Real Estate Wire/Green Trends News Wire

 By Carole Hawkins, Real Estate Wire When Ike Grayer Jr. was 13, a tragic accident forced him to give up on his dream of becoming a professional football player. But there’s a second dream he’s held on to.  “Since I was a kid, I always wanted to work in construction,” he said. “One day I want to build my own house. It’s a dream I still have.”  Grayer is a carpenter with the St. Johns Housing Partnership (SJHP). Every day he learns something new or gets to practice something he already knows. “Ike is a key member of our team. His energy and dedication to our mission enables us to make homeowners safer and more comfortable in a healthier environment,” noted SJHP Rehab Manager Susan Giddens. Grayer was offered his job two years ago, while he was delivering materials for White’s Lumber. An SJHP worker said Grayer looked like the kind of guy who would enjoy working with them. He does. “Sometimes our clients are in rough situations,” Grayer said “I like remodeling everything th...

 By Mike Bonts, Real Estate Wire ST. AUGUSTINE – The St. Johns Housing Partnership (SJHP) shared some good news. The St. Johns Housing Partnership received a generous “Property Preservation” grant from the Delores Barr Weaver Legacy Fund through the Community Foundation of Northeast Florida to prepare for the acquisition of two long-time USDA apartment communities this year. Pinewood Apartments, Green Cove Springs — 54 homes serving seniors Crescent Lakes Apartments, Crescent City — 30 homes for working families and individuals “The Weaver grant allows us to leverage property maintenance funds, which are never adequate on older properties. It’s a great start to show the residents a positive change is coming,” noted SJHP Executive Director Bill Lazar. “This grant prepares us to better tackle immediate maintenance and small repairs.” The properties are more than 40 years old, and this funding gives SJHP the opportunity to make visible improvements right away without pressure to incr...

  ST. PETERSBURG (January 12, 2026)- The Florida Green Building Coalition (FGBC), the state’s leading certifier of green residential and commercial construction, land developments and local governments, has announced their roster of senior officers and board of directors for 2026. Daniel Denis , RunBrook, West Palm Beach, was elected President ; Bill Kachman , Retired Major, U.S Army, Deland, President-Elect; Dustin Stephany , University of Florida, Gainesville, Treasurer and Ralph Locke , EC&C, Deland, Past-President. The 2026 board includes: Steve Armstrong, Ekocentric, LLC , Tampa; Jim Barnes , Village of Wellington, Wellington; Denise Bas , GreenPath FL, LLC, West Palm Beach ; Jason Biondi (Miami Beach) ECSG Energy Cost Solutions Group, LLC, Miami Beach; Mike Bonts , Mike Bonts Public Relations, Jacksonville; Peggy Christ , Bee Green Realty LLC, Bradenton; Chris Combs (Middleburg) Assist2Build, Julie C. Christesen , ES Green & Co., Tallahassee;   C.J. Dav...

  ST. AUGUSTINE, Fla. – The St. Johns Housing Partnership (SJHP), a nonprofit developer of affordable housing, today announced the receipt of a $550,000 grant from the Delores Barr Weaver Legacy Funds at The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida. The Legacy 2024 grant to St. Johns Housing Partnership, Inc., is to support the retirement of outstanding construction debt for Patriot Place. Patriot Place comprises six new, low-income housing for at-risk and homeless veterans in St. Johns County. “Mrs. Weaver’s grant is an incredible gift that will last for decades providing housing for some of our local at-risk and low-income veterans. We hope the gift will not only support Patriot Place but also inspire other donors who want to create more truly affordable housing in our area,” said St. Johns Housing Partnership Executive Director Bill Lazar. Delores Barr Weaver has an extraordinary legacy of philanthropy in Northeast Florida since moving to Jacksonville as co-owner of the Jacks...

ST. AUGUSTINE - RED Day is Keller Williams Atlantic Partners’ annual day of giving back. This year the local Realtor had a day of service at Southern Villas. The non-profit St. Johns Housing Partnership (SJHP) owns Southern Villas, a USDA subsidized multifamily property in St. Augustine for the elderly and handicapped.  Every second Thursday of May, KW agents, leaders, and associates step away from their daily business routine and venture out into their communities to renew, energize and volunteer. "Our associates and staff are proud to give back by supporting the vital work of the St. Johns Housing Partnership. RED Day is just one example of how the Keller Williams culture lives and breathes service year-round," said Trudy Padilla of Keller Williams Atlantic Partners. Over 40 volunteers spent the day landscaping, performing yard cleanups and some needed cleaning in the apartment homes. RED Day sponsors included Southern Horticulture, LunsPro Inspections, Pro-Spect Inspectio...

  ST. AUGUSTINE – The St. Johns Housing Partnership (SJHP), helping people live safer, healthier and independently with dignity, is one of the local nonprofits looking to benefit from this week’s Giving Day, May 7-8. Giving Day 2025 is a 24-hour online giving event designed to empower every person to give back to their community by supporting local nonprofits and the causes they care about. Affordable, safe housing is an ongoing challenge for many in North Florida. Founded in 1998, the St. Johns Housing Partnership is committed to developing and preserving quality housing while providing support for residents with low and moderate incomes, the elderly, disabled and Veterans. SJHP is striving to redefine affordable housing by advocating for those with low incomes, the elderly, disabled and Veterans severely impacted by the absence of affordable housing or can’t afford to repair their home to make it livable and healthy. SJHP works tirelessly to ensure every person has a safe, clean...