Local grant of more than $500K will retire Patriot Place debt
Patriot Place in St. Augustine. Rebecca A. Russo
A grant from The Delores Barr Weaver Legacy Funds at The Community Foundation for Northeast Florida will be used to pay off the debt of a housing complex for veterans in St. Augustine.
The St. Johns Housing Partnership, a nonprofit developer of affordable housing, announced the receipt of a $550,000 grant to support the retirement of outstanding construction debt for Patriot Place.
Patriot Place comprises six new, low-income housing units 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,” said Bill Lazar, St. Johns Housing Partnership executive director, in a release. “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.”
Weaver has a legacy of philanthropy in Northeast Florida since moving to Jacksonville as co-owner of the Jacksonville Jaguars in 1993. Since establishing the Delores Barr Weaver Legacy Fund in 2012, she has partnered with The Community Foundation on her philanthropy through numerous gifts, including the foundation’s largest gift of $61 million in 2023, the source of this grant to the SJHP.
“I am deeply grateful for the hard work that our Legacy 2024 agencies do every day,” Weaver said in the release. “They share an unwavering commitment to making our world a better place for all. The work they do comes directly from the heart and touches our hearts, as well.”
Founded in 1996, SJHP provides low- to moderate-income housing solutions by working with the public and private sectors to rebuild neglected homes and revitalize neighborhoods in disadvantaged areas.
Patriot Place became a reality through MountainStar Partners, SJHP, and St. Johns County. MountainStar Partners committed over $500,000 for the land acquisition and construction costs.
Bryan McCloskey served as the architect with construction completed by Robert Marshall of World Island Builders. Patriot Place has earned Gold Certification under the Florida Green Building Coalition Homes Standard. Patriot Place is also the most recent development to receive the Florida Water Star certification.
“For years, our local veterans’ office has struggled to help veterans who need a one-bedroom apartment to remain living in St. Johns County,” Lazar said. “Getting homeless vets on the path to affordable housing is just one of the goals of the St. Johns Housing Partnership in its collaboration with the UF/Flagler Health+ and MountainStar Partners.”
The concept for Patriot Place was conceived by Suzanne Konchan, the county’s former Development Services director.
By Stuart Korfhage – Managing Editor, Jacksonville Business Journal Jul 29, 2025 View Original Article Here