John Ream has been part of the Downtown story since 2005, when he and his wife, Jenny, began renovating an empty building along East Bay Street and converted it into a loft residence above a retail space.
In the past eight years, he has been a Downtown mixed-use developer, resident, landlord and business owner.
Ream, managing partner of Connect Integrated Marketing, operates the boutique marketing and consulting agency in the building and serves on the Downtown Vision Inc. board of directors.
"I have always been passionate about Downtown, especially after I became a property owner. Now, being a Downtown business owner and being in the marketing field, it's a perfect opportunity for me to give something back, based on my expertise and my experience. I'm not a big business; I'm a smaller voice that needs to be represented," he said.
While big projects capture major visibility, Ream said small commercial and residential development projects can be an important facet of revitalization.
"It's going to be driven by that demographic – people who want to bring in their small business or live Downtown. I think I represent that because I've had those experiences, I bring a different perspective," he said.
Ream said he believes there is Downtown residential development potential other than riverfront condominiums aimed at the high-end segment of the market.
He said Downtown needs workforce housing that can fit the needs of young people who would work for businesses in the neighborhood.
"I think 10 small projects could have a much greater impact than one big project in the long run. You just have to go a few blocks off the river. For the businesses to survive, that's what's needed – places to live for the manager of a restaurant and people who work in retail. They will spend money on eating out or having a drink after work. That target market would make Downtown much more sustainable," he said.
"I'd like to see a focus on smaller projects and I think I could help, based on my experience," Ream said.
Another element Downtown that should continue to be improved is the East Bay Street entertainment district, he said.
The area was identified as a corridor for dining and nightlife about the time Ream purchased his building. He said an effort could be made to enhance the brand identity of the blocks between Ocean and Liberty streets.
"When you come over the Main Street Bridge and turn right, you need to know this is somewhere you want to be. Check out the bars and restaurants and see what's going on," he said.
Ream said based on his experience in marketing plan development, the first step in promoting Downtown improvements will be changing the perceptions of the neighborhood.
"It's not that you can put up some billboards or put banner ads on some websites. When people are Downtown for a (Jacksonville) Jaguars game or Art Walk or the jazz festival, you have to reach people and educate them when they are here and get them to come back. We need more advocates who can talk about Downtown and share their experiences about what a fun place it is. You have to hear it from people who live here or work here," he said.
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