joe Blanchard	Home local business
Palate LLC	614 Centre Street	Tammy Barnes	Restaurant & lounge
Elegant Occasions By Sophia	420 S. 13th Terrace	Sophia Riley	Home local business
Anne Penman	961687 Gateway Blvd.	Bob Shackelford	Health & allied business
Nana Teresa’s Bake Shop	31 S. 5th St.	Teresa Markarian	Retail bakery
Hess Express – 09-233	3100 S. 8th St.	John Hess	Fuel/tobacco/misc. retail/bar-lounge
Yobe	1998 S. Fletcher Ave.	Sliders Seaside Grill	Restaurant
Power Train LLC	1114 S. 14th St.	Brittany Bennett	Health & allied services

During the first six months of 2014, the City of Fernandina Beach Building Department surveyed 1,409 permits for work valued at almost $31M that resulted in the city collecting $781K in fees.  Permits for 39 new single family residences accounted for $513K of the fees collected, or roughly $13,000 per dwelling.  The average cost of each new residence was just shy of $500K.

Activity is slightly down compared to the corresponding period of 2013, when the city surveyed 1,507 permits for work valued at $37M and resulted in the city’s collecting $666K in fees.  During the first six months of 2013, permits were issued for 26 new single family dwellings, which accounted for $329K in Building Department fees.  While the fee collected per new home was about $12,600, the average cost of new homes built last year during the same period came in significantly lower at $306K.

Most 2014 activity to date (100 or more permits) occurred in the following categories:

Category (includes sub categories)	Number	Fees collected
Mechanical	302	$40,006
Residential remodel	182	55,815
Roofing/reroofing	180	31,217
Electrical	176	20,769
Plumbing	151	23,921
Tree removal	146	20,714

Significant activity for June 2014 is reflected below.  All permits may be viewed on the city’s website:  fbfl.us.

New Single Family Dwellings – June 2014

Permit #2014-	Owner	Address	Contractor
1413	Highbeam Inc.	2418 S. Fletcher	Chism Development Co. Inc.
1150	Norman & Marilyn Steinke	1731 S. 15th Street	Advantage Home Builders
1144	George & Julia Luiga	1534 Northpark Drive	Cecil R. Holloway, Jr. Contractors
1162	Steve Head, LLC	308 S. 5th Street	Steve Head Construction
1180	Seda Construction	623 Spanish Way	Seda Construction
1206	APCD Lots, LLC	1782 S. 15th Street	Advantage Home Builders

Miscellaneous – June 2014

Permit #2014-	Type	Owner	Address	Contractor
1219	Install inground pool	Kenneth & Janet Wolff	2798 Ocean Oaks Drive S	Poolside Designs Inc.
1329	Home renovation	Holly J. Bennet	1466 S. Fletcher Ave.	Seaward Homes
1330	Home renovation	Walter Spilbor Jr.	2801 Elizabeth Street	Self
1331	Exterior remodeling	Theron Rogers	1600 S. Fletcher Ave.	Claxton Contracting, Inc.
1358	Install inground pool	Peter & Sharon Gladwell	2340 Safe Harbor Lane	Surfside Pools
1365	Reconstruction of 4 nonfunctioning historic chimneys	Diocese of St. Augustine	228 N. 4th Street	Call Construction Unlimited, Inc.
1366	Remodel home	Paul & Danna Garrigues	1514 Franklin Street	CBI Cole Builders
1377	Construct/remodel new addition	Nasir Ahmad	1832 Highland Drive	Parker Contracting
1394	Kitchen remodel	Benjamin & Mary Forehand	210 N. 15th Street	Poag Brothers General Contracting
1407	Level existing home	Marcus & Patricia Gruber	2438 S. Fletcher Ave.	The Construction Company

Editor’s Note: Suanne Z. Thamm is a native of Chautauqua County, NY, who moved to Fernandina Beach from Alexandria,VA, in 1994. As a long time city resident and city watcher, she provides interesting insight into the many issues that impact our city. We are grateful for Suanne’s many contributions to the Fernandina Observer.