What he did: Downtown Ambassador 2005-06
What he does now: Building Superintendent, Levy Building and Dalton Agency
by Max Marbut
Staff Writer
From New York to Florida and then from wearing a pith helmet and a bright orange shirt to having keys to the whole place. That’s Bobby Born’s story.
Born has been a familiar face to Downtown workers and residents since he joined the ranks of the Downtown Ambassadors in 2005.
The Long Island, N.Y. native remembers the day he decided it was time to head to Florida.
“I was 18 years old and sitting in a Dunkin’ Donuts next to the Long Island Railroad having a cup of coffee and a honey bun. I just decided I wanted to move to Jacksonville so I could be with my dad,” said Born.
Southside in general and Englewood in particular were his stomping grounds and Born admits not knowing very much at all about Downtown until he became an Ambassador, a division of Downtown Vision, Inc.
“I was really into cars back then,” he said. “Over the years I have owned five Corvettes and I don’t remember how many Camaros and Firebirds. I used to check out the car lots on Main Street looking for a deal and for a long time, that was all I knew about Downtown.”
All that changed in 2005 when he wanted to get out of the window installation business. One of Born’s friends was a water taxi captain who knew Liz Knight, who supervised the Ambassadors and was looking to add another member to the corps.
“She interviewed me at Big Al’s Pizza and I got the job that day,” said Born.
Within a few months, he had become an expert on the urban environs and also got to know most of the regular inhabitants. After about a year, something Born had been warned about came to pass, he said.
“Liz told me that with as many people as I would meet and get to know as an Ambassador, I would probably be offered jobs,” he said.
The owner of the Levy Building at the corner of Hogan and Adams streets was looking for a new building superintendent and since Born worked in that field when he arrived in Jacksonville in 1986, it was a perfect fit. Since that change of jobs, he has added similar duties at The Dalton Agency’s building around the corner on Monroe Street. His territory has gone from the 90 square block Business Improvement District to one block just south of Hemming Plaza, but Born said his training as an Ambassador comes in handy every day.
“My job is to make sure the maintenance of both buildings is taken care of whether I repair or replace something myself or call someone to take care of it,” he said. “I also patrol the area around the building and keep an eye on things and generally do whatever I can to keep the tenants happy. Sometimes I feel almost like I’m the concierge.
“It’s great to be able to share the things I learned while I was an Ambassador with the people in the buildings, especially when a new person comes to work Downtown. I help them figure out where things are in the neighborhood.”
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