Greenleaf gets major tenant

Swisher Company has signed a six-year, 14,069-square-foot lease to occupy three full floors in the Greenleaf office building at the corner of Laura and Adams streets. Listed on the National Register of Historic Places, the 12-story office building has undergone a half-million dollar building-wide restoration since its purchase by Taurus Southern. Recent renovation efforts to maintain the building’s historical integrity have included elevator upgrades, restored terrazzo flooring and terra-cotta tile, refinished windows and polished brass, plus exterior work on the first and second floors including brass doors and windows. Oliver Barakat and Joe Ayers of CB Richard Ellis represented the owner and Dean Friloux of Friloux Commercial Real Estate in Jacksonville represented the tenant.

“At Greenleaf we cater to the 4,000 to 5,000 square foot, full-floor user that favors a boutique style of space versus conventional,” said Jeff McFadden, managing partner of owner-developer Taurus Southern Investments, LLC of Jacksonville and Winter Park.

While the preservation project represented Taurus Southern’s initial entry into the Jacksonville market in 2005, the company in 2006 acquired four Southside office parks containing 698,501 square feet of rentable area for more than $70 million. Taurus subsequently invested upwards of $18 million for capital improvements to their Southside portfolio. The company has also expanded its Jacksonville office on Phillips Highway.

Swisher Company President and CEO George Swisher said he’s moving his business and two others from San Marco to Downtown because he likes the atmosphere and the kind of energy that can help generate for an advertising and marketing firm.

“We really like the urban environment,” said Swisher. “The ability to get out and be around people makes a difference. Within a two-mile radius there’s all kinds of culture, food and entertainment. It was really enticing. And, aesthetically, this is a great building.”