Prominence office park in Baymeadows is gaining another tenant — Digital Risk LLC.
Digital Risk, a financial services company, will relocate 320 employees from JTB Center, at 5011 Gate Parkway, to 8900 Freedom Commerce Parkway, according to spokeswoman Brandie Young.
Young said the move will take place in mid-January, the month the lease expires at Gate Parkway.
“The company opted for the new, larger space largely because of the improved amenities for employees, such as increased parking, restaurants and cafeteria,” Young said.
She said the park, at Baymeadows Road and Interstate 95, is centrally located.
Digital Risk is one of several new tenants signed at the former Freedom Commerce Centre, whose owners have been repositioning the office park since buying it three years ago.
Crocker Partners has lifted occupancy from about 30 percent upon the purchase to 71 percent with the newest leases.
Young said Digital Risk will move from 40,000 square feet at JTB Center to about 55,000 square feet at Prominence. JLL, also known as Jones Lang LaSalle, said in a news release the company would lease 57,108 square feet of space.
JLL said the move allows Digital Risk to expand its staff to 500 employees. Young said Friday there are no plans to expand.
Scott Henley with Newmark Grubb Phoenix Realty Group and Tom Green with Providence One Partners represented Digital Risk. JLL Vice Presidents Kaycee Gardner and Jesse Shimp represented Crocker Partners.
The 8900 Freedom Commerce Parkway structure is Building 100, one of seven office buildings in the park. Digital Risk will lease about a third of the four-story building.
Crocker Partners, of Boca Raton, bought the park in December 2012 and renamed it from Freedom Commerce Centre to Prominence. It launched an $8 million renovation in April.
Joining Digital Risk as new tenants early next year will be the headquarters for NGA Human Resources North America and Jacksonville-based Southeastern Grocers LLC, which will occupy the entire Building 200.
NGA Human Resources signed a lease in March for 70,000 square feet of space. Southeastern Grocers signed a lease in October for 160,000 square feet.
JLL said occupancy should rise in Prominence to 78 percent with the pending announcement of another tenant.
Digital Risk is a Maitland-based consulting company that offers mortgage risk, compliance and transaction management services and solutions to the mortgage industry. It is owned by Mphasis Ltd.
Digital Risk moved into Jacksonville in 2010 upon the city and state’s approval that April of $525,000 in Qualified Target Industry tax refunds, of which the city was responsible for up to $105,000.
Digital Risk pledged to create 175 jobs by the end of 2012 and moved into the JTB Center.
The company promised to pay an average wage of $45,564 and said it would hire mortgage underwriters, analysts, IT support and operations management.
By year-end 2012, Digital Risk had grown to about 204 employees, according to a city summary.
Digital Risk negotiated additional incentives with the city and state, but the city said a 2013 deal adopted by City Council was not executed. It also said the company has deferred a request for a city match for grant payments tied to a state Quick Action Closing Fund.
By early 2014, Digital Risk had 262 employees in Jacksonville, but reclassified 20 jobs as part-time, contract or a mix in response to volatility in the mortgage markets.
By yearend 2014, Young said the company had 226 jobs and has added almost 100 more since then.
“The bottom line is the company is dedicated to job creation in Jacksonville, and has well surpassed all commitments,” Young said late Thursday.
Avison Young opens in Jacksonville
Toronto-based Avison Young has opened a Jacksonville commercial real estate office that will be led by Ross Carrier and Mark Montgomery.
Avison Young said Thursday it also was awarded the exclusive leasing of 12 buildings in Flagler Center on behalf of Crocker Partners, which bought the structures last year in a joint venture with Investcorp.
Avison Young said the almost 1.36 million square feet of space in the Flagler Business Center comprises Class A office and industrial space. The center is in the suburban Southside.
The Jacksonville team also represents three buildings in Gran Park at the Avenues totaling 241,277 square feet of space. Fairlead Commercial Real Estate bought those structures last year with an equity partner.
Carrier was most recently with Flagler Development Group in Jacksonville for 12 years. Montgomery was with CNL Commercial Real Estate, focusing on the Orlando market as well as around the state, for eight years.
Both are senior vice presidents at Avison Young and are based in Flagler Center at 12724 Gran Bay Parkway. Carrier said they joined the company Oct. 1.
Avison Young said in a news release that Carrier’s expertise includes sale and lease transactions totaling more than 5 million square feet. Carrier said in the release that buildings in the suburban office market, especially in Southside, “are positioned to reap the benefits” of a resurgence led by financial services, technology and insurance firms.
Avison Young says it was founded in 1978 and comprises more than 2,000 real estate professionals in 71 offices. It provides leasing, tenant representation, sales, property management advisory and other services to the office, industrial, retail and multifamily markets.
The firm, owned and operated by its principals, has offices across the U.S., including seven in Florida. It also has offices in Canada and Europe.
Avison Young said it opened first Florida office about three years ago and has expanded from one office and 30 employees to the seven offices and 150 employees.
According to their LinkedIn profiles, Carrier also previously was with Trammell Crow Co., CICC Properties and The Hogan Group. Montgomery worked with CB Richard Ellis, Trammell Crow and Lincoln Property Co.
@MathisKb
(904) 356-2466