The Beaches Town Center will soon welcome a development unlike any other where Atlantic Boulevard meets the ocean.
On Thursday, June 1, crews will break ground on Grand Ocean, a 25,000-square-foot mixed-use development in the heart of The Beaches Town Center, the cultural and commercial hub of Atlantic Beach and Neptune Beach.
The three-story building will be home to two floors of Class A office space, with the bottom floor offering a mix of high-end retail, dining and other amenities. In addition to on-site street parking, Grand Ocean will offer full-time valet for all tenants and customers of the building.
"Our vision is to create a special place that both locals are proud of and that visitors are impressed by," said Shahab Derazi, president of J&H Advisors, Inc., the Jacksonville Beach-based group representing the project owner.
Preserving the aesthetic
While it will be the only three-story building in the area, its developers have taken a thoughtful approach to ensure the new addition complements the beaches community and preserves the unique character of the traditional seaside neighborhoods.
"This isn't going to be just another building at the beach," Derazi said. "We want Grand Ocean to have a certain presence, so we're considering the right mix of tenants to attract quality customers that reflect the values of this tight-knit community I call home, too."
One-of-a-kind office space
Grand Ocean will bring two floors of Class A office space to a thriving area known for its dining, retail and entertainment. At 7,000 square feet each, the second and third floors can accommodate multiple tenants or single users, but flexibility is built into the design. Additional amenities for office tenants include large outdoor terrace balconies on the second and third floors with ocean views. Elias Hionides and Rich Trendel of PETRA, a local boutique brokerage company, will handle office and retail leasing for the building.
"The floorplans don't include demising walls, so our office tenants will have the freedom to customize the space to meet their needs," said Derazi. "Plus, with valet service and a two-minute walk to the beach, we expect high demand for this unique workplace."
In addition to an interior elevator and restrooms on each floor, the office spaces will feature open-air balconies and ocean views, all within walking distance of several lunch hot spots, offering an office experience unlike any other in the area.
Jacksonville-based Tim Young Construction will be the project's contractor, with an estimated construction schedule of 14 to 16 months. A grand opening is tentatively planned for the summer or fall of 2024, but leasing is available now. For more information, potential tenants can contact Elias Hionides (ehionides@petrajax.com or 904-894-6620) or Rich Trendel (rich@petrajax.com or 904-241-1151).
Grand Ocean, owned and managed by GPS Holding Group LLC, will be located at 42 E Coast Drive in Atlantic Beach.
