JOKER
MARCHANT
STADIUM
OF CHANGE AND GROWTH
in the COMMUNITY
8 | FORUM FOR BUSINESS
When Chastain-Skillman, Inc. (CSI) first
opened their doors for business, the price of gas
was $0.18 gallon, the average annual income was
$3,210 and Lakeland’s population was 30,851.
At that time, Lakeland’s economy was based
primarily on phosphate mining, manufacturing
and citrus. Fast forward 65 years to today,
Lakeland is now a booming city conveniently
nestled between Tampa and Orlando, with a
population of 100,710. No longer primarily an
agricultural community, Lakeland is now relying
more on business, medical services and tourism
to fuel its economy.
Much of Lakeland’s evolution is a result of
several key development projects that have
shaped our community and have been ultimately
responsible for the city’s economic growth
and development. Chastain-Skillman has
been instrumental in most of these significant
developments that have occurred from the 1950s
until now. Some of these projects include Joker
Marchant Stadium, the Florida Polytechnic
University, Hollis Gardens and the Amazon
Distribution Center. However, one of the most
influential projects that has transformed this
city is the Oakbridge development, which also
encompasses Grasslands and Lakeside Village.
During the 1970s and early 1980s, the area that
is now Oakbridge was an abandoned phosphate
mine that sat vacant and unsightly. As a lifelong
Lakeland resident, it bothered CSI’s president
Jim Chastain that this land had gone to waste.
He had a vision for this forgotten piece of land