JACKSONVILLE, FL (June 1, 2020) – The Downtown Investment Authority (DIA) commends and recognizes the contributions of James (“Jim”) F. Bailey to the DIA Board. Mr. Bailey’s dedication and service in promoting the successful revitalization and redevelopment of Downtown Jacksonville – both as a board member and as former board chair – have been of tremendous value to the DIA since his appointment in 2012.
Current DIA Board Chair, Craig Gibbs, expressed his thanks to Mr. Bailey for his committed to the DIA Board, stating “For years, I have enjoyed the pleasure and the benefits of serving our city with our former DIA Chair, Jim Bailey. He deserves much of the credit for the Board’s smooth operation, and many of its outstanding accomplishments advanced during his tenure. For example, through his stewardship, the DIA increased the number of downtown residents, expanded the number of restaurants and entertainment venues, and obsessively focused on establishing diverse and varied downtown events. While we understand Jim’s desire to retire and spend more time with his loving family, we will nevertheless miss his keen insight and his profound wisdom of various aspects of our city. And we deeply appreciate the countless hours that he spent at City Hall — all which exemplify his deep and persistent caring, his abiding concern and his unwavering love for Jacksonville. We wish him well.”
As a longstanding business and property owner, Mr. Bailey has been a decades-long stakeholder within Downtown. In 1988, Mr. Bailey was appointed as a member of the Jacksonville Waterways Commission, serving from 1988 through 2002, and again from 2005 through 2009, ultimately serving a total of 17 years on that commission. In 2002, Mr. Bailey was appointed to the Sports and Entertainment Board, serving several terms through 2010. In 2004, Mr. Bailey was appointed to the Downtown Design Review Committee, which was renamed shortly thereafter to the Downtown Development Review Board. In 2009, Mr. Bailey was appointed to the Downtown Development Review Board, being reappointed in 2011, ultimately serving three full terms between the Downtown Design Review Committee and Downtown Development Review Board. In 2012, Mr. Bailey was appointed to the Downtown Investment Authority, serving for eight years as a member, and as the Downtown Investment Authority Board Chair from July 2015 through July 2019.
Mr. Bailey – through his dedication, leadership, commitment, and overall passion for Downtown – guided the Downtown Investment Authority from its inception into what has become the largest resurgence in Downtown Jacksonville in recent history. The Downtown Investment Authority recognizes and commends Mr. Bailey for his years of dedicated service to the Downtown Investment Authority, and for his decades of service to Downtown as one of its most dedicated champions.
Lori Boyer, Downtown Investment Authority CEO, greatly appreciates Mr. Bailey’s contributions to the DIA Board, stating, “I have had the pleasure to know and work with Jim for many years and I can’t think of anyone who has devoted more energy to Downtown activation, revitalization and development than Jim Bailey. He is truly a Downtown Hero! His hand has shaped and guided DIA from the beginning and our legacy will rest on his shoulders.”