Jeffory D. Blackard on site of Lighthouse Pointe
About
Since 1981 the Blackard Companies have been responsible for the development for nearly $7 billion in real estate assets. Much of the company’s history was focused on master-planned communities. The firm has delivered over 15,000 single-family home sites in over 30 communities along with a variety of commercial projects including large office parks, manufacturing facilities, retail/restaurant centers, schools, hotels and resorts, marinas, and golf courses. In conjunction with these developments, the firm has also planned and executed major corresponding infrastructure projects, including water and sewer treatment plants, rail systems, and bridges.
Blackard’s in house expertise and strategic partnerships has made it the world’s preeminent experiential village developer. The result: authentic, one-of-a-kind guest and owner experiences, outsized asset growth, and strong risk-adjusted returns.
Blackard’s deep development knowledge is uniquely applied to honoring both the natural environment and the communities it serves. With a hands-on, detail-oriented approach to planning, design, and property management, every Blackard project is crafted to deliver lasting value for residents, investors, and partners alike.
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Adriatica Village, McKinney, TX
A Philosophy is Born
In the early 2000s, following an investment in the small nation of Croatia (a nation which is based largely on traditional village life), the firm shifted its focus away from the American idea of formulaic development and began pioneering a philosophy of real estate based on its founder’s idea of creating contemporary self-sustaining villages. This philosophy has been named ‘NeoRetroism’ and represents the furthest evolution of modern real estate development—one in which people have diverse choices for how they live, work, and get around in their community. The first example of this NeoRetroism philosophy can be seen at the Adriatica Village near Dallas, Tx.
Blackard is now the world’s foremost developer of modern-day villages, actively advocating for communities that better serve the needs of their villagers across the globe.
The firm’s leadership in this movement is featured in award-winning Triple Horse Studio's full-length documentary Subdivided: America, which explores the consequences of conventional suburban sprawl and the urgent need for more human-centered development.
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About
Since 1981 the Blackard Companies have been responsible for the development for nearly $7 billion in real estate assets. Much of the company’s history was focused on master-planned communities. The firm has delivered over 15,000 single-family home sites in over 30 communities along with a variety of commercial projects including large office parks, manufacturing facilities, retail/restaurant centers, schools, hotels and resorts, marinas, and golf courses. In conjunction with these developments, the firm has also planned and executed major corresponding infrastructure projects, including water and sewer treatment plants, rail systems, and bridges.
Blackard’s in house expertise and strategic partnerships has made it the world’s preeminent experiential village developer. The result: authentic, one-of-a-kind guest and owner experiences, outsized asset growth, and strong risk-adjusted returns.
Blackard’s deep development knowledge is uniquely applied to honoring both the natural environment and the communities it serves. With a hands-on, detail-oriented approach to planning, design, and property management, every Blackard project is crafted to deliver lasting value for residents, investors, and partners alike.
Scroll to Explore
Jeffory D. Blackard on site of Lighthouse Pointe
A Philosophy is Born
In the early 2000s, following an investment in the small nation of Croatia (a nation which is based largely on traditional village life), the firm shifted its focus away from the American idea of formulaic development and began pioneering a philosophy of real estate based on its founder’s idea of creating contemporary self-sustaining villages. This philosophy has been named ‘NeoRetroism’ and represents the furthest evolution of modern real estate development—one in which people have diverse choices for how they live, work, and get around in their community. The first example of this NeoRetroism philosophy can be seen at the Adriatica Village near Dallas, Tx.
Blackard is now the world’s foremost developer of modern-day villages, actively advocating for communities that better serve the needs of their villagers across the globe.
The firm’s leadership in this movement is featured in award-winning Triple Horse Studio's full-length documentary Subdivided: America, which explores the consequences of conventional suburban sprawl and the urgent need for more human-centered development.
Adriatica Village, McKinney, TX
About
Since 1981 the Blackard Companies have been responsible for the development for nearly $7 billion in real estate assets. Much of the company’s history was focused on master-planned communities. The firm has delivered over 15,000 single-family home sites in over 30 communities along with a variety of commercial projects including large office parks, manufacturing facilities, retail/restaurant centers, schools, hotels and resorts, marinas, and golf courses. In conjunction with these developments, the firm has also planned and executed major corresponding infrastructure projects, including water and sewer treatment plants, rail systems, and bridges.
