J Square Developers creates value in commercial real estate by identifying underutilized sites, and reinventing those locations to meet the needs of contemporary retailers and residents.
From our base in St. Petersburg, we understand the rapidly urbanizing neighborhoods of the largest cities on Florida’s Gulf Coast.
J Square’s strength is developing quality projects and identifying the optimal user for each unique location.
Extensive Expertise In
Who We Are
Jay Miller, President
Jay Miller is a specialist in planning, development and leasing of urban and suburban retail centers. After 20 years focused on development of large mixed use projects, Jay created J Square Developers to identify infill sites for contemporary retail stores and multifamily residential communities in West Central Florida. Since its inception, J Square has developed new retail centers or freestanding sites for Trader Joes, the Vitamin Shoppe, Starbucks, O’Reillys Automotive, Wawa, Circle K and F45 Fitness, all redevelopments. In the residential arena, the company has developed luxury townhome communities in St. Petersburg — Quattro Beach Drive and the Saint James Townhomes.
Mr. Miller graduated from the University of Michigan and received his Master’s degree in City and Regional Planning and Urban Economic Development from the John F Kennedy School at Harvard University. Throughout his career, he has directed development and management of specialty retail and mixed use projects ranging in size from $2.0 million to over $100 million. His projects include expansion/renovations to CocoWalk and the Streets of Mayfair in Miami, Centro Ybor in Tampa and the Greene Towne Center in Dayton, Ohio. Mr. Miller has negotiated well over 100 retail lease transactions with a broad array of tenants ranging from national department and discount stores to iconic restaurants and one of a kind local boutiques. As a result of his extensive retail development and leasing experience, he understands the unique needs and locational criteria of retail businesses.
Prior to establishing J Square, Mr. Miller was Sr. Vice President of Retail Development in Florida for Ohio-based Equity Incorporated, where he advised Nationwide Realty Investors on the planning and development of a 140 acre mixed use project in the suburbs of Tampa, Florida. He served for 11 years as Regional Vice President of Development and Asset Management for Steiner +Associates. Steiner is one of the nation’s leading developers of suburban and urban town centers based on the principles of new urbanism. Mr. Miller’s career in retail development began in Miami when he joined Contructa US, the French company responsible for the development of the pioneering CocoWalk project in in Coconut Grove.
Mr. Miller is a Florida licensed real estate broker. He enjoys international travel, speaking French fluently and is conversant in Spanish.
Community
We recognize the importance of involvement in the communities where we do business. Mr. Miller currently serves locally on the Board of Directors of the Greater St. Petersburg Chamber of Commerce (where he chairs the Housing Land Use and Development Committee) and of Gulfcoast JFCS, a $30 million diversified social service agency. He also serves on the national Board of NJHSA, North American Jewish Human Service Agencies, and is a Finance Committee member and past President of the Board of Pinellas Habitat for Humanity. Previous board participation includes Bayfront Medical Center and the Foundation for a Healthy St. Petersburg.