Mercedes-Benz USA wants to invest at least $2.8 million to expand its 4-year-old North Jacksonville parts distribution center.
The carmaker leases space in a more than 500,000-square-foot distribution center at 13470 International Parkway, which is in the Jacksonville International Tradeport near Jacksonville International Airport, according to plans filed with the city.
Mercedes-Benz opened a 415,000-square-foot Southern Region facility in 2010 at the Tradeport. Four business units were moved into the facility: the sales operation’s Southern regional office, a parts distribution center, the quality evaluation center and the learning performance center.
The Montvale, N.J.-based company said last week it will expand into another 120,000 square feet of warehouse space there as well as add a 38,000-square-foot mezzanine over its current bin locations.
A Mercedes-Benz spokeswoman said the company is expanding the center to align with its growth strategy, which ultimately will expand its supply of available parts.
The project also will enhance the company’s ability to service dealers and customers. The company said it now has 136 employees there, but did not say whether more employees will be hired with the expansion.
Plans filed with the city show the addition of a storage mezzanine and an extension of the first-floor area by removing a wall.
No contractor is identified on plans.
Meanwhile, the landlord, California-based Majestic Realty Co., took out a $24 million mortgage on the building last Tuesday, according to the Duval County Clerk of Court.
Prudential Insurance Co. of America issued the mortgage and security agreement to Majestic International Tradeport LLC, based in California.
Majestic Realty representatives did not return two calls for comment.
Majestic Realty bought the building in 2005 as part of a 47-acre purchase comprising two structures totaling more than 800,000 square feet.
The Mercedes-Benz structure sits on 28.3 acres and is assessed at $17.4 million, according to the Duval County Property Appraiser’s Office. Records say the 544,319-square-foot warehouse was built in 2008.
Majestic Realty’s other property, at 13398 International Parkway, No. 100, is an 18.4-acre site with a 317,132-square-foot building built in 2006. It is assessed at $9.97 million, records show.
Mercedes-Benz USA in Montvale is responsible for the distribution, marketing and customer service for all Mercedes-Benz, smart and Sprinter products in the United States.
Mercedes-Benz is part of the Daimler Group, based in Germany.
Intelligent Office opening Downtown
The recently sold Riverplace Tower is gaining a new tenant.
The Jacksonville franchise owner of Intelligent Office is renovating space on the eighth floor of the 28-story Downtown Southbank riverfront tower and expects an investment of up to $300,000 to complete the project.
Intelligent Office is a Denver-based chain that provides staffing, administrative and reception services, office suites and meeting rooms for mobile executives and small business owners.
Intelligent Office in Jacksonville is owned by Clyde’s Ride Inc., led by President Clyde Yandell and Secretary Juliana Yandell of Ponte Vedra Beach. Clyde Yandell is the former senior vice president and chief sales officer for CIT Bank LLC.
Yandell said Monday he expects the business will open by the end of the year in about 4,700 square feet in the tower, at 1301 Riverplace Blvd., and will start with three people on staff.
Yandell said the eighth floor at Riverplace Tower is a mechanical floor and Intelligent Office will occupy all the available office space there.
He explained that Intelligent Office provides executive suites for rent and virtual services for businesses. The company’s model is Class A office space and he looked at several Downtown buildings.
“The Southbank is poised for growth,” he said. In addition, he said the building management and the private University Club in the tower helped in the decision-making.
Riverplace Tower was sold Oct. 30 by Gate Petroleum Co. to Lingerfelt CommonWealth Partners for $29 million. The building is about 75 percent occupied.
A building-permit application shows an almost $160,000 renovation. Yandell said the total will be closer to $300,000 with equipment and furniture included.
Adams Interior Contractors Inc. is the contractor for the project, which the permit application shows as 4,036 square feet.
The intelligentoffice.com site says Intelligent Office has 60 franchises in the United States and Canada, including two more in Florida in Miami and Palm Beach Gardens.
Intelligent Office was founded in 1995 and began franchising in 1999. Clients have access to all virtual office services at all location across North America.
Intelligent Office joins a trending industry in Jacksonville, especially Downtown, for companies that provide office services for clients who seek mobile, short-term or supportive executive space.
Also on the Southbank, Regus, an international company based in Luxembourg, leases the 12th floor of the Aetna Building.
On the Northbank Downtown, Regus leases the 25th floor at the Bank of America Tower, while Jacksonville-based Executive Suite Professionals leases the 14th floor at EverBank Center.
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