The city is reviewing civil engineering plans for the mass grading and installation of detention ponds for what is called the Imeson Landing South property, east of Heckscher Drive/Zoo Parkway in North Jacksonville.
The site is 16.15 acres.
It appears to be the next project by Merritt Properties, which is completing its Imeson Landing Business Park at Imeson Park Boulevard and Zoo Parkway, across from the new site.
The civil plan review comes just a little more than a year since Merritt Properties, through Merritt-JAIM1 LLC, bought 24.24 acres for $1.9 million for Imeson Landing Business Park in November 2021.
It bought the property from Imeson Investments Inc., which also owns the Imeson Landing South site.
Jacksonville-based England, Thims & Miller Inc. is the civil engineer for the Imeson Landing South property.
Plans dated December 2022 say they are prepared for Merritt-Jazo LLC of Baltimore. A drainage calculation report dated Dec. 1 says it is prepared for Merritt Properties.
A mass grading plan indicates the outline of three buildings, but there are no specifics. A CSX rail line runs along it.
Imeson Investments Inc. is headed by Graham Groves, and the drainage calculations for the project refer to it as Groves Land.
Merritt Companies spokesperson Noelle Hewitt said Dec. 12 that the company has not bought the land and cannot provide details at this time.
Hewitt said Merritt Properties hopes “to grow our presence in the market, which is why we’re continuing to seek and evaluate opportunities. At this time, we have not closed on this land.”
The property is across Zoo Parkway from Imeson Landing Business Park, which is adding its last two buildings.
The city is reviewing construction permit applications for shell Buildings 400 and 500, totaling 128,400 square feet at a combined project cost of $7.5 million.
ARCO Design/Build is the contractor for the structures at 1250 Imeson Park Blvd.
Imeson Landing Business Park will comprise five flexible and light industrial buildings from 39,000 to almost 69,000 square feet in size, totaling 266,200 square feet.
Merritt Properties LLC asset manager Pat Franklin said Dec. 5 the two structures would be delivered for tenant build-out in the fourth quarter of 2023.
The first three buildings, totaling 137,800 square feet, will open by early 2023. Tenant spaces start at 3,000 square feet.
Franklin said Merritt Properties has signed seven customers, including Loomis US, in the completed 137,800 square feet of space.
“That makes us 50% leased with another 33% of leases out,” Franklin said.
Merritt Properties is a commercial real estate developer with more than 21 million square feet of space throughout Florida, Maryland, North Carolina and Virginia.
The investment so far in the almost 25-acre Imeson Landing project is at least $19.1 million, comprising the property purchase and construction costs.
JLL Managing Director Luke Pope and Senior Associate Ross Crabtree are the leasing agents.
Merritt Properties also is expanding into Clay County.
The company announced Oct. 25 it bought 16 acres in Clay County for the development of a 158,400-square-foot flex-light industrial business park.
Merritt bought the property Oct. 19 for $4 million from Armstrong Development Inc., according to Clay County records.
The site is within the 6,400-acre Oakleaf master-planned community.
The park will feature four single-story, flex-light industrial buildings from 21,600 to 57,600 square feet. Each will offer 20-foot clear heights, auto parking and truck courts.
Construction is expected to begin by the second quarter of 2023.
Merritt also owns and manages Magnolia Park, a three-building, 80,863-square-foot flex-light industrial park in Duval County.
