Community First Credit Union to Start Construction at Boulevard Crossing
Credit union to build branch and connected retail spaces for lease
JACKSONVILLE, Fla., February 14, 2023 – Community First Credit Union announces it has finalized design plans for its 21st branch at Boulevard Crossing and will soon start construction. The redevelopment project is at 5689 Beach Blvd. at the intersection of University Blvd.
Community First purchased the 1.22-acre outparcel site in December 2021. When construction is complete in early 2024, the 2,640-square-foot branch will feature two drive-thru lanes, two ATMs (drive-up and walk-up) and a night drop. It will be situated at the endcap of a micro-development, which will include two spaces Community First will lease to future retail tenants.
The branch will feature Community First’s new branch design including an open floorplan, upgraded digital technologies and a historical mural depicting the history of the Southside. The branch is expected to serve the more than 21,000 Community First members who live within five miles of the shopping center.
“Boulevard Crossing serves a very busy commuter corridor and a thriving neighborhood,” said John Hirabayashi, CEO and president of Community First. “Our members in this area are typically served by our Arlington or Lakewood Branches – two of our busiest in the network. We are looking forward to providing in-person financial services in this convenient location.”
The new branch location is part of the credit union’s Branch Transformation Project, the credit union’s comprehensive branch upgrade which improves member service by configuring the spaces to create a more modern retail experience.
Community First is undertaking its largest one-time investment in its branch network. The credit union recently opened its relocated Mandarin Branch in Mandarin Station and started site work and construction at its 20th branch at Northpoint Village (at New Berlin and Yellow Bluff Roads).
The eight-acre strategic retail center redevelopment is a partnership between Hallmark Partners and NAI Hallmark and includes the outparcel sites fronting the former Kmart building. Boulevard Crossing has been in redevelopment since 2019 and includes a newly constructed freestanding Starbucks with a drive-thru and a prototype McDonald’s with two drive-thru lanes. McDonald’s has been at the site for more than 40 years and Starbucks moved from its smaller in-line location in the center across the street.
Community First Credit Union of Florida is a state-chartered credit union based in Jacksonville serving anyone who lives or works on the First Coast. Community First is one of the largest credit unions in Florida with $2.6 billion in assets and serving 167,000 members. Community First has 19 locations and 355 employees. A not-for-profit, Community First is a full-service financial institution offering banking, loans, mortgages and investments for consumers and businesses across the First Coast.
