Urban Neighborhoods: Riverside
(http://www.metrojacksonville.com/photos/thumbs/lrg-2966-p1050908.JPG)
Located just south of I-95 and the Fuller Warren Bridge, combined with Avondale, Riverside is one of the largest historic districts in the Southeast.
Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/content/view/654
When do the protests occur?
Nice set of photos of the old hood. I always enjoy seeing things from someone else's perspective. You left out all of the bungalows north of College though. Also, there is the whole issue of North Riverside which was cut off from Riverside years ago by I-10. Anyway., great thread. :)
I felt Riverside was to big to showcase in one photo thread. North Riverside and Avondale will be eventually covered separately.
One thing we can be proud of here in Jacksonville is our historic neighborhoods. No one in the state compares to the size and character of our historic neighborhoods. With Springfield on the rise, soon Downtown will be surronded by vibrant historic districts. I really think the City should showcase our historic neighborhoods more so than we do.
I think they should too. Downtown will be just fine if we can find a way to promote it with our inner city urban neighborhoods, as opposed to isolating it by itself. From a demographics standpoint, it would look much better. Because if you really think about it, what we consider as the Southside is an area larger then our entire urban core combined.
The size of Riverside - Avondale - Ortega is amazing, I hope we continue to build on what we already have until these as well as Springfield - San Marco look as livable as Winter Park. Another place that comes to mind with these neighborhoods is Coral Gables... now if I could just find a good Cuban restaurant in Jacksonville!
Ocklawaha
i spy my apartment!
Quote from: Ocklawaha on December 04, 2007, 11:25:57 AMnow if I could just find a good Cuban restaurant in Jacksonville!
Let me know when you discover one. I've been searching for four years now.
Quote from: thelakelander on December 04, 2007, 11:05:06 AM
I think they should too. Downtown will be just fine if we can find a way to promote it with our inner city urban neighborhoods, as opposed to isolating it by itself. From a demographics standpoint, it would look much better. Because if you really think about it, what we consider as the Southside is an area larger then our entire urban core combined.
Agreed. I have always thought that downtown will only be as successful as are the inner suburbs surrounding it. As the office and hopefully one day entertainment and retail hub for this area, it would be quite successful. Then, tie it all together with rail transit and you have quite a city. This is my goal.
BTW, as for the historic core, you can include the areas north of Springfield all the way up the the Trout River. Those areas are ripe for revitalization IMO.
Quote from: thelakelander on December 04, 2007, 11:37:01 AM
Quote from: Ocklawaha on December 04, 2007, 11:25:57 AMnow if I could just find a good Cuban restaurant in Jacksonville!
Let me know when you discover one. I've been searching for four years now.
Based on this website, there are 4 choices now:
QuoteCuban Restaurants in Jacksonville, Florida
Havana-Jax Cafe
2578 Atlantic Blvd
Jacksonville, FL 32207
(904) 399-0609
www.havanajax.com
Las Congas Cafe (new - added 8/14/07)
799 Blanding Blvd
Orange Park, FL 32065
(904) 276-1281
www.lascongascafe.com
Madrid Restaurant
11233 Beach Blvd
Jacksonville, FL
(904) 642-3741
La Sorpresa Cuban Bakery
6011-2 103rd St
Jacksonville, Fl. 32210
(904) 777-4933
http://www.tasteofcuba.com/jacksonville.html
I havent tried any, but they sound interesting.
Quote from: fsujax on December 04, 2007, 10:56:21 AM
One thing we can be proud of here in Jacksonville is our historic neighborhoods. No one in the state compares to the size and character of our historic neighborhoods. With Springfield on the rise, soon Downtown will be surronded by vibrant historic districts. I really think the City should showcase our historic neighborhoods more so than we do.
I couldn't agree more. These neighborhoods give Jax a very different look and feel from the rest of FL. That's something that should be EMPHASIZED instead of ignored. Jax could be the perfect 'best of both worlds' combo of tropically FL and the more traditional 'Deep South' image of Live Oaks and historic architecture.
Unfortunately, the mindset seems to be 'lets plant so many Palms that Jax looks like Tampa and Miami'.
