The leader of a group promoting growth in downtown Jacksonville will be stepping away from the job.
Jake Gordon, CEO of Downtown Vision Inc., announced he’ll be leaving the organization Sept. 30. Downtown Vision is charged with increasing residential and business development in the First Coast city’s urban core.
“It has been a privilege to lead this organization through such a dynamic period of growth for Downtown Jacksonville,” Gordon said. “I am proud of all of our accomplishments. Now is the right time to allow for new leadership.”
A Downtown Vision news release said Gordon voluntarily chose to leave the job but did not say what he’ll do next.
The affable Gordon has held the CEO post for 11 years and has been the cheerleader of many projects including increased businesses in the center of the city. But his push for more residential development in the city’s downtown area has delivered thousands of more people.
The city published its 2025 State of Downtown Report this year and noted not only a significant surge in business development in downtown, but a huge uptick in residents who live in the core.
Gordon himself said about 10 years ago he had a target of reaching 10,000 residents who live downtown at a time when there was an estimated 5,000 people who lived in the center of the city. The State of Downtown report stated there are now about 9,200 residents who live in the urban core, a 20.5% increase from 2024 and about a 97% increase since 2016.
The report said that figure is expected to increase in the next two years, as another 1,576 residential units are under construction and should be completed by 2028.
“Twenty-twenty five was a banner year for the Downtown Jacksonville residential market, characterized by the addition of 1,380 residents occupying 958 newly constructed units,” the report concluded. “This performance is not an anomaly, but the continuation of 10 years of incremental growth resulting from community wide commitment to expanding the Downtown residential base.”
While Gordon will continue his leadership role through the end of September, the nonprofit Downtown Vision announced the organization’s Chief Operating Officer and General Counsel Eric Miller will fill in as Interim CEO until a permanent replacement is named. Miller’s temporary post has already been approved by the Downtown Vision Board of Directors and Executive Committee.
