Ashco’s Southbank towers, Dream Finders nears its Beazer close, and Jax unemployment dips to 4.5%

Ashco pitches two towers for the DCPS riverfront siteAshco Centers unveiled The Seaport at St. Johns for 1701 Prudential Drive: two 20 story towers with residences and a luxury hotel, 110,000 square feet of retail with a grocer, a marina and a Riverwalk connection. The School Board voted Oct. 6 to sell the site for $15.1 million. No cost was released. Source: Jax Daily Record, Oct. 16, 2026

Dream Finders expects to close its Beazer buyout TuesdayBeazer shareholders approved the $2.2 billion deal Oct. 15, and Jacksonville based Dream Finders expects to close Oct. 20. The combined builder will have about 520 active communities in 26 markets. Source: Dream Finders Homes, Oct. 15, 2026

Jacksonville unemployment falls to 4.5%The five county metro rate dropped from 4.8% in August. Job growth stayed slow at 0.3% over the year, with financial activities down 3,900 jobs and education and health services up 4,300. Source: Jax Daily Record, Oct. 16, 2026

Oak Steakhouse could get a $400,000 downtown incentiveThe Downtown Investment Authority board will consider a forgivable loan for the restaurant planned in The Greenleaf building at Laura and Adams streets. The build out must cost at least $2.31 million, and the restaurant plans a staff of 70. Source: Jax Daily Record, Oct. 19, 2026

UF Jacksonville seeks bids for first campus site workBids are due Oct. 21 for site work on Building 1A, part of the $287.5 million first phase of the downtown graduate campus. Source: Jax Daily Record, Oct. 18, 2026

Culver’s eyes Bartram CornerJEA issued an Oct. 16 utility letter for a Culver’s at Bartram Park Boulevard and Race Track Road, which would be the 13th area location open or in review. The site is being explored, not final. Source: Jax Daily Record, Oct. 18, 2026

Utah investor group plans more than 100 Jax home buys a yearWealth Outside Wall Street has bought 21 homes through JWB Real Estate Capital, paying about $270,000 each on average, and plans more than 100 a year starting in 2027. Source: Action News Jax, citing the Jacksonville Business Journal, Oct. 16, 2026

Builders FirstSource closing its West 18th Street storeThe building supplier will close the store at 2175 W. 18th St. on or about Dec. 12, affecting 82 jobs. Some workers are expected to transfer. Source: Jax Daily Record, Oct. 16, 2026

Miniso heads to St. Johns Town CenterThe city permitted a 4,985 square foot store between Burlington and Ross, which would give the trending goods retailer four area stores. Source: Jax Daily Record, Oct. 15, 2026

Rough surf and coastal flooding possible this weekOnshore winds and high seas could bring coastal flooding and beach erosion, with gusts up to 45 mph in spots along the coast. Watch docks, boat ramps and low roads at high tide. Source: Jacksonville Today, Oct. 19, 2026

Stryper at FIVE, 8 p.m.The Christian metal band plays FIVE on Park Street in Five Points. Doors at 6:30 p.m. Source: Jax.events, Oct. 19, 2026

Penny and Sparrow at Blue Jay Listening Room, 8 p.m.The indie folk duo plays a standing show in Jacksonville Beach. Tickets $45, ages 18 and up. Source: Jax.events, Oct. 19, 2026