Have you tried Sol Cuban Cafe at 1440 Dunn Ave? Off the beaten path, tiny place, pretty darn good to me but I'm not an expert.
Is the row a good place to eat?
it looks clasie
I have been to Madrid. I like the place.....in fact I had picadillo there and also at La Carreta...the cuban chain in Miami. And surprisingly I thought the food at Madrid was better.
As for Havana Jax I think their prices are a little too steep. It is fancy cuban. I think we are all looking for homestyle cuban. But, I do like Cuba Libre right next door!
Las Congas looks cool. I am glad to learn of this place...looks like a good menu and good prices.
Just to get the food out of the way...Havana Jax is pretty good, I like it anyway. But, there was this really great authentic Spanish restaurant in Murray Hill that was fantastic! Alas, they went out of business shortly after they opened (they were right next to the Italian place next to Martini's). It was by far the best ceviche and braised ox tail EVER! Anywho...
Ok, so why all the pics of 5-points that seem to depict all but the newer shops that are really trying to bring money into the neighborhood? Oh, excuse me, you have Starbuck's, lol. What about (and this is a shameless plug) City Cycle?? I mean, he-e-elloo. It's businesses like that, that bring in a whole new set of people into the area that otherwise didn't know it existed! Of course, being a cyclist, having a fiance that's a bike racer, and being a bicycle commuter, I'm a little bias and if those were my pics, you'd probably only see shots of City Cycle and The Cool Moose, so I guess I'll give you a few kudos;-) We do need to see more of King and Park though...great little part of town.
We have images of the places you mentioned. Check out these photo tours.
Historic Five Points: Jacksonville's Bohemian District
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/content/view/248/117/
Park & King Shopping District: Photo Tour
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/content/view/342/117/
Quote from: thelakelander on December 20, 2007, 12:42:38 PM
We have images of the places you mentioned.
Well, open mouth, insert foot. You certainly do have pictures. Thanks!
I was born in the Riverside hospital where the Publix is now. Across from there used to be the All Saints Nursing Home. Before both were torn down for the new area, we used to fish on the wall behind All Saints. There was always this really nice Northern lady with a giant black dog that would...within seconds of us walking up to the spot...threaten to call the police because of our fishing and that this whole area is not only private property..but her area of patrol (?). The general feeling I have of this area, to this day, was formed by that. Unfriendly, exclusive of all but the "select beautiful people" and carpetbaggin' interlopers. Look out 5 points, your gentirifcation is at hand.
Quote from: duster1 on December 23, 2007, 04:04:01 AM
I was born in the Riverside hospital where the Publix is now. Across from there used to be the All Saints Nursing Home. Before both were torn down for the new area, we used to fish on the wall behind All Saints. There was always this really nice Northern lady with a giant black dog that would...within seconds of us walking up to the spot...threaten to call the police because of our fishing and that this whole area is not only private property..but her area of patrol (?). The general feeling I have of this area, to this day, was formed by that. Unfriendly, exclusive of all but the "select beautiful people" and carpetbaggin' interlopers. Look out 5 points, your gentirifcation is at hand.
OMG!!! I don't have that impression at all...unless I'm one of THOSE that you're talking about :-\ I love the area and haven't encountered anyone rude or unreasonable at all. Of course, I'm also not one to really give a crap about what other people think either;-) I guess I have the attitude that everything is there for me to enjoy and so I do. I have just as many great experiences sitting at Starlight with all the druken downers as I do riding out to the Brick and eating a veggie burger. Well, there was that one time when the old blue-hair with her Mercedes SUV in Avondale tried to overtake me while I was riding my bike, but that was nothing a little pepperspray in the ole air-conditioning intake didn't fix;-) Kidding...maybe.
Oh my God! Duster you missed the best parts of the hood man. I grew up in Ortega (Pirates All) and loved 5-Points and Riverside. The theater at 5-points was a high point in the week for us. The Worlds most cool store had to be PETERSONS 5 and 10, it was an amazing place for young boys and girls. Hell, where else could you buy toy soldiers by the one at a time? I don't know who their buyer was, but he or she was super-in-touch! And that yellow flashing light, NEVER EVER EVER touch that! Classic Jacksonville survives!
