Jeff Blackard

Jeffory Blackard is a real estate developer working in the Dallas-Fort Worth Metroplex. His developments include Adriatica,^[1] in which he intends to reproduce the look and feel^[2] of an old-world southern European village^[3] (most notably, an Adriatic coast Croatian village) in Texas.

Early Life

Jeff Blackard was born in Peoria, Illinois to Richard and Janice Blackard. Blackard was the state decathlon champion for 3 years running while in High School at Argenta-Oreana High School.^[4] Blackard was also the all-time leading scorer for his high school team and was recognized in the school's hall of fame^[5]. He later went to Northwestern University on a track and field scholarship which turned into a basketball scholarship during his sophomore year. Blackard was later recognized as one of Northwestern's most notable graduates.^[6]

Real Estate

After graduating from Northwestern University in 1981, Blackard moved south to Texas and worked for Cambridge Companies^[7] before being made partner at age 26 and eventually leaving to develop over 15,000 single home lots through the completion of projects like Lakes on Legacy,^[8] Griffin Parc^[8] and Pirates Beach and Cove^[9] in Galveston, Texas. After buying an interest in properties on the coast of Croatia, Blackard has focused much of his work on the evolution process of a village.^[10] Adriatica, a $350 million vertically integrated, mixed-use development,^[11] is located in McKinney, Texas. Adriatica takes its inspiration from the Croatian fishing village of Supetar on the island of Brač.^[12]

In the time since the Great Recession, in addition to advising other real estate developers, Blackard has undertaken another village in Westlake, Texas called Entrada. It began construction in Summer of 2014.^[13] Blackard Global also recently began plans to build its third major village in Corpus Christi, Texas; called Barisi.^[14]

Political Activism

Blackard is also a political activist, who supported 2012 United States Presidential candidate Rick Santorum. The Dallas Morning News quoted Bud Kennedy saying of Blackard, "He helped plan Santorum’s euphoric visit to staunchly evangelical Collin County."^[15]

In 2017 Blackard was awarded the Friend of Croatia Award from the Association of Croatian American Professionals.^[16] He is a notable influencer in the politics of Croatia, having arranged meetings with high-level officials in American Politics^[17] and the president of Croatia in January of 2017^[18]

Personal

In the mid 1990's Blackard started the organization Amazon Outreach, a Christian charity with whom he built a 90 foot river boat to provide medical services to underserved areas of the Amazon River Basin.^[19]

Blackard holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Northwestern University with a major in communications (c.81), attending the university on an athletic scholarship in both basketball and track (decathlon). He is an evangelical Christian.

References