JinkoSolar (U.S.) Industries Inc. is starting to build-out its West Jacksonville solar-panel factory.
The city is reviewing a building-permit application to put in a separation wall at the 407,435-square-foot building for JinkoSolar at a cost of $150,000.
A separation wall is just the start of the build-out. More permits will be needed to prepare the space.
The wall splits the structure, at 4660 New World Ave., into a 283,410-square-foot space for JinkoSolar and the remainder is designated as existing storage.
“Jinko has only leased a portion of the building, so they need to erect a demising wall to separate their space from the remainder of the building,” said Dan Tatsch, senior vice president of Hillwood, which is developing AllianceFlorida at Cecil Commerce Center.
China-based JinkoSolar agreed to open a 200-job plant at AllianceFlorida with the support of city and state incentives.
The jobs must be created by the end of 2019.
The company targets an opening by September or October. Jobs will pay an average annual $45,562.
JinkoSolar Business Development Director Jeff Juger said in May the project is on schedule.
The economic development agreement with the city does not specify the amount of space JinkoSolar will lease.
Regency Plaza in Arlington was sold in early May.
Regency Plaza Partners LLC, an affiliate of America’s Realty LLC, paid $10.8 million for the 205,700-square-foot shopping center at Live Oak Drive and Atlantic Boulevard, near Regency Square Mall.
CenterState Bank issued a $8.25 million mortgage to Regency Plaza Partners. America’s Realty is based near Baltimore.
The deed and mortgage were executed May 4 and recorded Wednesday with the Duval County Clerk of Courts.
Live Oak Improvements LLC, an affiliate of DLC Management Corp. of Elmsford, New York, sold the property. It was represented by The Shopping Center Group.
Regency Plaza’s anchors include OfficeMax, Chuck E. Cheese’s, dd’s Discounts and Burlington Stores Inc. Burlington extended its lease through 2023, according to The Shopping Center Group.
The plaza, which is 99 percent leased, was built in 1973 and renovated in 2011. It encompasses 18.4 acres.
The Duval County Property Appraiser’s office lists a 2018 assessed value in progress of almost $8.8 million.
Live Oak Improvements paid $6.5 million for Regency Plaza in 2012, property records show. The address is 9822-9840 Atlantic Blvd.
Anthony Blanco, partner and director of investment sales with The Shopping Center Group, said in a news release that the trade area surrounding Regency Plaza “is one of Jacksonville’s most seasoned with a regional mall — and is experiencing a resurgence in market rents and occupancy levels.”
The plaza is stable with its anchors “for the foreseeable future.” Anchor base rents are $5.40 a square foot, he said.
The release said almost 142,500 consumers live within a 10-minute drive and 73,000 daytime employees work in the trade area.
The average daily traffic count along Atlantic Boulevard near Regency Plaza is about 54,500, it said.
Mueller Industries Inc. will join Alta Lakes Commerce Center in North Jacksonville.
The Memphis-based industrial manufacturer will lease 48,075 square feet of warehouse and office space at 2550 Cabot Commerce Drive in Building 2.
Dav-Lin Interiors Inc. is the contractor for the $402,225 build-out, according to a building-permit application.
Plans show Mueller Industries is one of four tenants in the building.
The work comprises interior build-out and minor site modifications to shell space. Plans show office, warehouse, staging, racking and related uses.
The company applied for a Certificate of Use to operate a warehouse there.
A company representative has not returned a call or email for information.
Mueller Industries Inc. describes itself as a global leader in the manufacturing and distribution of copper tube and fittings; brass and copper alloy rod, bar and shapes; aluminum and brass forgings; aluminum and copper impact extrusions; plastic fittings, pipe and valves; refrigeration valves and fittings; and fabricated tubular products.
It is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange.
It provides wholesalers, retail distributors and original equipment manufacturers with flow control and industrial products.
The company said it began in 1917 in Port Huron, Michigan, as Mueller Metals Co. and later Mueller Brass Co.