by Liz Daube
Staff Writer
Bob Rhodes’ career has taken him from studying at Harvard to negotiating the Euro Disney theme park and resort in France – but lately, Rhodes has been settling down in Jacksonville.
Rhodes came here to work as executive vice president and general counsel for the St. Joe Co. in 1997. He left St. Joe a year ago, but Rhodes is keeping busy. Right now, he’s serving on the Jacksonville Economic Development Commission, practicing law at Foley & Lardner and chairing Florida Coastal School of Law’s board of trustees, among other things.
“The transition from an old paper company to a vibrant real estate company was too good to pass,” said Rhodes. “I never thought I would stay eight years ... (but) we continue to dig our roots deeply here. I like Jacksonville.”
Rhodes said he’s excited to see business and growth bring a more diverse crowd of people into northeast Florida, and he counts himself among those gravitating in from elsewhere. Rhodes is originally from California – where he attended law at the University of California at Berkeley – and he’s lived all over Florida.
His experience with development, which ranges from his St. Joe work to a landmark Florida land use law he wrote in 1972, has given Rhodes an educated perspective on Jacksonville’s growth. He said people just arriving in Jacksonville should know how far Downtown, a redevelopment area the JEDC considers on a regular basis, has come recently. The arena, baseball grounds,
JMOMA and the new Main Library simply didn’t exist five years ago.
“I think in another five years, we’ll have 6,000 to 7,000 residents Downtown,” said Rhodes. “That will, in turn, bring much more business. That’s really how it goes: rooftops, retail commercial and then the entertainment. Ultimately, there will be a movie theater Downtown. I know it.”
Rhodes said Downtown can attract a variety of age groups. While younger crowds may be drawn to the clubs and bars in the area, Rhodes said older adults, including himself, are attracted to performing arts venues and restaurants.
”Our Downtown can truly be a vibrant, exciting urban experience,” he said. “The other thing about Jacksonville that is striking is we have a number of terrific neighborhoods. When you’re looking at Downtown, you have to look at the other alternatives.”
Rhodes, for example, lives in Avondale with his wife, Blythe. He said the neighborhoods surrounding Downtown are compelling in their own ways. Springfield, for example, is home to nOSH – one of Rhodes’ favorite restaurants.
“We’re going to see a different Downtown,” said Rhodes. “You’ve got to put this in perspective. We are making progress. You’ve just got to be patient.”
In his free time, Rhodes said he likes to read history, biography and political books. He said he tries to get onto the Riverwalk every day for exercise.
He doesn’t plan on retiring any time soon. Rhodes said his responsibilities keep him busy, but there are reasons he stays involved.
“It’s all balance,” he said. “I’m doing this because I enjoy it.”