- November 18, 2024
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JJ Graham and his gallery won’t be moving to the A1A Center. The “dealbreaker” came when Graham learned the school board wouldn’t allow him to serve wine during openings. But he can’t afford to remain at City Marketplace, either, since John C. Bills, the complex’s new landlords — want so much cheddar.
“I feel compelled to say that a 300% increase in [Common Area Maintenance] charges, without allowing a tenant to exit the lease agreement if they can’t afford it, is unjust and places profit above good human conduct,” Graham wrote via text.
Instead, Graham is currently negotiating a lease at NatureScapes for use of a 6000-square foot building. He wants to move to the spot, located off Old Brick Road in Bunnell, by September. Meanwhile, Graham will continue to honor his unwritten rent agreement for Hollingsworth Gallery at City Marketplace, his business’s home for the past six years. He hopes that’s enough.
“I’ll be sending them a rent check each month,” he said. "My hope is that they cash it, and I don’t receive an eviction notice on my door.”
Flagler Sheriffs ‘disappointed’ with new rent agreement
JC Bills wants the Flagler County Sheriff’s Office to pay an additional $5,356.38 in CAM fees for the months of January through June, on top of the $420 it already paid during that period.
A June 5 letter sent by Cypress Point, LLC, a company John C. Bills set up to manage the properties at City Marketplace, outlines the new rent agreement for the Sheriff’s Office. Starting Aug. 1, FCSO will pay $1622.25 in monthly rent, not including the CAM fees.
Public Information Officer Paula Priester acknowledged the Sheriff’s Office is weighing all its options but hasn’t determined a plan of action just yet.
“We don’t have an answer yet,” Priester said. “This is all really new to us, and it looks like they’re going to start charging us on the next billing statement.”
But Sid Nowell, a Bunnell attorney who represents the Sheriff’s Office, hopes the two parties can go back to bargaining the table next week.
“We were surprised and disappointed by both the amount of the proposed increase and the decision to apply it retroactively,” Nowell said.
Jerry Masiello, a local leasing manager for the landlord, did not immediately respond to a phone call for comment.
