{"id":166403,"date":"2026-02-24T01:20:18","date_gmt":"2026-02-24T01:20:18","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/166403\/"},"modified":"2026-02-24T01:20:18","modified_gmt":"2026-02-24T01:20:18","slug":"jwb-celebrates-opening-of-the-greenleaf-its-new-downtown-jacksonville-headquarters","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.newsbeep.com\/us-fl\/166403\/","title":{"rendered":"JWB celebrates opening of The Greenleaf, its new Downtown Jacksonville headquarters"},"content":{"rendered":"

JWB Real Estate Capital christened its latest resurrection of a historic property in Downtown Jacksonville on Feb. 23 during a ceremonial opening of The Greenleaf, its new headquarters.<\/p>\n

\u201cOne of the reasons we wanted to bring our offices down here is that we believe that having our offices Downtown is going to help us attract the best talent so that we can continue to grow our company and grow the city,\u201d JWB President Alex Sifakis said during a ribbon-cutting for the building at 208 N. Laura St.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe\u2019ve already seen that. The team has been fired up to be in this office for the last couple of weeks.\u201d<\/p>\n

The company purchased The Greenleaf, then known as the Greenleaf & Crosby Building, in 2022 for $7 million and spent $17 million renovating it, Sifakis said. JWB moved its offices into the building Feb. 2 from its previous Southside headquarters, bringing 120 workers Downtown.<\/p>\n

\"JWB<\/p>\n

JWB Real Estate Capital President Alex Sifakis speaks before the ribbon-cutting ceremony for The Greenleaf building at 208 N. Laura St. in Downtown Jacksonville.<\/p>\n

Photo by Ric Anderson<\/p>\n

JWB has orchestrated several Downtown restorations, including the Porter House Mansion at 510 N. Julia St.; the Downtown Seminole Building at 400 N. Hogan St., now Sweet Pete\u2019s candy store; the adjacent Federal Reserve Building at 424 N. Hogan St., which is being built-out into The June private club; and the Baptist Convention Building at 218 W. Church St.<\/p>\n

JWB also is a partner in the Gateway Jax redevelopment team, which is led by principal Bryan Moll and includes DLP Capital. That partnership is developing the nine-block Pearl Square mixed-use development in the NorthCore district north and west of City Hall, which is part of larger plans for a $2 billion-plus development across Downtown.<\/p>\n

Greenleaf tenants<\/p>\n

At The Greenleaf building, a HiReformance Institute pilates studio is open on the ground floor, and plans call for Oak Steakhouse in space previously occupied by Jacobs Jewelers, which operated in the building from 1927 to 2023.<\/p>\n

Sifakis said an early 2027 opening is expected for the restaurant.<\/p>\n

\"JWB<\/p>\n

JWB Real Estate Capital President Alex Sifakis speaks Feb. 23 at the entrance to The Greenleaf building at 208 N. Laura St. in Downtown Jacksonville.<\/p>\n

Photo by Ric Anderson<\/p>\n

He also revealed plans for a basement speakeasy that will include a subway-style entrance from Adams Street.<\/p>\n

He said the speakeasy would be built-out in 3,500 square feet of space that was formerly used as a shopping area for VIP customers of Jacobs Jewelers.\u00a0<\/p>\n

As with JWB\u2019s other historic restorations, Sifakis said the developers ran into unseen challenges in revitalizing The Greenleaf.<\/p>\n

\u201cThe degree of difficulty for this one was probably like a 7 (on a scale of 1 to 10),\u201d he said, based partly on the scope of the 66,000-square-foot project and the height of the building.\u00a0<\/p>\n

“We had to put in new elevators and bring them down to the basement. There was a 100-year-old water barrier that caused a bunch of issues. There are things you find in these buildings, and it never stops. They\u2019re always over budget. It\u2019s critical to have the city and the Downtown Investment Authority as a partner \u2026 because we run into so many issues on these older buildings.\u201d<\/p>\n

The Downtown Investment Authority approved a $4.97 million forgivable loan package in August 2023 for the project.<\/p>\n

\"Downtown<\/p>\n

Downtown Investment Authority CEO Colin Tarbert speaks at the ribbon cutting for The Greenleaf building Downtown on Feb. 23.<\/p>\n

Photo by Ric Anderson<\/p>\n

\u2018Just the beginning\u2019<\/p>\n

DIA CEO Colin Tarbert applauded JWB for doing \u201camazing work\u201d on the building and said it and other recently completed Downtown projects are \u201cjust the beginning\u201d of a transformation of the historic core.<\/p>\n

\u201cUrban living is coming to Jacksonville,\u201d Tarbert said.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cI\u2019ll just share that this morning, even though it was cold, I walked to work from the Southbank. And despite the wind on the bridge, it was a wonderful walk. So I think you\u2019re going to see people living Downtown, you\u2019re going to see people working Downtown, even more and more.\u201d\u00a0<\/p>\n

The opening came as the city considers providing $10 million to EverBank to remain in its headquarters building at 301 W. Bay St., where it employs more than 800 people. Citing a cost differential in operating Downtown versus the suburbs, where parking and security costs are lower, EverBank sought the incentives and said it was exploring offices outside of Downtown.<\/p>\n

\"The<\/p>\n

The Greenleaf & Crosby Building Downtown at 208 N. Laura St. is now called The Greenleaf.<\/p>\n

File photo<\/p>\n

Proponents of offering the incentives say losing EverBank\u2019s workforce would deter the momentum of Downtown redevelopment.\u00a0<\/p>\n

Opponents say the city would set a dangerous precedent in which other Downtown employers might come forward for incentives with a threat to move away.<\/p>\n

The DIA board voted against recommending the incentives, which are subject to a City Council vote.<\/p>\n

EverBank\u2019s possible departure would follow planned moves out of Downtown by Citizens Property Insurance Co. and Regency Centers.<\/p>\n

\u201cI can just say it\u2019s been incredible for our team to be down here,\u201d Sifakis said, asked what he would say to a Downtown business that was considering relocating or a business outside of town that might be reluctant to move in.\u00a0<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd I think it\u2019s only more to come. When you walk around Downtown now, you can see things changing. I do believe that in two years, three, four years, being in Downtown is going to be a huge driver for attracting talent to companies. That\u2019s why we moved down here. Because to have the best and brightest, they want to work in a vibrant, urban area.<\/p>\n

\u201cAnd that\u2019s where Downtown is.\u201d<\/p>\n

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