The city is reviewing two more permits for JWB Real Estate Capital’s headquarters space in the Downtown Greenleaf & Crosby Building, which would boost the project cost for four of the company’s targeted five floors to almost $2.53 million.
Permit applications show an estimated $554,000 project to build-out 3,708 square feet of space on the fourth floor and $550,000 for 3,744 square feet of space on the 11th floor of the 12-story structure at 208 N. Laura St.
Both permits show conference rooms, open office areas, collaboration space, kitchens and, on the 11th floor, a mother’s room. The fourth floor includes atrium space.
Jacksonville-based Avant Construction Group is the contractor. Studio 9 Architecture & Interior Design of Jacksonville is the architect. Codes-ABC Inc. of Orange Park is the private provider for code compliance.
The historic building is at northwest Adams and Laura streets. A marketing brochure by The Urban Division at Colliers calls it Greenleaf Tower.
The latest two follow a couple issued since year-end, also to Avant Construction.
On Jan. 31, the city issued a renovation permit for the fifth floor at a project cost of $552,000. That came after one Dec. 31 for the second floor at $872,350.
JWB President Alex Sifakis said May 27 the company will take the second, fourth, fifth, 11th and 12th floors.
That means the last permit for review would be the 12th floor.
Sifakis said JWB will move in when the renovations are completed, likely early next year.
He also said occupancy of the building will be 100% when the company takes occupancy.
The second floor comprises 6,394 square feet to create open office space, conference rooms, a lounge and kitchen, collaboration rooms and other space.
The fifth floor comprises 3,880 square feet of space with conference and collaboration rooms as well as open office space and an atrium.
Jacksonville-based JWB Real Estate Capital intends to relocate in phases from 7563 Philips Highway in Deerwood Center in the Southside to the Downtown building, now called The Greenleaf.
The permits follow one for Regus, which leases space to provide flexible offices, to open on the eighth and ninth floors.
The Oak Steakhouse intends to open on the first floor in the former Jacobs Jewelers space. Indigo Road Hospitality Group announced Nov. 26 the steakhouse will open in late 2025.
Sifakis said May 27 the Oak Steakhouse would open in 2026.
JWB Real Estate Capital says on a property brochure that:
“Originally built in 1927, Greenleaf Tower is now undergoing a $16 million-dollar interior renovation that will include an on-site restaurant on the ground floor space that was once home to Jacksonville’s finest jewelry store,” which was Jacobs Jewelers.
In October 2023, the Jacksonville City Council voted to designate the Greenleaf & Crosby Building a local historic landmark.
The structure is one of the few remaining examples of the mixed-use commercial buildings constructed in Downtown soon after the Great Fire of 1901 that destroyed most of the city.
JWB Real Estate Capital bought the building for nearly $7 million in 2022.
The city Downtown Investment Authority approved a $4.97 million forgivable loan package in August 2023 for JWB to finance improvements at the building at an estimated cost of $16.88 million.
The renovated building provided 44,000 square feet of office space for lease as well as the restaurant space on the ground floor.
Colliers Senior Vice President Matthew Clark and the Colliers Urban Division is the listing agent.