by Miranda G. McLeod
Staff Writer
It’s no surprise that, as a young boy, Harry Trevett’s favorite toys included building blocks. Growing up in Jacksonville with his aging grandfather, the future entrepreneur learned how to manage rental properties. Eventually, he became the owner and president of several businesses in the real estate and construction industry.
A certified general contractor and a licensed real estate broker, the words “pending regulatory approval” are often uttered by Trevett. He is the chairman of the First Bank of Jacksonville, president of Trevett Mock Inc., Trevett & Associates Real Estate Group, Trevett Homes Inc., and Trevett Construction Group Inc. It’s easy to see why he often awaits the approval of some governing body.
Trevett was also a home builder and was recognized by the Northeast Florida Builders Association as Builder of the Year in 1997. He enjoyed home building but doesn’t miss it, he said.
“What we do is creative enough,” said Trevett, who built approximately 1,500 houses during his 20 years as a home builder.
In 1999, Trevett was a founding director of the First National Bank Nassau County, along with his business partner Jay Mock. In 2004, Mock and Trevett bought the First Bank of Jacksonville.
The two have worked together over the last 15 years and eight years ago began an official partnership.
The pair’s latest developments with First Bank of Jacksonville have helped drive some of the companies’ development interests, according to Trevett. For a while, the duo concentrated on the infrastructure and critical mass for the bank. That goal has been achieved and the bank is expanding.
First Bank of Jacksonville recently hit a landmark with more than $100 million in total assets; 15 years ago the bank had only $20 million.
A branch in Baymeadows opened in November two more are expected — pending regulatory approval — at San Pablo Road and Atlantic Boulevard as well as Lakewood at University and San Jose boulevards.
Current Trevett Mock Inc., real estate projects include a 14,500 square foot retail center at San Pablo, a 10,000 square foot office space facility in Amelia Island, developing a seven acre parcel in St. Augustine and an 11,000 square foot facility in Lakewood.
The 10,000 square foot facility in Amelia Island will be developed into a pedestrian friendly shopping village at A1A and Amelia Concourse Boulevard, where there is a Home Depot and a Target. The project, called Amelia Station, will be difference than the existing shopping centers and much like San Marco or Avondale, he said.
“We want community, neighborhood type tenants,” said Trevett. “Maybe a spa
and a neighborhood restaurant...not big box stores, although it would be great to have a Barnes & Noble there.”
The Lakewood development will break ground this quarter. Trevett said the company had a vision of what the particular area would need.
“We deemed it a nice locale for our vision and hired an architect to follow the same style as (The) Bolles (School), Epping Forrest (Yacht Club) and other San Jose structures,” said Trevett. “The architectural elements complement the surroundings.”
Trevett said the company has looked at developing in other Southeast Georgia and Northeast Florida locations. He has looked at downtown Jacksonville and wouldn’t rule it out for future developments. However, for time being he’s continuing to work on his portfolio.
“We have enough to keep us busy for all of 2007 and 2008 — even if we did nothing else,” he said.
The next step in expanding Trevett’s grasp in the industry is to formalize a brokerage company, he said.
Trevett said his companies have received numerous requests for help in that arena and wants to make that a formal entity.
But that won’t be a sudden move. For now, Trevett wants to focus his concentration on the bank.
“We are empathetic to successful small businesses because we’ve been there,” said Trevett. “We bring a relationship for small companies. Anybody could bank with anybody, but First Bank of Jacksonville’s clients come to us for a reason.”