Bank of America drops Lincoln Harris as property manager

Bank of America has dropped Charlotte-based Lincoln Harris as the manager of its buildings in the Southeast, including its uptown headquarters, the bank confirmed on Tuesday.

The Charlotte-based bank is parting ways with a longtime partner in its hometown as it reduces the number of major real estate firms it works with from three to two.

The bank is shifting Southeastern work to Chicago-based JLL, formerly known as Jones Lang LaSalle, which already manages buildings for Bank of America in the Western U.S., Canada and India, bank spokeswoman Jennifer Darwin said. Los Angeles-based CBRE manages the bank’s real estate in the Northeast and data centers worldwide.

“It’s a continuation of steps we’ve taken to streamline and simplify the company,” Darwin said.

Lincoln Harris, led by CEO Johnny Harris, has long worked with Bank of America, including managing the 60-story Bank of America Corporate Center, Charlotte’s tallest building.

“We are just looking to partner with some organizations a little differently,” Darwin said. “We’ve really enjoyed our partnership with Lincoln Harris. We just made the decision to go in a different direction.”

John Harris III, executive vice president and chief operating officer at Lincoln Harris, said the company has appreciated the opportunity to work with Bank of America over the years.

“We do wish them all the best because they are so important to the community,” he said.

JLL declined to comment, with a spokesperson saying the firm “cannot comment on the business of its clients or their decisions.”

Lincoln Harris was formed in January 1999 as a joint venture between Dallas-based Lincoln Property Co. and The Harris Group of Charlotte. Lincoln Property was a partner in building Bank of America’s headquarters building, which opened in 1992. Staff writer Ely Portillo contributed.

This story was originally published May 12, 2015 at 2:20 PM with the headline "Bank of America drops Lincoln Harris as property manager."