Regent Aerospace Corp., a California-based company that repairs aircraft interiors, has invested in a Northwest Jacksonville warehouse-distribution center.
The company has not responded to questions about its plans for the property, including whether it will rehabilitate the aged, vacant property at 1507 Industrial Blvd. for a maintenance, repair and overhaul facility.
That possibility is a question because the city confirmed it has been contacted about the site.
Monica Landeros, public communications officer for Mayor Alvin Brown, said Thursday a consultant inquired about the property with the city Office of Economic Development.
Landeros said the consultant made the inquiry Aug. 20, but said the city could not comment further because of a confidentiality agreement. A city website indicates the property is within an Enterprise Zone, which means it qualifies for state tax credits for creating jobs and capital investment.
Jax Industrial Developments LLC, headed by Regent Aerospace President Reza Soltanianzadeh, paid $1.27 million for the property, which is zoned for light industrial use.
The sale was recorded Thursday with the Duval County Clerk of Court.
Regent Aerospace provided a $1.25 million mortgage and security agreement to Jax Industrial Developments LLC.
Soltanianzadeh did not return a call or two emails for information about the plans.
The deal was brokered by Newmark Grubb Phoenix Realty Group, whose sign is on the property. Broker Bryan Bartlett said he represented Jax Industrial Developments LLC and John Richardson represented the seller. Bartlett declined further comment.
Jax Industrial Developments LLC bought the property from O'Dell Investments LLP.
Regent Aerospace is based in Valencia, Calif., and appears to be a city and state targeted industry in the sector of aviation and aerospace.
The company's regentaeropsace.com site says it is the world's leading FAA-approved Part 145 Repair Station for aircraft interiors including seating, galley, lavatory, side walls and overhead bins, in-flight entertainment system, inserts and carts.
The website says that in addition to its headquarters, Regent Aerospace has major operations in Indianapolis, Beijing, Singapore and El Salvador.
Its Airbase Services Inc. division has operations in Miami, Grand Prairie, Texas, and Chicago. That division provides repairs, overhauls and exchanges for galley and other interior areas.
Regent Aerospace says that, with its subsidiaries, it is the world's largest independent aircraft interior maintenance, repair and overhaul company.
Regent Aerospace was founded in 1993 and has continued to expand its operations. It has more than 200 employees at headquarters and more than 800 total.
It's not clear how many employees would be involved in a Jacksonville operation.
Plans to do business in Jacksonville were filed with the state two weeks ago, about the same time the consultant approached the Office of Economic Development.
Jax Industrial Developments LLC filed articles of incorporation with the Florida Secretary of State Division of Corporations on Aug. 23, amending the name from JKX Industrial Developments LLC. That name had been originally filed Aug. 21.
If the property will be used for a repair facility, it will need rehabilitation. Even if it is used for storage, it still appears to need some repairs.
The property's signage shows it has been the Peninsular Warehouse Co. Inc. The site is across West Fifth Street from the Coca-Cola Bottling Co. plant.
County records show the property, whose 2012 certified taxable value was $4.2 million, comprises four buildings that total 351,650 square feet of space.
A spokesman for Enterprise Florida, the state's economic-development agency, said he could not comment if the project was under consideration because of a state confidentiality law.
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