Then and Now: The Springfield Warehouse District
(http://www.metrojacksonville.com/photos/thumbs/lrg-5652-11th-market.jpg)
Eighty years ago the Springfield Warehouse District, just north of Downtown Jacksonville, was a bustling center of industry. Today, it is a prime location for future renovation and revitalization.
Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/content/view/844
Great area.
Anything planned for there?
Love the Coca Cola building...
Anyone know the price of the Bakery Union building that is for sale?
Tremendous potential. If only some visionaries with some financial backing could buy up these buildings and start renovating them. A light rail line would do wonders here. So would a tax abatement on renovations program.
If only those in power had the vision to see what this area could be. Not only this area, but the "New Springfield" community between Historic Springfield and 20th Street expressway could explode with growth if the right steps were taken.
< sigh >
We need another somebody like Bold City to hop in and make something out of one of these places.. The Coca Cola building is amazing.
Thanks for posting these. My nana worked at King Edward's cigars for 30 years, she had many stories about that area.
I should mention that the lofts on the corner of Market St are really cool and currently for sale.
the listing agents number is 904.370.0426. go and buy one (or both!)
Wow, being an ignorant beach bum, I had no idea all of that was there. That really could be a huge development center. Agh! That coke building is awesome. They should totally put a ....coke store in there? Like a museum or something. Or not. Anyway, great stuff. I hope none of those buildings are in any danger in the near future...
I drove through this area a couple weeks ago and was immediately interested in the Coca-Cola building (even cooler now that I know what it was built for). I also really like the former Chevy Parts Depot building...I didn't notice that one on my drive, I'll have to go take a closer look.
At one time there was a developer from Atlanta who had planned to turn this area into a true warehouse district. I know that they did purchase one of the old warehouses just north of the NS Line/abandoned S-Line. I guess the plans for this have been put on hold. I haven't heard anything else about it.
The building targeted for lofts at that time, was the old Hutting Sash and Door Company on Market Street.
(http://www.metrojacksonville.com/photos/thumbs/lrg-5575-huttigsashdoor1.jpg)
From what I understood, sales never really took off, so the project was abandoned. The same goes for the Liberty Lofts project that was intended a block away in the Chevy Parts Warehouse.
(http://www.urbanspaces.cc/pages/libertylofts/renderfade.gif)
http://www.urbanspaces.cc/pages/libertylofts/liberty_lofts.htm
While the building fabric is there, it needs something that will boost it in terms of economic development potential, since its located in a fringe area with little direction. If the S-Line becomes part of a rail system in Jacksonville and a station is placed in this district, it will bloom.
I remember seeing that plan a few years ago...hopefully somebody will revive it.
Where did the old photo of gate city mattress come from? I wish it were higher resolution (or hopefully, one is, somewhere). My great grandmother worked for them for YEARS.
It comes from the State of Florida Photographic Archives website:
www.floridamemory.com/PhotographicCollection/
Quote from: vicupstate on July 23, 2008, 08:16:53 AM
Anyone know the price of the Bakery Union building that is for sale?
I called yesterday. Its 1,841 square feet and the asking price is $210,000.
(http://www.metrojacksonville.com/photos/thumbs/lrg-5579-p1110775.JPG)
You could do a nice conversion of the building into a bungalow for yourself.
Great thread, BTW. I love this area and it has tremendous potential. Unfortunately, until the real estate market turns it will probably remain dormant. Hopefully one day this will be Springfield's Loft District. :)
Jacksonville has so much interesting history. Someone should really turn an old building in Downtown or Springfield into a historical museum.
Quote from: thelakelander on July 24, 2008, 09:37:21 AM
Quote from: vicupstate on July 23, 2008, 08:16:53 AM
Anyone know the price of the Bakery Union building that is for sale?
I called yesterday. Its 1,841 square feet and the asking price is $210,000.
I will never understand how these properties are priced with expectations that they will sell. Who is going to spend $210,000 to rehab this instead of spending the same money to get a fixer-upper in Avondale or the like?
Great point, $210,000 is an insane asking price for that union building. That is about $114 per square foot for a place that must need at least some work and to be honest..... in an area that is still in the "under desired" area.
Springfield needs more living residents that are part of the revitalizing movement. There needs to be more affordable housing. The guy who did the 2 loft spaces on the corner of Market and East 11th also built a great small house just one lot in from his 2 lofts on Market. This house I think is about to sell and his asking price was about 160k for a 1200 sq ft, 2 bedroom, 2 bath house. The master bath and closet were nothing short of fantastic.
There needs to be more attempts like this to turn Springfield around. Better deal to the dollar to help lure in a great community.
JaxPhotoCat
Quote from: cracklow on July 24, 2008, 12:19:38 AM
Where did the old photo of gate city mattress come from? I wish it were higher resolution (or hopefully, one is, somewhere). My great grandmother worked for them for YEARS.
There is a book call Jacksonville Photos it has that picture in there. It is a brown hard back book. It had a black and white photo of someone being pulled by an ostrich cart. The main library has the book, but they don't let you check it out. It has a lot of cool pics that Lake has posted here over time. If you have time you should check it out. Does anyone know the book?
Is the Kahn Chevrolet Parts project on Liberty Street being revived?
If so, who is doing it?
Thanks
Yes.
this summer
(http://www.metrojacksonville.com/photos/thumbs/lrg-5566-p1110774.JPG)
this month
(http://www.metrojacksonville.com/photos/thumbs/lrg-7066-p1150991.JPG)
QuoteThe liberty loft building was recently bought by a developer from Riverside. SWM builders. He is gutting the second floor and is going to put 9 loft style apartments there. He is leasing out the bottom space to a business...but the offices that line liberty street with all the windows...he is talking about leasing those out (cheap) as artist studios. He is making some great headway! I'm excited he is moving forward with this project in this market...it is great for Springfield!
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/forum/index.php/topic,3355.msg47007.html#msg47007
Glad to see this finally taking form! Looks to be moving right along...........FINALLY ;D
Quote from: Coolyfett on August 31, 2008, 09:55:29 PM
Quote from: cracklow on July 24, 2008, 12:19:38 AM
Where did the old photo of gate city mattress come from? I wish it were higher resolution (or hopefully, one is, somewhere). My great grandmother worked for them for YEARS.
There is a book call Jacksonville Photos it has that picture in there. It is a brown hard back book. It had a black and white photo of someone being pulled by an ostrich cart. The main library has the book, but they don't let you check it out. It has a lot of cool pics that Lake has posted here over time. If you have time you should check it out. Does anyone know the book?
Yes, this book is called The Jacksonville Family Album. The Historical Society and Chamblin's sell it.
"Yes, this book is called The Jacksonville Family Album. The Historical Society and Chamblin's sell it."
Copies are also available for check out from the library, just not those in the Florida Collection. Nothing in the Florida Collection circulates so that there are always copies on hand for reference and visitors from out of town, etc.