Walkable Commercial Districts: San Marco Square
(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/photos/1881856795_x8ptK5h-M.jpg)
Jacksonville's urban core is home to a number of historic walkable neighborhood commercial districts. Many are a direct result of the defunct 60-mile Jacksonville streetcar network, which was operated by the Jacksonville Traction Company. Today, Metro Jacksonville highlights a popular destination along the former South Jacksonville Municipal Railways (Jacksonville's MUNI) streetcar line: San Marco Square
Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2012-jul-walkable-commercial-districts-san-marco-square
Another nice article about Jacksonville's history.
San Marco might be my favorite neighborhood in Jacksonville. Looks like the Balis Park dedication is in Hebrew. Any idea what it says?
Actually, I think it's Arabic. Not postitive though.
The one problem is the vast amount of asphalt in the Square. Walking from one side to the next can be treacherous.
Do you have any information about the building currently occupied by AT&T at the corner of Hendricks and Alford?
It's Arabic, and I believe it's just a translation of the quote above it.
I agree, Doug, about the vast amount of asphalt and the treacherous walk. Moreover, with the new construction that never seems to end, it looks like it's only getting vaster/more open at that end (and therefore, probably going to be more treacherous).
I seem to recall that the gazebo was erected on the very site where Mr. Balis was murdered at his Gulf station, back in the 1980's, during a robbery. Does anyone else recall this? It was very, very sad as he was apparently well-liked in the neighborhood.
I love that area. My 4yo loves anything "downtown" (which she thinks is any grouping of two or more buildings above 3 stories tall). I brought her to San Marco Square on Friday and we walked around the area, had lunch at San Marco Deli, played in the bookstore and the fountain. I also told her that this is what "downtown" was like, a place where you can park your car and walk around and visit a lot of stores and places.
Great article.
Is Setzer's the only supermarket that has been in the area? I am curious how long San Maco has been without a proper grocery. This leads to also ask if there are any updates on the East San Marco Publix development?
Quote from: tg on July 02, 2012, 09:58:26 AM
Great article.
Is Setzer's the only supermarket that has been in the area? I am curious how long San Maco has been without a proper grocery. This leads to also ask if there are any updates on the East San Marco Publix development?
I remember as a kid there was a Pic N' Save where Setzers used to be. Not a "true" grocery store, but pretty close. Used to love that place.
I, too, am curious about the East San Marco development.
Hands down one of the best areas of Jacksonville. Now if only we can get a grocery store...
Everyone likes what they like, but it's honestly my least favorite of all the urban neighborhoods. I appreciate that it's there & think it has tons going for it, but as far as "look & feel", it's not my cup of tea. It's looking more & more suburban lately, esp with the cramming in of vehicles into every nook & cranny (a lot like Avondale in that respect). I mean, could someone who didn't know really be able to tell the difference between SM square & a newer "urban style" smaller shopping district in the suburbs? Not because of just the cars lined up, but it just has that feel to me.
Personally, I think Five Points, King Street, Springfield & even parts of Downtown have a lot more character & are a lot more interesting overall. And still look very much urban. Again, I'm not saying one area is "better" than another (everyone likes different things).
Quote from: Tacachale on July 02, 2012, 11:02:56 AM
Hands down one of the best areas of Jacksonville. Now if only we can get a grocery store...
Take action Tacachale! March into city hall and demand that they put a Piggly Wiggly in the lot across from Laylas.
Quote from: peestandingup on July 02, 2012, 12:43:16 PM
Everyone likes what they like, but it's honestly my least favorite of all the urban neighborhoods. I appreciate that it's there & think it has tons going for it, but as far as "look & feel", it's not my cup of tea. It's looking more & more suburban lately, esp with the cramming in of vehicles into every nook & cranny (a lot like Avondale in that respect). I mean, could someone who didn't know really be able to tell the difference between SM square & a newer "urban style" smaller shopping district in the suburbs? Not because of just the cars lined up, but it just has that feel to me.
Personally, I think Five Points, King Street, Springfield & even parts of Downtown have a lot more character & are a lot more interesting overall. And still look very much urban. Again, I'm not saying one area is "better" than another (everyone likes different things).
Sounds like you're a fan of urban grit? I don't mean this as a negative. There's a whole bunch of urban grit lovers at skyscraperpage.com who share images of their city's grit regularly. It was one of my main draws to online forums initially.
Huh. I've never seen the monument to Abla Balis, but the Arabic script makes me very curious. I just read about how the development of Whiteway Corner on King Street was by the Nasrallah brothers, and I saw an slef-published autobiography at the Jacksonville Historical Society about an early Arab resident. I also know that a survivor of the Titanic completed her trip to Jacksonville, one Jamila Nicola-Yarred from Lebanon. http://www.encyclopedia-titanica.org/titanic-survivor/jamila-amelia-garrett-nicola-yarred.html
Hovan has been in Five Points for a long time and Palestinian familes run Casbah and Pinegrove Deli. What is the Arab history of Jacksonville?
