From the Jacksonville Business Journal:
http://jacksonville.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/stories/2009/12/07/daily33.html (http://jacksonville.bizjournals.com/jacksonville/stories/2009/12/07/daily33.html)
Southern Living honors Springfield
Jacksonville Business Journal - by Christian Conte Staff reporter
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Springfield has been named one of the South’s top comeback neighborhoods by Southern Living magazine.
The historic Jacksonville neighborhood just north of Downtown will be featured, along with nine other Southern neighborhoods, in the January issue of Southern Living.
Rex Perry, building editor for the magazine, said he was drawn to the people of Springfield who he said were “fired-up†about their neighborhood.
“The people of Springfield have come together and have dedicated themselves to making it a better place and have a can-do, pull-it-together spirit,†Perry said.
Established in 1869, Springfield experienced great growth in the early 1900s. The neighborhood’s recent revitalization has been led by a partnership that includes private, commercial and residential developers; arts and cultural developers; and local and national non-profit organizations including Local Initiatives Support Corporation.
Springfield is the largest historic district in Florida and is listed on the National Register of Historic Places.
The other nine cities on the list are:
Fairmount, Forth Worth, TX
Crescent Hill, Louisville, KY
Wilmore, Charlotte, NC
Patterson Park, Baltimore, MD
East Nashville, Nashville, TN
Viola/Heritage, Greenville, SC
Phelps Grove, Springfield, MO
Holy Cross, New Orleans, LA
Nice to see. The news story that Firstcoast News has up on their website is garnering some interesting comments as usual.
fsujax, I saw that and just decided not to even respond over there.
Fact of the matter is the Southern Living crew more than likely spent more time in Springfield than any of those uninformed people commenting have during their entire time living in Jacksonville.
LOL Stephen
per SPAR, the issue should be out on Dec 19th.
I think Springfield would be a great place to ride out whatever happens as this wackadoo
century plays out.
I think Springfield is being helped by the recession and national real estate collapse. Prices have dropped and a lot more people are moving in and speculators/flippers moving out.
Also, the people leaving their insightful comments on First Coast News probably can't even point to Springfield on a map.
Who even watches FCN?
Anyways, good stuff to look forward to. My grandma gets Southern Living and I'll have to read it when it comes out.
Quote from: Lunican on December 11, 2009, 01:11:21 PM
I think Springfield is being helped by the recession and national real estate collapse. Prices have dropped and a lot more people are moving in and speculators/flippers moving out.
it is still expensive for some if you compare it to the area just north. but springfield has plunged faster then other areas. Maybe some remaining old houses will now be fixed. But they compete with empty/foreclosed new houses.
the area just North is very different. that's why the prices are different.
Quotejust North is very different
Yes Panama Park is indeed.....very different.
There is a more then Panama Park. "New Springfield", "Metro North". Panama Park has nice parts too. And good restaurants. For example Joseph's on Main.
QuoteAnd good restaurants. For example Joseph's on Main.
OK, that is one.
Jackie's is gone, and rightly so, State inspectors shut it down for numerous violations. I would not attend Orsay or Bistro AiX if it were in Panama Park, but call me a snob or worse, if you must.
Quote from: mtraininjax on December 11, 2009, 04:24:11 PM
call me a snob or worse, if you must.
snob, there you go mtrain!
I think this is great news for Springfield and well-deserved. Springfield has a passionate, involved citizenry that any neighborhood would love to have, and it's wonderful to see their hard work pay off in such a public way. My only beef is that whoever sent out the press release about this got their facts wrong about the size of Springfield; it isn't the biggest historic district in the state--it's not even the biggest in the city (that's Riverside Avondale). Actually, it's Springfield's relatively small (one square mile) size that makes it such a concentrated architectural gem.
Nobody knows it's all because of CLEO'S at Liberty and 21St Streets, while it's not exactly Springfield, every chicken and fish lover in Jacksonville should know about this little treasure. No bigger then a tract house bedroom, the place often has a line at lunch, filling orders for business and public servants all over Springfield, Panama, Phoenix, Eastside, etc... No doubt the Southern Living people wandered in there one lunch hour and BINGO, Springfield is immortal. REALLY!QuoteOCKLAWAHA HE GOT SOCO!
Here come old flattop he come grooving up slowly
He got joo-joo eyeball he one holy roller
He got hair down to his knee
Got to be a joker he just do what he please
He wear no shoeshine he got toe-jam football
He got monkey finger he shoot coca-cola
He say "I know you, you know me"
One thing I can tell you is you got to be free
Come together right now over me
He bag production he got walrus gumboot
He got Ono sideboard he one spinal cracker
He got feet down below his knee
Hold you in his armchair you can feel his disease
Come together right now over me
He roller-coaster he got early warning
He got muddy water he one mojo filter
He say "One and one and one is three"
Got to be good-looking 'cause he's so hard to see
Come together right now over me
OCKLAWAHA
Quote from: Lunican on December 11, 2009, 01:11:21 PM
I think Springfield is being helped by the recession and national real estate collapse. Prices have dropped and a lot more people are moving in and speculators/flippers moving out.
