A new chapter opened Feb. 2 for Downtown Jacksonville’s The Greenleaf building when JWB Real Estate Capital moved its headquarters into renovated spaces in the historic tower.
In a news release, JWB announced it had completed the renovation and that the company’s 120 employees had been relocated to the 12-story building at northwest Adams and Laura streets.
“The Greenleaf restoration and our move to Downtown underscores JWB’s commitment to long-term investment in Downtown Jacksonville along with its preservation and adaptive reuse,” said Alex Sifakis, president of JWB Real Estate Cos., in the release. “We are proud to be a part of bringing activity and vibrancy to the Laura Street corridor.”
JWB previously was headquartered at 7563 Philips Highway in Deerwood Center in the Southside.
It purchased the Greenleaf & Crosby building, as it was previously known, in 2022 for nearly $7 million with plans for the relocation.
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.
According to the release, the final cost was $17 million.
The renovated building provides 44,000 square feet of office space for lease as well as the restaurant space on the ground floor. Total square footage is 66,000 square feet, the release stated.
JWB received permits to renovate the second, third, fourth, fifth, 11th and 12th floors. Plans were as follows:
• 12th floor: Open office and collaboration space, a kitchen and a small putting green for staff.
• 11th floor: Conference rooms, open office areas, collaboration space, kitchens and a mother’s room.
• Fourth floor: Conference rooms, open office areas, collaboration space, kitchen and atrium space.
• Third floor: Amenity floor for use by all tenants, including a kitchen, pantry, open office and atrium.
• Second floor: Open office space, conference rooms, a lounge, kitchen, collaboration rooms and other space.
“The reuse features office space, including the relocation of JWB’s headquarters on multiple floors, along with a location of Regus (cowork space) and the headquarters of TruTechnology,” the release stated. “Ground-floor dining and retail includes the Oak Steakhouse (currently under construction), the recently opened HiReformance Institute (Downtown’s first Pilates studio), and a future basement speakeasy and bar.”
The Greenleaf is designated as a local historic landmark and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
According to the release, the building was constructed in 1926 for the Greenleaf & Crosby jewelry company. Daily Record archives show the building as being built in 1927.
Studio 9 Architecture & Interior Design of Jacksonville was the architect for the renovation. Codes-ABC Inc. of Orange Park was the private provider for code compliance.
JWB has been involved in several Downtown projects. It is a partner in the $750 million Gateway Jax Pearl Square redevelopment project and has completed adaptive reuses of the former Federal Reserve Building at southwest Church and Hogan streets ($6.5 million); the neighboring Florida Baptist Convention structure at 218 W. Church St. ($9.5 million); Porter House Mansion at 510 N. Julia St. ($1 million); and Downtown Seminole Club, now Sweet Pete’s Candy, at 400 N. Hogan St. ($600,000).