Benjamin Munnerlyn “Ben” Carter, the commercial real estate developer behind St. Johns Town Center, died Sept. 15 at his farm in Madison, Georgia. He was 70.
After graduating from college with a degree in political science, Carter began his career in real estate as an industrial broker working with his father at Carter & Associates in Atlanta, his hometown.
After his father’s death, he started Ben Carter Properties with a few partners.
The company specialized in developing retail projects comprising more than 5 million square feet of mixed-use shopping and entertainment centers in the Southeast from The Mall of Georgia in Gwinnett County, a suburb of Atlanta, to St. Johns Town Center in South Jacksonville.
In June 2014 Carter sold his 50% ownership of St. Johns Town Center, reportedly for more than $375 million. His partner in the project, Simon Property Group, continues to manage the center.
Carter also was involved in the effort to revitalize Downtown Jacksonville, leading a task force studying the issue while Mayor John Peyton was in office.
An advocate for bringing higher education and young professionals to the urban core, Carter advised city leaders to focus less on the Brooklyn neighborhood and Southbank and more on the city center along Bay and Laura streets and the St. Johns River.
He is survived by his wife of 47 years Patricia; son, Benjamin M. Carter, Jr.; daughter Palmer Carter; and four grandchildren, Willow, Skylar, Benjamin III and Mary Beth.
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