DIX DEVELOPMENTS HISTORY
Our family has been making a positive difference in our community for over 80 years...
James E. Dicks Jr’s great grandfather Earl W. Sr. "E.W.," Simmons started EW Simmons Farms in 1925. He was a Hillsborough County commissioner for 26 years. His Son Earl W. Jr. "E.W.," Simmons grew his first strawberry crops at age 15 which allowed him to buy his first parcel of land. He was appointed by Gov. Hayden Burns to the Hillsborough County Civil Service Board, which was an initial planner for the current Tampa International Airport.
In 1947 James Raymond Dicks and his brother Carl Dicks opened their respective hardware stores in Lakeland, FL and Plant City FL. The family invested in all types of real estate from, single-family rental homes, multi-family rental homes, development and agriculture. Son James Dicks Sr. continued the development business by investing in the hotel hospitality industry to include Port Paradise Hotel and Marina, Crystal River FL in 1979. A few years later, both brothers Jack and John went on to teach real estate to future real estate agents/brokers before investing in their own real estate ventures.
7th generation son and nephew James Dicks Jr, started in the family business first as a listed series 7 representative focusing on raising money for the various ventures and then on to his passion and expertise of land development. The Dicks family have been investing in Central Florida Real Estate for more than 80 years and continue the legacy today.
40's - 50's
The Dicks family got their start in 1947 when they built Dicks’ Hardware stores in Central, FL.
60's - 70's
In the late 60’s, early 70’s, the family began acquiring real estate / hospitality properties.
80's
The family continued its focus on real estate in the early 80’s by developing multifamily communities and shopping centers.
90's
In the mid 90’s James Dicks Jr. purchased hundreds of rental homes and multi-family properties in the Central Florida area.
Early 2000's
In the early 2000’s James Dicks Jr. developed an exclusive community on Rice Lake in Longwood, FL. A Street Of Dreams Award Winning development recognized as “One Of The Most Exclusive Streets In The United States.”
Today
Fast forward to today, DIX Developments is now involved in both residential and commercial ventures throughout Central Florida.
PAST PROJECTS
The Dicks family has developed over 60 projects in the Central Florida area since 1983.