Forgotten Jacksonville: New Springfield
(http://www.metrojacksonville.com/photos/thumbs/lrg-1961-p1040117.JPG)
Despite boasting a decent amount of historic building fabric and being located within close proximity to downtown, New Springfield remains one of Jacksonville's most ignored neighborhoods.
Full Article: http://www.metrojacksonville.com/content/view/554 (http://www.metrojacksonville.com/content/view/554)
Nice article.
Echo that - this was really good. I'm going to take a drive through there. While the highways do serve a purpose, it's terrible how we "integrated" them into our neighborhoods. Surely, there could have been some better planning when it comes to these.
Unfortunately, those routes were selected by design. Nationwide, freeway construction during the 50s and 60s also was a convenient way to physically separate white and black communities. Another negative in the selected BRT route is it makes that gulf between many of these struggling inner city neighborhoods even wider. Now that we know better, we should strive for better.
It’s one thing to constantly criticize in this case City Planning and it another thing to actually see the real roots of the problem. People lack of self esteem and a rooted desire to live off the government. Get something for free without actually putting forth some effort. You use Detroit as a visual example. Before the corruption of Colman Young (and similar clear up to today) they also have had wonderful architecture and you can see it much as you can with Springfield today. Clear out the crack ho’s and the like and your right you will see Springfield start to turn around. A good police force will help as well as stiffer zoning laws. This will force out the bad and bring in the new….. Time, it’s only a matter of time….
QuotePeople lack of self esteem and a rooted desire to live off the government. Get something for free without actually putting forth some effort.
I'm not aware of any public housing in this neighborhood or the majority of it's residents begging for free handouts. I think you, if truly interested or concerned about this issue, may need to seriously sit down and look at the cause and effects before stereotyping an entire community as being lazy freeloaders.
QuoteYou use Detroit as a visual example. Before the corruption of Colman Young (and similar clear up to today) they also have had wonderful architecture and you can see it much as you can with Springfield today.
I'm not sticking up for Coleman Young, but if you think he is primarily responsible for Detroit's fall from grace, you're off base again. Detroit's decline began before Young became Mayor and had more to do with a decline in it's manufacturing base, a lack of economic diversity, destruction of neighborhoods for freeways and white flight. Corruption only made it worse.
QuoteClear out the crack ho’s and the like and your right you will see Springfield start to turn around. A good police force will help as well as stiffer zoning laws. This will force out the bad and bring in the new….. Time, it’s only a matter of time….
Here, I agree, but you can't clear up anything without working to reverse some of the causes that lead to today's conditions. I person who ignores the past is destined to repeat it.
Ok I get it I take back my first lines your right.... I said it before and I will say it again, What this city needs is a Dennis Wayne Archer. As well as a Police force with a Davis at the head......
I agree as well. With every passing day, it does not appear that the restoration of these type of neighborhoods are a high priority with our local government in general. It's too bad, because many of these places are the answer to many of the issues we struggle with today.
For example, this community, in particular, is naturally set up to become a place for quality urban affordable market rate housing close to downtown. Other than decent mass transit connections and crime (which can be taken care of), the zoning allows a little density, the land is cheap, the streets are walkable, infrastructure is in place and its a skip and a hop away from Shands Jacksonville, the port and downtown. Crack down on the crime, clean and properly maintain public ROW and provide decent mass transit, and it's possible this place could turn around pretty rapidly.