Junior Achievement of North Florida presented its top award May 13 to Jacksonville business executive Andy Allen, honoring him for community leadership.<\/p>\n
Allen is the co-founder and CEO of Corner Lot, which has grown to a billion-dollar company in residential, multfamily, mixed-use development and hospitality since launching in 2009.<\/p>\n
He received the Thompson S. Baker \u201cSolid as a Rock\u201d Award at JANFL\u2019s 27th Hall of Fame Luncheon at the Adam W. Herbert University Center at the University of North Florida.<\/p>\n
About 350 people attended the event.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Rob Sandlin, the retired president of Florida Rock & Tank Lines, presented the award to Allen, describing how he met the former Jacksonville University golfer through the game. Recalling a golf trip to Dalton, Georgia, Sandlin said \u201cAndy talked all the way up there\u201d about his vision for Jacksonville and how it could reach its potential as a vibrant metro.<\/p>\n
\u201cI remember that conversation like it was yesterday, and I\u2019ve had the absolute joy of watching him make every word of it happen,\u201d Sandlin said.<\/p>\n
Under Allen\u2019s leadership, Corner Lot has invested in projects in and around Downtown, including the $93 million, 340-unit Artea apartments at 944 Broadcast Place, while developing multfiamily properties with rents for workforce through luxury tenants. Other projects include restoration of the historic Casa Marina Hotel in Jacksonville Beach.\u00a0<\/p>\n
A new venture is Corner Lot\u2019s proposed hotel tower at 330 E. Bay St. on the Downtown Northbank, which would include a Southeast campus of the Culinary Institute of America. Corner Lot is partnering with Aspect Real Estate Group on the project for which Jacksonville City Council is considering providing $35 million in incentives to attract the CIA.\u00a0<\/p>\n
\u201cHe doesn\u2019t do anything small, he doesn\u2019t show up halfway and he does not stop until people around him are better for it,\u201d Sandlin said. If you know Andy, you know this: He believes Jacksonville\u2019s best days are ahead.\u201d<\/p>\n
Allen thanked his business partner, George Leone, and other community members and his wife, Kristen, tearing up as he spoke to her from the stage. He joked that he had Googled what speakers should do if they begin crying, the answer being to place their tongue on the roof of their mouth.<\/p>\n
\u201cIt works, too,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
Allen themed his speech on an acronym, ERECT, which stood for educate, relationships, elevate, community and team. Each of those words, he said, spoke to the missions for Corner Lot and JA.<\/p>\n
\u201cSo let\u2019s go erect, or build up, Jacksonville,\u201d he said.\u00a0<\/p>\n
JANFL says the Baker award \u201crecognizes individuals who have dedicated themselves to bettering our community through leadership, hands-on involvement and philanthropic deeds.\u201d<\/p>\n
The award\u2019s namesake, and inaugural winner, founded the company that became Florida Rock Industries Inc. Other recipients include Preston Haskell, founder of Haskell engineering and construction company; Jacksonville Jaguars owner Shad Khan; former Jaguars owners Wayne and Delores Barr Weaver; and former Duval County sheriff and Edward Waters University President Nathaniel \u201cNat\u201d Glover.\u00a0<\/p>\n
Other honorees at the Hall of Fame event were Pam Coleman, career technical education instructor at Westside High School, as Educator of the Year; Evan Satterwhite of Bank OZK as Volunteer of the Year; and FIS as Company of the Year.<\/p>\n
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