As it continues exploring a headquarters move, the nonprofit Wounded Warrior Project is expanding into an entire building in South Jacksonville.
A $900,000 renovation is pending for the nonprofit at 4899 Belfort Road in Butler Plaza for work within the four-story building at Butler Boulevard and Belfort Road.
Leasing director Dan Santinga said Wounded Warrior Project has been expanding and now leases 76,000 square feet in the Butler I building. Later this year, it will occupy the entire 81,608-square-foot structure, he said.
The expansion sparks questions about the organization’s previously reported intentions to explore a headquarters move to St. Johns County.
Wounded Warrior Project spokeswoman Rebecca Melesky said Monday the organization continues to review its space needs, including exploring options to lease, buy or build expanded office space. No decision for a permanent solution has been made, she said in an email.
St. Johns County Commission Chair Rachael Bennett on Monday referred questions to county Economic Development Director Melissa Glasgow, who did not respond to several emails and phone calls.
A spokesman said the Board of County Commissioners approved a request for incentives in September and no additional action has be taken by the county.
In August, Wounded Warrior Project Inc. submitted an economic development grant application to St. Johns County for a possible relocation of its headquarters. The two sites shown on plans were in Nocatee and World Golf Village.
Wounded Warrior Project stated it would develop a new 150,000-square-foot project, relocate 220 full-time employees and hire 280 more. It anticipated a capital investment of $35 million in the land and building and another $9 million in equipment.
The application stated the jobs would pay an average annual wage of $62,000. Construction would start in 2016 and the facility would be operational by Dec. 31, 2017.
The Florida Times-Union reported in September that St. Johns County commissioners approved allowing the county attorney to prepare an economic development grant agreement for a proposed incentive of $500,000, paid over 10 years, for the organization to develop corporate headquarters at one of the sites.
Officials were doing a cost-benefit analysis of their options, according to the newspaper.
No legislation has been filed with the city of Jacksonville for a Wounded Warrior Project expansion, according to the city’s website.
A city spokeswoman declined comment Monday when asked if Wounded Warrior Project has discussed incentives for remaining headquartered in Jacksonville.
Wounded Warrior Project was founded in 2003 and relocated its headquarters to Jacksonville from Roanoke, Va., in 2006.
According to Santinga, Liberty Property Trust leased 5,000 square feet to Wounded Warrior Project at Liberty Business Park in 2006 and it subsequently expanded twice. It then decided to move to Butler Plaza, also a Liberty property.
Santinga is Jacksonville director of leasing for Lingerfelt CommonWealth Partners, which manages the building and other former Liberty Property Trust structures.
Santinga said Wounded Warrior Project is making a significant investment at its Butler Plaza location and Lingerfelt CommonWealth “continues to accommodate their growth.” He said all tenants but one have been relocated.
He said Wounded Warrior Project has several years remaining on its lease term, so he considers a move to be unlikely in the foreseeable future.
He declined comment on the lease details.
One of those expansions, thanks to a donation from CSX Chairman Michael Ward, involved the creation of the TRACK program for education and rehabilitation. That program remains at Liberty Business Park, Santinga said.
Since the move to Butler Plaza about 2010, Wounded Warrior Project has expanded from 30,000 square feet to its current plans to lease the entire building, he said.
The mission of the organization is “to honor and empower wounded warriors.” It says it serves more than 63,000 warriors and more than 9,000 family members through 20 programs and services. For more information, visit woundedwarriorproject.org.
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