from staff
DUDA, a diversified land company headquartered in Oviedo, Fla., has acquired the Dyal-Upchurch Building at the corner of Main and Bay streets.
“We are pleased to add this historic treasure to our company’s growing portfolio of commercial properties,” said Barton Weeks, executive vice president and chief financial officer of DUDA. “As a company that has been in business for over 80 years in Florida, we appreciate the legacy of this building and its significance to the city of Jacksonville.”
The Viera Company, DUDA’s real estate development subsidiary, will oversee the management and maintenance of the building.
“It is our intention to invest in this historic building, providing the level of maintenance the building deserves and ensuring that it continues to serve as a landmark and an asset to the city’s downtown and business community,” said Scott Miller, vice president of sales and marketing for The Viera Company. “We recognize the efforts of the Laura Street Improvement Plan and the push for the second phase of the Bay Street Improvement Plan, and we want to be certain that our property is consistent with those efforts.”
Major capital expenditures underway include replacement of the roof and upgrades to the building’s air conditioning and heating system along with other deferred general maintenance items.
“Over and above our stewardship responsibilities for the building itself, our responsibilities extend to the fine collection of business tenants that occupy the Dyal-Upchurch building,” said Miller.
The current tenants of the building include Edwards Cohen; Harris Brown, P.A.; On Ideas, Inc.; Securities Research, Inc.; and Southeast Legal Copy, Ltd.
“We look forward to our new association with all of the building’s tenants and the city of Jacksonville,” said Miller.
The building was previously owned by Orlando-based developer Cameron Kuhn. However, Kuhn — who owned other buildings Downtown — defaulted on the loan and the building was put up for auction.