Ocklawaha
Wow, Ock - I had forgotten all about Peterson's - it was great!
You must remember the grocery down near the 5-Points Beacon - was it an A&P?
Can't remember which it was, I know we had Food-Fair, Setzers, A&P and some others, of course Winn-Dixie. You might be right about A&P. Charles, did you or anyone else ever eat at TADS? A little coffee shop - restaurant over on Park(?) Looks like they took it out for another empty lot, unless I have my directions messed up. It was once THE place to eat in the area. I recall one time asking the "old man" what TADS was? He pointed to himself and his name tag. ME! T. A. Davis! I'm TAD!
Ocklawaha
Yes, I've eaten at Tad's. And yes, it was taken out for the Forest Avenue widening, to connect Riverside Avenue with the new on and off ramps at I-95 when that big interchange is finished.
Oh, and Tad's has http://maps.yahoo.com/map?q1=1921%20Lane%20Ave%20S%20Jacksonville%20FL%2032210&mag=5&ard=1#mvt=m&lat=30.283896&lon=-81.755116&mag=3&q1=1921%20Lane%20Ave%20S%20Jacksonville%20FL%2032210 (http://maps.yahoo.com/map?q1=1921%20Lane%20Ave%20S%20Jacksonville%20FL%2032210&mag=5&ard=1#mvt=m&lat=30.283896&lon=-81.755116&mag=3&q1=1921%20Lane%20Ave%20S%20Jacksonville%20FL%2032210)
moved to South Lane - in front of a Sonny's Bar-b-que. Haven't been in the new location, so I don't know if they were able to move the wall size photos of old downtown with them.
PS - how do you make a string of text into a URL link? does this software allow that?
[url]http://website/[/url]
or
[url=http://website/]Site Name[/url]
I lived here. Loved it.
(http://thumbs.trulia.com/pictures/thumbs_big/7126/1050927126_138951108-1309-Challen-Ave-Jacksonville-FL-32205.jpg)
Here's more info. Most people feel the new owner really messed the house up. I'm not a fan of the new gig either. There was a time when it was actually a 3 bedroom 1 bath. Three ladies lived there for 50 year. Helen, lLouise, and Lucille (I think) all three sisters were the originial owners. I bought it from Dr. Masters. He lived there 25 years. Over 3.5 times my investment in just 7 years. Thanks market! Sold to Ms. Hoover--best appreciating house in Florida I tell you. Now, the house just isn't right.
http://www.trulia.com/property/1030033082-1309-Challen-Ave-Jacksonville-FL-32205
Oh I remember all of those things too. I went to 5 Points theater weekly when I visited friends on Cherry St and have had more meals a Spaghetti Italian than I care to remember. I grew up in Cedar Hills near Jammes so my perspective of Riverside/Avondale/Ortega was always that of being an outsider, which come on, you know those areas never liked being lumped in with the rest of the blue collar, everyday westside.
There's always been that other side of the track mentality but only on That side of the track. I love Murry Hill...lots of the same type homes. Less stuffy on that side too.
What's the story on the tiny newstand at Five Points next to the restaurant patio?
My first Elementary School, West Riverside! I always loved that school, and hated moving from Riverside to Lakeshore Area & going to Bayview lol. From a beautiful 2 story school, to an ugly brick 1 level school (mumbles). But, I lived lol.
Quote from: billy on January 21, 2008, 05:51:36 PM
What's the story on the tiny newstand at Five Points next to the restaurant patio?
It has been there forever. A wide variety of magazines and out of town newspapers. And it is bigger than it looks, extending back a pretty good distance.
Back in the day, I
think it had a 'special room' in the back for 'special' publications.
Quote from: deathstar on February 23, 2008, 07:51:57 PM
My first Elementary School, West Riverside! I always loved that school, and hated moving from Riverside to Lakeshore Area & going to Bayview lol. From a beautiful 2 story school, to an ugly brick 1 level school (mumbles). But, I lived lol.
But if you went on to Lake Shore Junior High (Middle), it had 2 floors.
Very strange -
Bayview Elementary is on Lake Shore Blvd.
