The Buildings Will Have New Owners, but the Names Will Stay Skyline Semantics BellSouth Tower Sold, NationsBank May Be Next

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A major piece of downtown Jacksonville's skyline changed hands yesterday, and another landmark building may also have a new owner soon.

BellSouth Telecommunications sold its 30-story tower to the J.S. Karlton Co. for $67 million. BellSouth's name will remain atop the 18-year-old building, and the company will remain a major tenant.

NationsBank also plans to keep its name on the 42-floor downtown building it occupies once it is sold. The bank put the building on the market last year.

"We are committed to remaining in Jacksonville and as anchor tenant in downtown Jacksonville," said bank spokeswoman Jerri Franz.

Commercial real estate executive Walter Dickinson said the sale of the BellSouth building and potential sale of the NationsBank tower point to the strength of the downtown market.

"It …