What to do with LaVilla?
(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/photos/2265313960_p7vknps-M.jpg)
The recent scquabble between the Mayor's Office and Jerry Holland over the need to construct an $8 million Supervisor of Elections office/warehouse complex near the Ritz Theatre has overlooked the question of if such a project is even worthy for this historically significant area. For those who question its significance, here is a brief summary behind the sites still standing in Florida's first urbanized African-American community.
Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2012-dec-what-to-do-with-lavilla
amazing....
Great history lesson Ennis. Thank you.
Was 2012-732 removing the chairs from Hemming Plaza introduced last night at the full meeting of the Jacksonville city council?
Today at 2pm 1st floor city hall our new DIA Board will hear a presentation about our future branding for our city and a last minute presentation about 2012-732.
2025 is 2012
great tour Ennis!
Tried to invest in that building in the first picture with the multicolored 'windows'--unfortunately, the agent was one of the worst I've ever dealt with.
Any of these buildings up for sale?
Looks like they've got a lot of great parking in Lavilla.
That is a wonderful history lesson! Thanks so much for all your hard work!!!
good stuff!
Quote from: JFman00 on December 12, 2012, 09:16:10 AM
Any of these buildings up for sale?
Yes...2 or 3 I can think of off the top of my head. Like many agents in this city, the one I worked with was completely delusional
wonderful Ennis. Thanks
What a treasure of information! Thanks for all your hard work.
Is the Old Stanton School being used today? It looks to be in good condition.
The Masonic Lodge is a beautiful building. I wish someone would occupy it.
Great piece Ennis and I love the research and history you put together. You know I have done a lot of work and research in La Villa as well and probably have original pictures you have never seen of some of the beautiful homes that were torn down that still had character and structural integrity. All the homes as you have shown were not all row houses, not by a long shot. What you also showed in the pictures is that LaVilla was very "uptown" In its day. Men and women were well dressed when they visited local businesses and were themselves respectful, educated, talented and business minded individuals.
Of course I was happy to see the "Historic Brewster Hospital" in the article as well. I am very proud of that save in LaVilla. Did you know that when the building was under restoration, we actually discovered that 1885 is not when it was built? The original structure was older. It began as a four room winter home with an offsite kitchen and outhouse. The first building and smoke stack was uncovered during restoration. The build date is believed to be around 1865 with the first "Italianate" features added in 1885, which is when the date in the porch trim was added. Then some time later it underwent yet a third addition that was added early enough to still make it "historic". Can't remember the date of that addition right off the bat. Up in the rafters of the original structure and on a support beam there are the signatures of myself, Councilwoman Glorious Johnson and all the Brewster Nurses. Now you all know a secret about the building as well. :) The tale of the destruction of LaVilla is a long one and can only be fully understood when the background stories of race, developers, passing out of city money and private agenda's are discussed. Fortunately, many of those influences have lost power and stature and perhaps it is a good time to do as you have done and revisit the issue and save what is left of the historic community of LaVilla. I will add more info later if you like.
Absolutley, Cheshire. It is incredibly sad what was lost, and so important to save the rest. Ennis, thanks so much for the history of some of those old buildings I have so admired as I drive home up Broad Street every day. Knowing the history makes them even more wonderful in my eyes.
Apparently the city is now investigating commercial use for the property in LaVilla that the SOE is interested in.
http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2012-12-12/story/jacksonville-downtown-agency-explore-commercial-use-possible-elections
Great article filled with important history. Excellent job of pulling it all together and reminding us of the forgotten history of this part of town. I learned a lot in this one!
(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/photos/1755178289_BWgWNcn-M.jpg)
LaVilla's Railroad Row on West Bay Street during the early 20th century. Courtesy of the State Archives of Florida.
Fantastic tour Lakelander!
I'm still trying to square this photo with the caption, the building on the right appears to be the massive A & EC Terminal Station, but that station was behind "railroad row" and not easily visible from Bay Street. The double track streetcar line DOES appear to be Bay Street, but there were several other lines in La Villa, a bunch of which were pulled up and moved around. Could this be another building that we haven't ID'ed?
(http://i196.photobucket.com/albums/aa111/Ocklawaha/FLORIDA%20Jacksonville/ScreenShot2012-12-12at101343PM-1-1.jpg)
Anybody have any ideas?
^That image is taken of Bay Street, looking west, in the vicinity of Madison Street (if it were extended to Bay). Here is a sanborn map showing the general urban footprint:
(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/History/Jacksonville-Sanborn-Maps/i-gBgCbrj/0/X2/IMAG0019-X2.jpg)
Quote from: Cheshire Cat on December 12, 2012, 12:48:21 PMThe tale of the destruction of LaVilla is a long one and can only be fully understood when the background stories of race, developers, passing out of city money and private agenda's are discussed. Fortunately, many of those influences have lost power and stature and perhaps it is a good time to do as you have done and revisit the issue and save what is left of the historic community of LaVilla. I will add more info later if you like.
I'd love to hear more. I'm taking you out for coffee when I get back to town after the Christmas.
LaVilla offers us a broad scope of destination sites. As stated the ethnic history is rich, and that is in addition to railroad history, streetcars, music, artists etc.
The first demolition of the neighborhood on a large scale was when they put the Jacksonville Expressway Authority's highway (the future I-95) right through the western quarter. It would be nice to know the history of those buildings located just west of the 'expressway' in the vicinity of the 'old brickyard' or 'brick church.'
I will look forward to that coffee Ennis. :)
There is no more LaVilla; I mean, the real LaVilla that I knew when I was a child (age 8 to 11). Those of you who know me and have read my posts in the past know that I was raised, and lived in LaVilla from 1965 to 1968 (817 West Duval Street long torn down), before my Mom and I moved to Fort Myers. You can never recapture the taste, flair, flamboyance, history, and culture of what was LaVilla; so in my opinion, the best thing to do is leave that buried, at rest have you. But in respect to LaVilla, in and of itself, bring in developments that will make it notable, alive, and noteworthy with a definite identity to Jacksonvillians and those visitors from outside of the City. One thing I would like to see is LaVilla transformed into a business and residential district and culture, existing side by side in LaVilla...akin to what Miami did with Brickell but with a Jacksonville taste; yes, nice mid to high rise skyscrapers, both residential and commercial, with stores and other businesses lined around in support of the people who live and work not only around LaVilla, but also within the new neighborhood itself, and, I think this would greatly complement and support the new Train Station/Transportation Center, and also the new construction going on south of LaVilla in Brooklyn. If not this, then make LaVilla full of residential low to mid rise structures, along with apartment buildings, stores, gas stations, etc., where anyone of any race can live there.
Medium-density neighborhood with 5-10 story mixed-use buildings on Broad St, Beaver St and Forsyth or Bay St with primarily residential (rowhouses/townhouses, 3-4 story apt buildings) filling in the rest, with a park/square on one of the currently vacant blocks around Adams and Lee or Lee/Church.
Who could have foreseen in our fervent wish to sit next to White folks in diners, we would lose our civic identity?
Just walked past the Chili Bordello, and the building next to it. The building on the left (523 W Forsyth St) is getting all new glass, and it looks like something is happening at Joanne's. Anyone heard anything?
I noticed it too. However, the latest permit online I can find is one issued in 2016.