About 25 acres of land will soon be developed at the site of two new industrial building warehouses on Jacksonville’s Northside.

Baltimore-based Merritt Properties secured city building permits to erect two new warehouses that will cover a combined 79,000 square feet at Imeson Landing Business Park at 1250 Imeson Park Blvd. —

Officials with the commercial real estate firm and developer said they’ve been eyeing the Jacksonville market for a while. The company already has properties in Maryland, North Carolina and Virginia.

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“Jacksonville became a desirable location due to the area’s pro-growth business culture, low vacancy rates, advanced transportation and logistics, and fast-growing communities,” said Robb Merritt, president of Merritt Properties. “These acquisitions allow us to expand into a strong market while responding to demand for single-story, light industrial product.”

Additional buildings will be added, five in total, according to Merritt.

“Merritt investing in Jacksonville and choosing our city as their entry point into Florida is great news for our community and another example that Northeast Florida is one of the most sought-after markets in the country,” said Jacksonville City Councilman Aaron Bowman, who is also the senior vice president of business development for JAXUSA Partnership, the seven-county regional economic development arm of JAX Chamber.

Arco Design and Build will handle construction of the first two Merritt warehouses that will cost a combined $5.2 million to build. Eventually three other buildings will be added at the site, according to schematics provided by Merritt.

VyStar to overhaul Westside branch

While VyStar Credit Union has beefed up its presence around its headquarters in downtown Jacksonville on Laura Street, the firm is keeping up on its outer lying branches as well.

City building officials approved building permits this month for VyStar to begin a major interior renovation for its branch at 7795 103rd St. The project will cost about $1.4 million and cover 6,800 square feet at the site.

Not only with the renovations include cosmetic enhancements, but VyStar is instituting notable technological upgrades to the Westside branch. Interactive kiosks will be added to the offices for quicker and easier access for customers.

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“VyStar Credit Union is committed to providing our members with a better way to bank through best-in-class products and member-centric service,” said Joel Swanson, chief member experience officer. “As part of that commitment, we continue to invest in our branches to ensure our members have the best-possible experience every time they visit us.”

Dana B. Kenyon Co. is the contractor for the work.

VyStar is set for another major overhaul to a different branch. Later this year the company will conduct a similar makeover at the branch at 2762 Blanding Blvd. in Middleburg.

Here are additional building permits

2700 Powers Ave., structural steel tenant buildout for VEHO, $1.1 million. Jim Cooper Construction Co. Inc.

4880 Big Island Drive, Unit 3, masonry buildout for OVME LLC, $450,000. Act Construction.

2700 Powers Ave., masonry buildout of walls and finishes for Power TI and Scannell Properties, $381,076. Jim Cooper Construction Co. Inc.

9900 Normandy Blvd., installation of new structural steel building for state of Florida Facilities Management, 1,800 square feet, $343,281. A Advantage Electric Inc.

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4804 W. Deer Lake Drive, interior remodeling for Starbucks Coffee Corp., $254,840. Venture Construction Co.

4890 Big Island Drive, Unit 3, structural steel tenant buildout for Clean Juice, $200,000. Skyline Construction Inc.

4727 Lannie Road, foundation with plumbing for the city of Jacksonville metal shop, $150,000. Auld & White Constructors LLC.

This article originally appeared on Florida Times-Union: Baltimore company chooses Jacksonville to build at industrial park