Also, the people leaving their insightful comments on First Coast News probably can't even point to Springfield on a map.
they would first need to know how to read a map!
I thought it achieved the title of the largest, not in square miles but the number of period buildings within the square mile. When the survey was done I believe there were about 1800 such buildings - that is a huge concentration
I'd imagine Riverside/Avondale would have more period buildings (50 years and older?) as well. Its larger in land area and the building fabric is largely still in place. I also wonder how continuous demolitions within Springfield, over the last couple of years, have impacted their overall number.
(http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3026/2651481977_420224beb1_o.jpg)
Quote from: chris farley on December 11, 2009, 09:40:56 PM
I thought it achieved the title of the largest, not in square miles but the number of period buildings within the square mile. When the survey was done I believe there were about 1800 such buildings - that is a huge concentration
Wonder how many of those were old streetcars? REALLY! Saw evidence of a surviving streetcar in St. Augustine today, long after the system was abandoned. Looks like the car body was used as some sort of display or shop next to the Ponce De Leon Monument DOWNTOWN, through the 1930's and maybe the 40's. Now we are wondering where it was moved to when it left downtown?????
As older neighborhood's, Springfield, Durkeeville, East Side, Phoenix, Panama Park, LaVilla, Fairfield, Brooklyn, San Marco, San Jose, St. Nicholas, Riverside, Avondale, Fairfax, Murray Hill and Ortega, should have pretty good odds on having or having HAD such cars. They were given away for use as sheds and chicken coops, some even became part of a house or serve as a Florida Room. OCKLAWAHA
Riverside Avondale has around 4100 contributing structures. Springfield is just over 1700. As far as concentration of structures in a particular radius counting for what makes something the largest, that's kind of counterintuitive, no? Densest maybe? But largest means, well, largest.
If I'm not mistaken, Riverside Avondale achieved historic district status fairly recently. Maybe the person that posted Springfield as the largest, which is used to be, didn't know.
Riverside was Jacksonville's first National Register Historic District, elected in 1985. Springfield was second, nominated in 1987. Avondale was 1989. Not trying to nitpick, just trying to be accurate.
How large is the Riverside Historic District without including Avondale?
Quote from: Lunican on December 13, 2009, 10:11:55 PM
How large is the Riverside Historic District without including Avondale?
About this big: <-------------------------------->*
*Not to scale.
Avondale Historic District
(added 1989 - Duval County - #89000494)
Roughly bounded by Roosevelt Blvd., Belvedere Ave., Seminole Rd., St. Johns River, and Talbot Ave., Jacksonville
(2730 acres, 729 buildings)
Historic Significance: Event, Architecture/Engineering, Person
Architect, builder, or engineer: Et al., Marsh & Saxlebye
Architectural Style: Bungalow/Craftsman, Colonial Revival, Other
Historic Person: Stockton,Telfair
Significant Year: 1920
Area of Significance: Architecture, Community Planning And Development
Period of Significance: 1900-1924, 1925-1949
Owner: Private
Historic Function: Domestic
Historic Sub-function: Single Dwelling
Current Function: Domestic
Current Sub-function: Single Dwelling
Fort Caroline National Memorial ***
(added 1966 - Duval County - #66000061)
10 mi. E of Jacksonville, Jacksonville
(1280 acres, 3 structures, 1 object)
Historic Significance: Event
Area of Significance: Religion, Military, Politics/Government
Period of Significance: 1500-1599, 1800-1824
Owner: Federal
Historic Function: Defense
Historic Sub-function: Battle Site, Fortification
Current Function: Landscape
Current Sub-function: Park
Old Ortega Historic District
(added 2004 - Duval County - #04000682)
Also known as DU159777
Bounded by roosevelt Blvd., Verona Ave., St. Johns and Ortega Rivers, Jacksonville
(4500 acres, 597 buildings)
Historic Significance: Event, Architecture/Engineering
Architectural Style: Late 19th And Early 20th Century American Movements, Late 19th And 20th Century Revivals
Area of Significance: Community Planning And Development, Architecture
Period of Significance: 1900-1924, 1925-1949, 1950-1974
Owner: Private , Local Gov't
Historic Function: Commerce/Trade, Domestic, Education, Landscape, Religion
Historic Sub-function: Business, Multiple Dwelling, Park, Religious Structure, School, Single Dwelling
Current Function: Commerce/Trade, Domestic, Education, Landscape, Religion
Current Sub-function: Business, Multiple Dwelling, Park, Religious Structure, School, Single Dwelling
Riverside Historic District
(added 1985 - Duval County - #85000689)
Roughly bounded by Seaboard Coastline RR, Riverside and Memorial Pks., St. Johns River and Seminole, Jacksonville
(6870 acres, 2120 buildings, 1 object)
Historic Significance: Event, Architecture/Engineering
Architect, builder, or engineer: Et al., Marsh & Saxlebye