Lake Shore Middle is on Bayview Road
and their sports fields back up to each other
seems they got it backwards
Quote from: Charles Hunter on February 23, 2008, 10:05:52 PM
Quote from: deathstar on February 23, 2008, 07:51:57 PM
My first Elementary School, West Riverside! I always loved that school, and hated moving from Riverside to Lakeshore Area & going to Bayview lol. From a beautiful 2 story school, to an ugly brick 1 level school (mumbles). But, I lived lol.
But if you went on to Lake Shore Junior High (Middle), it had 2 floors.
Very strange -
Bayview Elementary is on Lake Shore Blvd.
Lake Shore Middle is on Bayview Road
and their sports fields back up to each other
seems they got it backwards
True, however, the 2 story Brick Building was the 8th Grade building back then. That school is 3/4 portables, and the 6th grade building was so cramped. I went to Lee High for High School, and the architecture was reminscent of West Riverside in a way, so I enjoyed it :)
Quote from: Charles Hunter on February 23, 2008, 10:02:18 PM
Quote from: billy on January 21, 2008, 05:51:36 PM
What's the story on the tiny newstand at Five Points next to the restaurant patio?
It has been there forever. A wide variety of magazines and out of town newspapers. And it is bigger than it looks, extending back a pretty good distance.
Back in the day, I think it had a 'special room' in the back for 'special' publications.
Why am I not surprised...
All true, and as I remember from decades ago.
The selection of magazines, books and probably what lay behind the beaded curtain
was much better back then.
It is some sort of optical illusion, architectural space-time phenomena that the interior is somehow bigger than it should be.
SOMEHOW they managed to not get a single corner of my buidling in the shot..but have pictures all around it! Does anyone have old school pics or know where i could find some of the huge gray complex across from Mossfire? It was built in 1912 and is a monstrosity...i know there has to be pics of it somewhere! ???
I use to belong to a model railroad club located above Owens Pharmacy at Park and Margaret. For fun each Friday night we'ed grab some chairs and sit out in front and watch the numerous near collisions by drivers trying to negotiate that 5 way intersection. Those on Park would stop and didn't have to and some on Margaret would not stop and should have. But just people watching was a blast. It is such an eclectic area. I sure do miss those Friday nights.
John
Welcome John!
That intersection can very tricky if you do not live there.
Cars on Park have the right of way and if the idiots on Margaret get in the way, well, they have less car for their errors!
Petersons - what was up with that smell, in the place, even before they closed it had a putrid smell of, like, rancid mothballs maybe? But it was a blast to shop in, especially for Halloween stuff. On to better smells, anyone remember Goode's Bakery in 5 Points?
Goode's? You bet! All of the family birthday cakes came from there and Mrs. Goode was always a soft touch for the kids who would come in a wheedle her for a "spoiled" cinnamon bun.
Now that the weather has cooled off, you can sit on the patio at Hovan's and watch that intersection. You can get bruised by the forehead slaps you give yourself when you watch some of the clueless try to decide what to do there. Great fun.
Memories of Five Points 1960-1980
My earliest memories are going to the park and feeding the ducks and swans. We'd save our stale bread until we had a decent size bag, then go to the park to feed them. Once they knew you had food, they'd follow you around the fence. We liked seeing the nests with eggs under the oleander bushes and the ducklings swimming in a row. Sometimes they would get out of the fence, but we couldn't catch them. There was a water wheel in the pond, if I remember correctly. Swings were available too so we could play after the poor ducks' bellies were filled with bread.
Goode's Bakery was the best. The front window display was filled with beautiful baked goods. I'd have to get on my tiptoes to see it. You'd walk inside to the aroma of yeast, sugar,spices, vanilla, chocolate and see the displays filled with all sorts of goodies. Of course all birthday cakes were purchased here! Where else would you get them? They made a delicious Canasta Fudge Cake--a moist chocolate cake with a buttercream chocolate frosting. It was square and you always wanted to get the end pieces to get more of the frosting. The sugar cookies were cut with a round cookie cutter with scalloped edges. They were soft and had sprinkled sugar on top--melted in your mouth. Eclairs were a treat--filled with a creamy custard inside instead of nasty frosting. The cinnamon raisin break was yummy. Sometimes we'd get lucky and it would be on the day old shelf in the corner. One of our favorites growing up were the gingerbread boys complete with raisin eyes, raisin nose, and three raisin buttons . We would eat the arms and legs first and leave the head for last. We should have eaten the head first, so their little raisin eyes couldn't see what we were doing.
