GEM Products Inc., an Orange Park-based marine hardware supplier, is preparing for an expansion into Flagler Center.
President and CEO Matthew Bridgewater said Monday that GEM would move its primary operations to the new facility, which it hopes to complete by the end of 2017.
It also intends to keep its current facility for now. “We are just growing and out of space,” he said.
Bridgewater declined to discuss more details.
The company filed plans last week with the city for an almost 71,000-square-foot office-warehouse to be built in two phases on 5.36 acres at Flagler Center Boulevard and Corklan Drive.
Preliminary site plans show a first phase of 38,400 square feet, comprising 26,000 square feet of warehouse and industrial space and 12,400 square feet of office space.
A second phase is shown at 32,167 square feet, consisting of 23,167 square feet of warehouse space and 9,000 square feet of office space. England, Thims & Miller Inc. is the civil engineer.
Bridgewater did not specify if one or both phases would be completed by the end of 2017.
Craig Meek, principal with Meek Development Group., was named in the plans.
Meek said Monday he represents GEM as the broker in the land acquisition and will serve as project manager.
He said Collis McGeachy and Jess Simmons with CBRE represent Flagler Center.
Meek expects the builder to break ground on the project by early in the second quarter of 2017.
GEM Products was founded in 1961. It says on its gemlux.com site it has grown into one of the world’s leading stainless steel marine and boat hardware suppliers.
Current ownership has been in place since 1980. It is privately owned and holds numerous U.S., European Union and Asia Pacific patents for its innovation in recent years, it says.
Catalog items include outriggers, hinges, plumbing, deck hardware, rod holders and steering wheels.
The site says it created the proprietary GEMLUX Electropolishing process, which provides a mirror-like and corrosion-resistant finish to stainless steel.
GEM Products is based at 140 Industrial Loop in Orange Park in Clay County.
The Flagler Center plans appear to be a significant expansion in Duval County.
The Clay County Property Appraiser’s Office shows GEM Products owns a 20,846-square-foot metal building constructed in 1984 and a 3,900-square-foot building developed in 1999.
The site is 1.33 acres.
Permits for apartment, retail developments
The St. Johns River Water Management District has either issued permits or filed a notice of intent to do so to:
• International Management Co. LLC for a permit extension for the Northpoint Village shopping center on 16.81 acres at Yellow Bluff and New Berlin roads.
• Harmony Farms of Jacksonville LLC for Costco Wholesale on 43.72 acres at Parramore and Collins roads in Southwest Jacksonville. It is an almost 153,000-square-foot structure.
• St. Vincent’s Health Systems Inc. for St. Vincent’s HealthCare at 2001 County Road 210 in St. Johns County for a medical office building.
• East San Marco LLC for the East San Marco residential and retail project on 3.25 acres at Hendricks Avenue and Atlantic Boulevard.
• Two outparcels at Kernan and Atlantic boulevards for Property Management Support Inc. at the Atlantic North shopping center on 1.97 acres. Each building is 7,500 square feet.
• Lakeview at River City apartments at 12900 Broxton Bay Drive for RCM Acquisition LLC.
• Wawa at Blanding Boulevard and Filmore Street in Clay County for property owner 680 Blanding Blvd. LLC on 4.26 acres.
• West Kernan Retail at Beach and Kernan boulevards for West Kernan Loan Acquisition LLC on 6.84 acres. The application is for two access driveways and a turn lane.
• River City Rehab Facility, a commercial skilled nursing facility, at 15480 Max Leggett Parkway for Ramco Parkway LLC on 9.66 acres.
• PDQ Jacksonville at The Crossing at Town Center for H Squared Restaurant Partner LLC on 1.64 acres.
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