Hertz Moving to 1 W. Adams St.

[I-10east]

Hertz car rental returning Downtown

Hertz is returning Downtown and intends to open in the Police and Fire Pension Fund building at 1 W. Adams St. early next year.
Fund Administrator John Keane said Monday that Hertz would lease space in the former Firehouse Subs location and use 10-15 spaces in the fund's garage.

He said Hertz should start renting cars there by Valentine's Day.

"We think it's a good fit," Keane said.

The city is reviewing a building-permit application for the Hertz car-rental location. Adams Interior Contractors is the contractor for the $35,744 build-out of 650 square feet.

Keane said it would take about 30 days for renovations after the permit is issued.

Hertz approached the fund, whose board approved the deal in November, according to Keane.

Keane said it has been at least 10 years since Hertz operated in Downtown. He said the agency operated at Monroe and Pearl streets before construction began for the Duval County Courthouse.

Keane said the deal begins with a three-year lease at $804.17 a month. Three five-year extensions with escalation rates would total about $200,000 over the 18 years.

Keane said the location at 1 W. Adams St. is convenient for hotels as well as businesses that include the nonprofits at the Jessie Ball duPont Center under renovation at Adams and Ocean streets.

He also said the lease will provide a "little income stream" to help pay down the unfunded liability for the fund.

Hertz won't be the only car-rental agency on the Northbank Downtown. Enterprise Rent-A-Car recently opened at the library parking garage at 33 W. Duval St. It already operated at the Omni Jacksonville Hotel.

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