The Underappreciated Side of Riverside - Part II
(http://photos.metrojacksonville.com/photos/771404874_ySLfe-M.jpg)
The Riverside/Avondale Historic District is well known for its diverse mix of architecture and urban parks. However, it can be argued that the dense integration of non single family building fabric is what gives the district its true unique charm and vibrancy.
Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2010-feb-the-underappreciated-side-of-riverside-part-ii
I lived in Riverside on Myra near Stockton but moved about 4-5 years ago for several reasons. I still regret leaving such a great neighborhood especially when I see how it has become even more vibrant and relevent in the years since I've left. Thanks for this great photo tour of places that are still so familiar to me. It inspires me to move back there as soon as possible.
The Pharmacy would look even cooler with some neon.
Does anyone know the story on that three story building three pictures up from the end? You can see on there that it is partially boarded up, but some of the units appear to be lived in when you walk by it? Specifically you can see that there are lights on in some of the rooms, and shampoo bottles in what I assume is a bathroom window.
Couple thoughts:
1. Universe of Super Heroes @ Park & King is great. I've been going there since I was 13. Same guy has owned and operated it the whole time, James. Very cool guy. (not my thing, but he also has largest selection of death metal in the city).
2. It's amazing that Lee High School is rated a "D" school. Most of the well-to-do folks in that area, and there are lots of them, send thier kids to a private high school rather than Lee for some reason. If they would just send them to Lee, it would improve the school ten fold.
I graduated from Lee High School in the late 90's back then the school wasn't too bad. We had our problems back then, but it appears to have gotten worse there...sad. Your are right many of the people who live around Lee send their kids to private schools. I never understood why the DCS chose Paxon for the second advanced study school, I always thought it should have been Lee.
Quote from: Lucasjj on February 02, 2010, 07:53:39 AM
Does anyone know the story on that three story building three pictures up from the end? You can see on there that it is partially boarded up, but some of the units appear to be lived in when you walk by it? Specifically you can see that there are lights on in some of the rooms, and shampoo bottles in what I assume is a bathroom window.
I know it was for sale a few years ago for around 1mil., I believe its 20 one-bedroom apartments. Someone may have bought it and be fixing it one unit at a time? or possibly just renting out the ones that are livable.
The building 4 up from the bottom with the black double doors on the corner used to be some sort of grocery store at one point. Its now a duplex up and down, the bottom is still all open, a very cool living space. The inside is awesome, the outside doesnt really do it justice.
fsujax,
was your principal Ed Pratt-Dannals then?
yep. Then Mr Mitchell my senior year!
Good to see some pics of Universe of Superheroes. Like fsu said, James is a super cool guy. I don't know how he keeps the place open with the phenomenal rent in that building. Go by and show him some love.
Willowbranch park is a pit of despair. It's a shame that such a beautiful park is so dirty. I hate taking the kids there because there's a constant fear that they're going to pick up a crack baggie or used condom. Some security lights at night would be wonderful on the north side of the park, but they've never been installed and the street lights on Sydney are incredibly dim. The city has been called about it many times. But there's only so much they can do with a park that large and wooded.
Quote from: The Compound on February 02, 2010, 08:26:24 AM
The building 4 up from the bottom with the black double doors on the corner used to be some sort of grocery store at one point. Its now a duplex up and down, the bottom is still all open, a very cool living space. The inside is awesome, the outside doesnt really do it justice.
It was a candy store when I was at West Riverside Elementary in the late 80's.
http://www.universeofsuperheroes.com/
What is in the secind floor of the Whiteway building? It looks vacant currently, but I assume was used previously. Is the second floor connected to the first floor storefront below it, or is the second floor independent of the first?
^It is office space, and it is not vacant
Yeah there are a lot of offices up there. Its kind of creepy, feels like going back in time.
Quote from: fsu813 on February 02, 2010, 08:13:37 AM
Couple thoughts:
It's amazing that Lee High School is rated a "D" school. Most of the well-to-do folks in that area, and there are lots of them, send thier kids to a private high school rather than Lee for some reason. If they would just send them to Lee, it would improve the school ten fold.
I recall considering a Riverside home purchase in the mid 80's-the realtor's response to my question aboutr schools was to the effect-they are not very good,which is a reason people are attracted to the affordable neighborhoods-by design they simply place their children in private schools.
My heart lies in Riverside/Avondale.Forced to flee my once idyllic native North Miami due to declining neighborhood in the late 70's,here in "Jacksonville" there was at that time a concerted anti Duval theme,so like so many others,I settled in Clay county.And like so many- made the daily commute to Duval! Luckily work places were located in Riverside,which really came to represent to me my personal neighborhood identity.The semi rural Middleburg Black Creek place became less enchanting.I rented an apartment at Riverside & Aberdeen-the cool looking place with the front porches on the NW corner.Now in the country so to speak in far soutwest Avondale.When I purchased my home about ten or eleven years ago there was a frantic rush by beaches transplants who also wanted to move close in.
And why not-the beaches are handy,as well as significant rural public lands complex to the west.
The Willowbranch quadruplex (picture just under the Riverside Christian Church) is a great property and directly adjacent to Willowbranch park. Someone is getting a steal on it for around $200k (currently in pending status). It is huge (5100 sq ft) and has all the original architecture and floor plans, but does have some serious old termite damage. Either way, someone with vision is getting a great deal.
Quote from: fsujax on February 02, 2010, 08:22:00 AM
I graduated from Lee High School in the late 90's back then the school wasn't too bad. We had our problems back then, but it appears to have gotten worse there...sad. Your are right many of the people who live around Lee send their kids to private schools. I never understood why the DCS chose Paxon for the second advanced study school, I always thought it should have been Lee.
LEE? That explains a lot FSUJAX! (as Nathan Bedford smiles...)
That whole neighborhood virtually screams "S T R E E T C A R !" God, can you imagine the powder keg that would be set off with a heritage car line eminently more beautiful then New Orleans...??OCKLAWAHA
Thats right OCK, I am a General!
You guys got a pic of my next door neighbors and another of my friend's apartment. People are absolutely spot on about Willowbranch Park. It would be great if that little creek could somehow be cleaned up there. And while they're at it, maybe having some rose bushes in the "rose garden" across the street would be great. At any rate I'm grateful for the easily accessible green space. I don't really have a yard, so it's nice to be able to stretch my legs in the park from time to time. I think that the fact that the mayor is trying to work those park spaces into his downtown vision is a positive, too.
I also want to say that I really dislike the way some of the newer chain businesses have constructed their buildings. I like to walk the Walgreen's on Park and King, but since it's set back from the road and the parking is in front rather than behind I am constantly dodging cars. Or when I'm walking past the BK it can be hard to tell whether someone is coming out of the drive thru and when you're the one in the drive thru it's hard to see whether pedestrians are getting ready to come across. Poorly planned space. Especially when compared to Whiteway Corner where they accommodate both driver and pedestrian to some extent with some street parking and parking in the rear.
Overall I like the area though. It's a nice place to live. Kinda cool to learn a little more about it.