Blackard’s in house expertise and strategic partnerships has made it the world’s preeminent experiential village developer. The result: authentic, one-of-a-kind guest and owner experiences, outsized asset growth, and strong risk-adjusted returns.
Blackard’s deep development knowledge is uniquely applied to honoring both the natural environment and the communities it serves. With a hands-on, detail-oriented approach to planning, design, and property management, every Blackard project is crafted to deliver lasting value for residents, investors, and partners alike.
Scroll to Explore
Jeffory D. Blackard on site of Lighthouse Pointe
A Philosophy is Born
In the early 2000s, following an investment in the small nation of Croatia (a nation which is based largely on traditional village life), the firm shifted its focus away from the American idea of formulaic development and began pioneering a philosophy of real estate based on its founder’s idea of creating contemporary self-sustaining villages. This philosophy has been named ‘NeoRetroism’ and represents the furthest evolution of modern real estate development—one in which people have diverse choices for how they live, work, and get around in their community. The first example of this NeoRetroism philosophy can be seen at the Adriatica Village near Dallas, Tx.
Blackard is now the world’s foremost developer of modern-day villages, actively advocating for communities that better serve the needs of their villagers across the globe.
The firm’s leadership in this movement is featured in award-winning Triple Horse Studio's full-length documentary Subdivided: America, which explores the consequences of conventional suburban sprawl and the urgent need for more human-centered development.
Adriatica Village, McKinney, TX
The Founder
Jeffory Blackard is the founder and Chief Executive Officer of the Blackard Companies. With his distinguished real estate career in its fourth decade, Mr. Blackard is widely considered one of the foremost real estate visionaries of our time. Mr. Blackard’s goal is to revolutionize the design and development world by applying successful historic community characteristics to create a more sustainable and healthier world for future generations. Mr. Blackard is committed to protecting the environment and has been awarded the “National Wetland Conservation Award.”
Mr. Blackard’s projects give meticulous attention to the needs of people with disabilities and physical challenges. He received the “Developer of the Year Award” by Accessology, a firm dedicated to accessibility for people with disabilities. Blackard is an accomplished entrepreneur, having spearheaded numerous international ventures ranging from inventions of computer peripherals to printing for flexible packaging. He holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Northwestern University, with a major in Communications. He attended the University on an athletic scholarship in both basketball and track (as a decathlete) and was recognized as one of Northwestern University’s Top 100 Most Notable Graduates.
Linda Esperança Riverboat
A Legacy of Global Service
We prioritize community impact through local and international conservation efforts, global ministry partnerships, and outreach programs that serve underserved populations worldwide.
Blackard helped found Amazon Outreach and launch the Linda Esperança—a 100-foot medical riverboat—bringing care to remote Amazon tribes. These initiatives have reached over 330,000 villagers, delivering medical services, clean water, and the Gospel throughout the Amazon basin. Through our partnership with Amazi Water, we’ve helped provide clean water to 1.6 million people in Burundi. Working alongside e3 Partners, we’ve extended ministry to more than 50 countries across four continents, reaching everyone from orphaned children to heads of state. Our work also contributes to global conversations on business leadership, public policy, and faith.
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Progress with Preservation
Blackard believes true progress requires protecting the environment, not sacrificing it. For example, along Galveston's coast, the firm chose long-term value by way of stewardship by preserving natural shorelines and creating new marine habitats through thoughtful development practices. Their donation of a 32-acre island became the Robert Moore Wildlife Sanctuary, earning the 2005 National Wetland Conservation Award from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. This approach proves that responsible development can enhance rather than diminish the natural world.
Learn more about Blackard's environmental stewardship in 'Pattern Breaker'.
Linda Esperança Riverboat
A Legacy of Global Service
We prioritize community impact through local and international conservation efforts, global ministry partnerships, and outreach programs that serve underserved populations worldwide.