Architectural Style: Bungalow/Craftsman, Prairie School, Colonial Revival
Area of Significance: Exploration/Settlement, Architecture
Period of Significance: 1850-1874, 1875-1899, 1900-1924, 1925-1949
Owner: Private , Local Gov't
Historic Function: Commerce/Trade, Domestic
Historic Sub-function: Single Dwelling
Current Function: Commerce/Trade, Domestic
Current Sub-function: Single Dwelling
Springfield Historic District
(added 1987 - Duval County - #86003640)
Also known as Springfield Subdivision
Roughly bounded by Twelfth, Clark, and First Sts., Hogans Creek and Boulevard, Jacksonville
(5060 acres, 1787 buildings, 11 structures, 9 objects)
Historic Significance: Event, Architecture/Engineering, Person
Architect, builder, or engineer: Et al., Klutho,Henry John
Architectural Style: Queen Anne, Bungalow/Craftsman, Colonial Revival
Historic Person: Klutho,Henry John
Significant Year: 1930, 1882
Area of Significance: Architecture, Entertainment/Recreation, Landscape Architecture, Community Planning And Development
Period of Significance: 1875-1899, 1900-1924, 1925-1949
Owner: Private , Local Gov't
Historic Function: Commerce/Trade, Domestic
Historic Sub-function: Business, Multiple Dwelling, Single Dwelling
Current Function: Commerce/Trade, Domestic
Current Sub-function: Business, Multiple Dwelling, Single Dwelling
i am going to see if I can find out how many houses there were when the original survey was done. The Hazouri adminstration took down many houses, in fact at one point SPAR brought an injuction against the city to prevent two going down but, it failed. There was an organization called PRIDE - preservations and restoration instead of demolition. I do not know where that figure of over 4000 came from for Riverside and Avondale, where did you get that figure?
Your own figures show about 3000 in R'side/Avondale, no?
Telfair Stockton's orginal dream was only Talbot, Edgewood, Avondale and Challen. By that measure, the "shops of Avondale" are outside the scope, as is most of "Avondale".
The figure of over 4,000 structures comes from including West Avondale (everything below Talbot--the Avondale shops to the bottom of the S-curve), which is part of the local JAX historic district boundaries of Riverside Avondale. The paperwork has long been in the works nationally to include this West Avondale section (frankly, the bulk of what most of us think of as Avondale), but for some reason it never shows up on the NRHP website.
Re. the original "Telfair Stockton dream" of Avondale, you're right, it was only 4 1/2 blocks. However, something like over 14 subdivisions comprise what we now know of as Avondale.
The Springfield spread is on pages 1 & 2
Quote from: fsu813 on December 17, 2009, 10:23:41 AM
The Springfield spread
Is that anything like the Melbourne Shuffle? ;)
Thanks for posting the article. While this is nice, after all the hoopla I'm glad I didn't plunk down any cash for the actual magazine. ;)
We sure do have us some cute kids, though!
Not that I'm not thrilled (I totally am) we're finally getting the positive recognition we've deserved, but if that's the entire write up....a lot was left out. I know for a fact they interviewed and took a great many photos...
How did you get any slant whatseoever, positive or negative, about SPAR from the brief blurb? The only groups mentioned were the Mommies club & SRG.
Also, you may be surprised that if you Google "the urban core" or even just "urban core" Tony's comes up as #1.
I wouldn't have thought so either.
You just kinda guessed, huh?
Oops. Sorry. Let me write that down....."do not talk to stephen....he thinks you are dumb....."
Thanks for reminding me.
It would be great if we could get Southern Living to do a feature article on Springfield in the coming year. I hope Mayer Peyton reads this article, "Wilmer southend took off because of rail ".
Link to publication's content:
http://www.southernliving.com/home-garden/best-neighborhoods-00400000061751/ (http://www.southernliving.com/home-garden/best-neighborhoods-00400000061751/)
Quote from: stephendare on December 17, 2009, 02:04:12 PM
Quote from: fsu813 on December 17, 2009, 02:00:03 PM
Oops. Sorry. Let me write that down....."do not talk to stephen....he thinks you are dumb....."
Thanks for reminding me.
Anytime.
Wow...the third grade for me was about 30 years ago. ::)
I had spoken to the writer for months and the photographer right before and upon his arrival to Jacksonville. I know for a fact they spoke to many people and took photos of many great locations. They both loved Springfield and all it had to offer but they were blown away by the mommies group and ultimately the photo they chose reflected that. I called Teresa Fresonke shortly before the photographer came to town so she could coordinate a shoot. He called me right after he finished with them to say how wonderful Teresa had been and how great a group they were. He couldn't say enough good things about them. Springfield has a history of strong women and this newest group does us all proud. They are the future of Springfield and it looks bright to me. Kudos to you ladies and your adorable babies.