Tracking Sexual Offenders in Your Neighborhood

Floridians who want to track registered sexual offenders and predators near them are getting some additional help from the state.

The Florida Department of Law Enforcement upgraded its sexual predator and offender Web site to include more detailed information about past crimes and details about their vehicles and boats.

For instance, visitors to the site at www.fdle.state.fl.us can find out more about the seriousness of past crimes along with the case number and end result of the case. A link is also provided to the related circuit court clerk's office that will have the actual file on site with more details about what happened and when.

In addition, the make, model, tag number and color of the person's registered Florida vehicles are also listed, which can be helpful to parents who want to keep closer tabs on offenders who live near them. Those details could also be helpful in finding abducted children in some cases.

The FDLE Web site has information on about 39,000 offenders who have victimized children, adults or the elderly. A particularly helpful feature of the site is that it allows researchers to plug in an address or Zip code and find out just how close an offender lives.

Pictures and addresses of the offenders are provided.

Tom Gallagher, the state's chief financial officer, has suggested the site be modified further to allow parents to do a search on whether a license tag number belongs to a vehicle registered to a sex offender.

Source: Florida Association of Realtors

The Vu Project in Downtown Jacksonville

Dorsky Hodgson and Partners have plan to release The Vu Southbank, the 40-story luxury condominium tower which will be the third and final phase of the St. Johns Planned Unit Development (PUD) in Jacksonville, Florida. Located on the south bank of St. Johns River, the mixed-use development includines three residential towers with a total of 719 units, 1,342 parking spaces, 7,000 square feet of retail space and 3,500 square feet of office space. The Peninsula tower is on schedule to complete in the next 18 months and The Strand tower is more than likely to be completed in December 2006. MetroJacksonville.com has posted a rendering of The Vu Southbank on their site.

The St. John Project in Downtown Jacksonville

Hines, in partnership with South Shore Group Partners, LLC (SSGP) is developing a signature high-rise condominium located in downtown Jacksonville on the Southbank of the St. Johns river adjacent to The Aetna Building and Baptist Health in San Marco. The project is planned for up to 300 condominium and townhome units ranging from 900 to 3,000 square feet, together with a full range of unprecedented amenities. The building will break ground in December 2006.

Designed by Arquitectonica and strategically situated on a dramatic bend on the Southbank, the project will enjoy expansive views of downtown and the river to the northeast, and Riverside/Ortega and sweeping river views to the southwest. The location is within walking distance to dining and shopping in San Marco, as well as offices on the Southbank.

Walter O'Shea, vice president for Hines Interests, said Jacksonville is the perfect market for his product.

"The St. John represents a logical expansion of Hines' presence in Northeast Florida," O'Shea said. "At Palencia in St. Augustine, we have demonstrated the importance of quality architectural design and innovative planning, to value creation in residential real estate. We now have a chance to combine our local residential knowledge with our international, high-rise expertise.

"Apart from Hines' sponsorship, the St. John is also a distinct offering for prospective downtown residents given its location at a 90-degree bend in the St. Johns River and its floor-to-ceiling exterior glass wall designed to maximize the striking views of the Jacksonville skyline and the river. We held a Realtor event recently on the 11th floor of the adjacent Aetna building and those attending were amazed by the views. We expect to begin executing purchase contracts at pre-construction pricing in mid-August and very quickly generate the sales we will need to then begin construction before year end."

Source: Florida Times Union