Two shopping centers along Beach and Atlantic boulevards, not far from the Intracoastal Waterway, changed hands this week for almost $50 million.
A New York investor took control of the Medical & Merchants Center along southeast Beach Boulevard and San Pablo Road for $25.7 million.
And a company related to Publix Super Markets Inc. bought the Harbour Place Shopping Center at southwest Atlantic and Hodges boulevards for $24 million.
Coincidentally, Publix anchors both centers and intends to renovate both stores.
The transactions closed Monday and Tuesday and were recorded Wednesday with the Duval County Clerk of Court.
Blueberry Commons LLC, in care of The Josephs Group of Orangeburg, N.Y., bought the Medical & Merchants Center on Tuesday from Jacksonville property owner Rockford M&M Property LLC.
TD Bank issued a mortgage and security agreement to Blueberry Commons for $18 million.
Rockford formerly was known as Carriere RE Holdings II LLC. Carriere bought the center in 2013 for $12 million, according to property records. The property is assessed at $14 million for tax purposes.
The 23-acre site, at 14444 Beach Blvd., also is anchored by Planet Fitness and Family Care Partners. It includes a Fifth Third Bank branch and Shrimp Shack restaurant.
Records show the property comprises an almost 156,000-square foot shopping center, built in 1993, along with the 3,392-square-foot bank branch built in 1995 and the 2,082-square-foot restaurant constructed in 1997.
The city is reviewing a permit for Elkins Construction LLC to remodel the 62,000-square-foot Publix supermarket at a project cost of $750,000.
Rockford Property Holdings LLC, the managing member of Rockford M&M Property LLC, is led by Dr. William Carriere, a family physician who leads Family Care Partners. The practice has multiple area locations.
The seller was represented by the Colliers International Northeast Florida Investment Services Group team of Scott Rogers and Ernie Saltmarsh IV, assisted by Ronald McVay.
The seller also was advised by Bruce Buie of Buie Realty and Fred Pollitt of Available Real Estate Co.
Meanwhile, PSM Harbour Place LLC, based at Publix’s Lakeland headquarters and registered with the state by Publix General Counsel John Attaway Jr., bought the 103,522-square-foot Harbour Place on Monday.
The center, built in 1990, includes a standalone Wells Fargo Bank branch built in 1991. CVS Pharmacy, Jimmy Hula’s and Jerry’s Sports Grille also are tenants at the center.
The 18-acre site at 13170 Atlantic Blvd. was sold by Harbour Place S/C LLC, in care of Lat Purser & Associates Inc. in Charlotte, N.C. The LLC’s manager is Lat W. Purser III and the registered agent is Lat Purser Florida Inc. in Jacksonville.
Geneva Henderson, executive vice president of Lat Purser in Jacksonville, represented the seller. She said the center is fully leased.
The city is reviewing a permit application for Elkins Construction LLC to renovate the more than 50,000-square-foot Publix there at a construction cost of $850,000.
A Publix representative was not available for comment about the acquisition.
Property records show the site has a 2016 assessed value of $10.1 million. The seller bought it in 2007 for $6.55 million.
Harbour Place is near Queen’s Harbour Yacht and Country Club.
Grant Thornton counts down to May 2 opening in Bank of America Tower
Grant Thornton LLP will open its Jacksonville office May 2 in the Bank of America Tower Downtown.
Spokesman Adam Bond said the accounting firm should employ 50 people in the next few years.
He said 15 employees have been assigned and another 15 should join by year-end.
Julie Lamey is partner-in-charge of the Jacksonville office. The firm has been working out of temporary space in the Regus center in the tower since October.
The city approved a permit for Hitt Contracting Inc. to renovate space on the 10th floor of the tower at 50 N. Laura St. at a project cost of $395,789.
Bond said the firm does not disclose its investment costs, but said it would be substantially higher than the permit amount. It will lease 4,800 square feet of space.
“We do audit, tax and advisory work throughout Florida, and our client base now in the state and in the Southeast matches the profile of Jacksonville companies,” Bond said.
As a result, Bond said, the firm sees Jacksonville as a key market and a place to expand.
Lamey previously spent 20 years with the Deloitte & Touche LLC tax firm in Jacksonville.
Grant Thornton was founded in Chicago in 1924 and is part of Grant Thornton International Ltd., a global independent audit, tax and advisory firm.
It operates 58 offices in the U.S.
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