There was an old grocery store on the end of the strip near the Five Points intersection. It wasn't our regular store (we went to the Winn Dixie on Roosevelt by Timuquana), but we would stop in every now and then if Momma needed something while we were there.
Shoes were bought two times a year--start of school and Easter. My parents did not skimp on shoes. We went to Boger's. (There was another shop in Avondale we would go to, but I can't remember the name, but I remember the shoe shelves lining the walls and wondering how they knew what was in the box. My first job was selling shoes at Ivey's in the Orange Park Mall, so I finally learned the 'secret'). There was always a nice Buster Brown or Hush Puppy display. The shoe salesperson would pull out the metal foot measure to get your correct length and width. It was imperative that you stood correctly with your weight properly distributed. Then they would bring out all the shoes they had in that size for you to try on. They would sit on the bench and the shoe would be placed on the angled surface of the bench for you to slip your foot in. You couldn't help but feeling like Cinderella. Next you would stand and the salesperson would feel your toe area to make sure there was enough room to grow into during the year. You'd walk around and look at the angled mirror to validate the choice and size. Now that I look back on it, all the shoes looked the same from year to year. They were just a larger size. Black patent (or white patent for after Easter) shoes with a strap for Sunday wear and a similar, but more sturdy leather design for school. In the spring, we'd get leather sandals with buckled straps at the toe and ankle so you could adjust them as you grew.
Funny how when anyone mentions Peterson's, they mention the smell. There is no description to adequately describe, but it is forever associated with the establishment. It was a fascinating store and you could get anything there that your young heart desired. In the back were the dime store turtles with their plastic homes and obligatory plastic palm tree on the island. I would get my embroidery floss there and the Aunt Martha's iron on transfers to embroider pillow cases. There were little plastic toys and thread and makeup. I purchased some sky blue eye shadow from their 'makeup department'. The displays were old and wooden with extra stock stored below. It was a marvelous place.
The Five Points Theatre was big time. If it was a kid's movie, we would just go to the Edgewood Theatre, but if it was a really good movie, we went to Five Points. I remember my parents taking me to see "The Sound of Music" there when I was 6 years old. I still remember having the intermission.
Some Sunday afternoons, we'd go to the Dapper Dan's Ice Cream Parlor. It was the first one that I'd seen where they scooped the ice cream. If you took some home, they put it in a "Chinese to go" box. My dad like the pistachio and I always got the bubblegum. It actually had bubblegum in it and I'd save it so that I'd have gum to chew on the way home.
My first formal gown was purchased at the Riverside Gown Shop when I was 12 years old. It was 1972. It was white with big flocked pink dots. It was hideous. I felt so grown up.
Five Points started getting run down in the 1980's. There was no reason to go anymore. I wish that I had appreciated it more. Maybe if we all had, some of those wonderful institutions would still be there. I'm still on the search for a bakery as good as Goode's. My momma had tried to find the recipes, but someone told her that "old lady Goode took them to her grave". If anyone has them (or something similar), please share.
Westside, thank you for sharing those memories. Always fun to read others' memories of Jacksonville retail and neighborhood history.
Agree... Thanks Westside! :)
I was fortunate enough to experience 5 Points and Riverside at ages 11 - 14 ('89 - '92) and again briefly at 17 ('95). While I can't say much for the difference between the 70s/80s and my time during the 90s, it was still one of the best neighborhoods in the city. I didn't exactly know that then but I most certainly know that now.
It actually bothers me that I was unaware (the ignorance of early youth) of what I had before me back then. I was never able to afford my children the same opportunity. Granted rent/mortgages for the region have tripled over what we paid back then.
@ Westside is the bestside,
Utsey, the shoe shop in Avondale.
Was that it?