Brookwood Capital Partners and a North Carolina investor bought 11.8 acres in West Jacksonville for development of a Daimler Coach Jacksonville depot facility.
BCP Jacksonville LLC, part of Brookwood Capital Partners, and HB Prichard Road LLC, both of Raleigh, North Carolina, paid $4.9 million for the property Dec. 19. HB Prichard is affiliated with HB Daimler LLC.
They bought the land, at southwest Pritchard and Jones Branch roads, from Jones Creek Commercial Inc., led by John J. “Jack” Allen.
The land is west of Interstate 295 and east of Imeson Road, near Westside Industrial Park.
The city has been reviewing civil engineering plans for Daimler Coach Jacksonville for Brookwood Capital Partners at 7215 Jones Branch Circle.
BGE Inc. of Jacksonville is the civil engineer and landscape architect.
Those plans show a two-story, 28,325-square-foot, two-story building and a 1,848-square-foot maintenance building.
ECS Florida LLC filed a geotechnical engineering report for the Daimler Service Center that said it understood the project will comprise a first phase of a 42,600-square-foot, two-story service/office building with parking and drive areas.
Daimler Coaches North America could not be reached for comment.
The St. Johns River Water Management District approved a minor modification for the permit on the property for Daimler Coach Jacksonville.
The city rezoned the property, addressed as 7264 Jones Branch Circle, for 11.8 acres to permit outside storage, vehicle deliveries and wash in addition to commercial uses, including tractor trailer storage.
That Ordinance 2024-0723, was enacted Oct. 22, 2024.
The Planned Unit Development was updated to permit the storage of buses and on-site maintenance, washing and detailing.
The project architect is One Four Two Architecture and the agent is Jacksonville law firm Driver, McAfee, Hawthorne & Diebenow PLLC.
The property is undeveloped with paved driveways and a stormwater facility. The 2022 Planned Unit Development added the storage of tractor trailers.
The LinkedIn profile of Daimler Coaches North America says it is exclusive dealer of the Mercedes-Benz Tourrider.
“Designed and built in Hoşdere, Turkey, at a facility built solely for the production of the Mercedes-Benz Tourrider, the Tourrider is the newest Daimler Coaches North America offering,” it says.
“True to the principle of ‘Mercedes-Benz quality,’ the Tourrider raises the bar in the coach industry for manufacturing quality, equipment, features, and advanced technologies. Without compromise on safety or design, the Mercedes-Benz Tourrider embodies efficiency and elegance, and offers both driver and passengers comfort, safety, and a pleasant journey,” it says.
“With over 100 years of experience in the coach manufacturing industry, our two coaches - the Tourrider Business and Tourrider Premium advance and inspire industry expectations, while a continent-wide service network keeps our partners and passengers moving forward.”
Coaches typically are the tour buses used by operators like Greyhound and by organizations by groups or companies.
“As the sole distributor, Daimler Coaches North America is dedicated to delivering an unmatched travel experience, setting new standards for comfort, safety, and style in the business and luxury coach sectors. Embark on a journey of opulence and reliability with our Mercedes-Benz Tourrider coaches, where every mile is a testament to the harmonious blend of German engineering and North American luxury.”
Joseph Turri, associate vice president of industrial brokerage service with Colliers International Florida in Jacksonville, represented the seller, Jack Allen. Turri is part of the Colliers Bumgarner Industrial Team.
Richard Antczak, a director with Newmark Phoenix Realty Group of Jacksonville, represented the buyer.
Turri said the facility is expected to provide good-paying jobs.
He said the facility is expected to customize and modify the coaches for customers.
“They liked Jacksonville, they liked the port,” Turri said.
“It was a real win-win for the city, for Mercedes and for us,” he said.
Antczak said the buyer’s plans are evolving.
Daimler Coach leases a facility along West Beaver Street. The new building represents growth.
Antczak understands the building will be 40,000 to 45,000 square feet to be completed by the fourth quarter.
He said the building will be specialized. “It will be top notch.”