Blackard helped found Amazon Outreach and launch the Linda Esperança—a 100-foot medical riverboat—bringing care to remote Amazon tribes. These initiatives have reached over 330,000 villagers, delivering medical services, clean water, and the Gospel throughout the Amazon basin. Through our partnership with Amazi Water, we’ve helped provide clean water to 1.6 million people in Burundi. Working alongside e3 Partners, we’ve extended ministry to more than 50 countries across four continents, reaching everyone from orphaned children to heads of state. Our work also contributes to global conversations on business leadership, public policy, and faith.
Scroll to Explore
Progress with Preservation
Blackard believes true progress requires protecting the environment, not sacrificing it. For example, along Galveston's coast, the firm chose long-term value by way of stewardship by preserving natural shorelines and creating new marine habitats through thoughtful development practices. Their donation of a 32-acre island became the Robert Moore Wildlife Sanctuary, earning the 2005 National Wetland Conservation Award from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. This approach proves that responsible development can enhance rather than diminish the natural world.
Learn more about Blackard's environmental stewardship in 'Pattern Breaker'.
1
Local
Modern-day villages are specifically tailored to overcome the setbacks of the rote development patterns of American real estate. Our villages start as low-risk nuclei, made up of uses that are proven in the market context. That nucleus is set up to grow with future phases that revolve around local/community need first and excess external market demand second. This in-built demand mitigates a variety of traditional risk factors in mixed-use and new urbanist development.
2
Diverse
The Village model prioritizes the holistic long-horizon growth of the village over the accelerated timeline, which rewards a monolithic and opportunistic approach to use sizing. villages embrace a varied ownership structure that seeks balance between the quality and governance control of single-ownership and the long-term loyalty, wealth creation, and personality integration of granular ownership. These varied focuses not only increase stability in neighborhood-retail and residential uses, but they also increase the effective rents of adjacent assets.
3
Evolved
The Village model designs from a basis in human ecology. Villages derive their usage ratios from historical patterns of human development and translate those lessons from history into the modern day context of real estate development. This, in addition to Blackard’s innovative approach to village management which enforces quality and design standards, sets the perfect foundation for the development of individual personalities and eventual community self-governance.
Linda Esperança Riverboat
A Legacy of Global Service
We prioritize community impact through local and international conservation efforts, global ministry partnerships, and outreach programs that serve underserved populations worldwide.
Blackard helped found Amazon Outreach and launch the Linda Esperança—a 100-foot medical riverboat—bringing care to remote Amazon tribes. These initiatives have reached over 330,000 villagers, delivering medical services, clean water, and the Gospel throughout the Amazon basin. Through our partnership with Amazi Water, we’ve helped provide clean water to 1.6 million people in Burundi. Working alongside e3 Partners, we’ve extended ministry to more than 50 countries across four continents, reaching everyone from orphaned children to heads of state. Our work also contributes to global conversations on business leadership, public policy, and faith.
Scroll to Explore
Progress with Preservation
Blackard believes true progress requires protecting the environment, not sacrificing it. For example, along Galveston's coast, the firm chose long-term value by way of stewardship by preserving natural shorelines and creating new marine habitats through thoughtful development practices. Their donation of a 32-acre island became the Robert Moore Wildlife Sanctuary, earning the 2005 National Wetland Conservation Award from the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service. This approach proves that responsible development can enhance rather than diminish the natural world.
Learn more about Blackard's environmental stewardship in 'Pattern Breaker'.
The Lost Village
Discovering when we went wrong, where we lost our way, and how we can develop strong communities once again.
The Hidden Village
Charting a path forward by reimagining how we live, work, and connect in communities that truly endure.
Publications
Explore a collection of works that challenge conventional thinking and offer new perspectives on community, design, and human connection. These publications, available for download, delve into the philosophies and real-world experiences that inspire meaningful change—inviting readers to reimagine how we live, build, and thrive together.
Other Ventures
Blackard has a rich history of entrepreneurship. Whether through the development and marketing of computer peripherals, flexible packaging, or operationalizing of clean-energy technology in Eastern Europe, Blackard has a broad base of knowledge and an extensive network of partners and consultants to effectively ideate, grow, or operate businesses in a variety of verticles and localities—both in the United States and abroad.
The Global Council on NeoRetroism is a non-profit organization committed to the propagation of modern-day villages throughout the world.
Zero Global Waste is committed to implementing technologies that solve issues created by municipal solid waste in the world
Adriatica Village Green Space