Here is a link you'll enjoy:
http://digitalcommons.unf.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1000&context=etd&sei;-redir=1&referer=http://www.google.com/url?sa=t&rct=j&q=najeeb%20farris%20and%20his%20%A0%20wife%20%A0%20eva%20%A0%20owned%20%A0a%20%A0dry%20%A0goods%20%A0%20store%20%A0%20in%20%A01910.%20%A0%20in%20%A01921%20%A0he%20%A0%20was%20%A0%20president%20%A0%20of%20%A0%20farris%20&%20%A0co.,%20%A0%20a%20%A0wholesale%20%A0%20meat%20%A0%20firm.%20%A0&source=web&cd=1&ved=0CE8QFjAA&url=http://digitalcommons.unf.edu/cgi/viewcontent.cgi?article=1000&context=etd&ei=8NStT8qoAsm5tgex9IDwCA&usg=AFQjCNH-vLXI2ftwxg3T-t9jHp_6CeRj8A#search=
Quote from: thelakelander on July 02, 2012, 01:31:46 PM
Quote from: peestandingup on July 02, 2012, 12:43:16 PM
Everyone likes what they like, but it's honestly my least favorite of all the urban neighborhoods. I appreciate that it's there & think it has tons going for it, but as far as "look & feel", it's not my cup of tea. It's looking more & more suburban lately, esp with the cramming in of vehicles into every nook & cranny (a lot like Avondale in that respect). I mean, could someone who didn't know really be able to tell the difference between SM square & a newer "urban style" smaller shopping district in the suburbs? Not because of just the cars lined up, but it just has that feel to me.
Personally, I think Five Points, King Street, Springfield & even parts of Downtown have a lot more character & are a lot more interesting overall. And still look very much urban. Again, I'm not saying one area is "better" than another (everyone likes different things).
Sounds like you're a fan of urban grit? I don't mean this as a negative. There's a whole bunch of urban grit lovers at skyscraperpage.com who share images of their city's grit regularly. It was one of my main draws to online forums initially.
I guess you could say that. :) Or perhaps just older looking areas in general appeal more to me, no matter if they're "cleaned up" or not. Don't get me wrong, I'd prefer if they were kept up & modernized so they can reach their full potential & live on, just as long as they keep the original feel. But they can still be gritty too. For instance, whenever I'm downtown on my bike, I sometimes like to ride up Philip Randolph then through the lower end of Springfield. Sure, I get a lot of looks (and I sometimes have to talk my bike friends into coming), but I don't care. I appreciate those areas & enjoy them simply because of what they are.
But yeah, I guess I'm just not a fan of newer more "modern" urban areas. That's probably why I've never been a fan of places like Atlanta & Charlotte.
Oh, and thanks for the link! I'm def gonna check that out.
Back to the question about grocery stores and the Setzers in San Marco, an A&P was located in the square for decades in the triangle just beyond what is now Balis Park. Historic pictures show other groceries in the square as well...a "Model" store and, I think, a Piggly Wiggly, though I'm not as sure of that one. Years after Setzers was gone, a Pic 'N Save occupied the same space. And the A&P was operating in San Marco well into the '80's I believe.
This photo album is an outstanding display of one of the most charming, warm and inviting areas of Jacksonville. I have fond childhood memories of the SM Theater (Saturday Features and real popcorn) The Little Theater with memorable performances
and many others. Modernization has not eroded the uniqueness of this special place.
In a work meeting I heard that the SM Publix has received approval and will be moving forward. I don't know many details, but the people who told me are well informed on the store and it's progress
^Man, don't even play. I thought the holdup was the residential portion of the development?
Maybe so, but I don't have much knowledge on that side. All I know is the Publix recently cleared a development hurdle and is gaining some traction.
The residential had been the hold up, but last I heard Regency was looking to make it work without or before the residential, so Zissou is probably onto something. Also think there was the possibility of a new developer coming on for the residential, so perhaps that changed it too.
I lived in San Marco from 1970 to 1990, and I remember an A&P that later became a Banner Food Store in a building that was where the Bank of America is now. It was a long L-shaped building with the grocery store on one end facing Southside Baptist Church and an office supply store facing what is now The Loop restaurant on the other end. I remember walking to the square from our home on River Road to get candy from Peterson's 5&10 and watch movies at the San Marco Theatre. Utsey's Buster Brown Shoe Store had a pedal-powered carousel for the kids to ride, Mims had homemade doughnuts to die for, and we loved to spin around on the stools at Stand N Snack. Harvey Kirby's Shell station only had full service gas pumps, and we often were sent into Pic N Save to grab a last-minute gallon of milk or loaf of bread. It was truly a blessed childhood in a wonderful neighborhood that has provided me a lifetime of warm memories.