Is Springfield maligned instead of celebrated?

[Bativac]

I agree with Redglittercoffin - it's mainly a perception problem. As a lifelong resident, I've never felt unsafe in downtown Jax, on the Northside, or dare I say it, in Springfield. (I tried to explain the "perception" thing to my fiancee... she wasn't buying.)

We ended up moving into an older neighborhood full of 60 year old brick-and-plaster homes. Every weekend we see different neighbors outside, working in their lawns and improving their homes (painting, roof repairs, etc). It's nice and I don't regret our decision. Friends have turned up their noses because it's right near the Hart bridge, and there is some perception that the surrounding area isn't safe, but who cares? We like it, and she feels comfortable and safe, so I'm happy.

I hope Springfield rebounds and becomes the premier neighborhood in Jacksonville again. But it'll be probably another generation before those negative perceptions go away.

[JaxNative68]

if you like it, go for it . . . who cares what other people think if you are happy, in the end, that is all that matters when choosing a home.

[Dan B]

I don't need to have my neighborhood celebrated; not maligned would be nice, but I've given up defending why I live where I live.  I love my house, I love Springfield.  Last night I met a new neighbor and later came home to a huge group of carolers wandering the streets for the sheer joy of it.  I can't explain to others why that is more important to me than this nebulous quality of "safety" everyone keeps grasping for.

Amen Sister. Exactly the same way I feel.

BTW, we tried to serenade you last night, but you were nowhere to be found :-/

[Dan B]

I agree with Redglittercoffin - it's mainly a perception problem. As a lifelong resident, I've never felt unsafe in downtown Jax, on the Northside, or dare I say it, in Springfield. (I tried to explain the "perception" thing to my fiancee... she wasn't buying.)

We ended up moving into an older neighborhood full of 60 year old brick-and-plaster homes. Every weekend we see different neighbors outside, working in their lawns and improving their homes (painting, roof repairs, etc). It's nice and I don't regret our decision. Friends have turned up their noses because it's right near the Hart bridge, and there is some perception that the surrounding area isn't safe, but who cares? We like it, and she feels comfortable and safe, so I'm happy.

I hope Springfield rebounds and becomes the premier neighborhood in Jacksonville again. But it'll be probably another generation before those negative perceptions go away.

There are a lot of Springfielders who post on this forum, so sometimes it may sound like we expect the world to revolve around us. I dont believe thats really the case. We just want people to stop the open hostilities.

There are plenty of great historic, or nearly historic communities worth saving and talking about. Empire point, St Nicholas among them.

[hooplady]

BTW, we tried to serenade you last night, but you were nowhere to be found :-/

Now see there?  That's what I'm talkin' about!  I was just coming back from Tom's and must have just missed you leaving Erick's house.  But I heard you and you sounded great!

[Jth]

As someone who grew up in Mandarin and has lived at the beach, I can say with certainty that most of the Mandarin, Southside, and Beaches crowd have absolutely no clue where and what Springfield even is. My parents and a few friends were baffled when I told them I was looking at buying a home in Springfield. Every time someone is skeptical of Springfield I ask them where it is. They say oh I don't know somewhere north of downtown, or over by the Jags stadium. They literally have no clue it exists and how nice it is. We are talking about educated and well traveled people too.

Here's a good story to give people an idea of the suburban Jacksonville mindset. I played on the Mandarin High soccer team back in 2000. We had a game over at Lee High and got lost in Riverside/Avondale at night. Half the guys on the team were blabbing about how we were lost in the ghetto and were scared for the bus to pull over to ask for directions. I had spent a lot of time in Riverside/Avondale and stood up for the neighborhood saying that it is one of the nicest parts of Jacksonville to which the whole team just laughed and thought I was crazy. It wasn't until the coach stepped in and said that I was right and that were surrounded by million dollar homes that they realized there was truth in what I had said.

People that grow up in suburban Jacksonville (particularly Mandarin and Northern St. Johns) are conditioned to think that everything north and west of the river is either ghetto and redneckville. Now I'm sure perceptions have changed and are still changing, but a lot of that mentality still exists.

When I showed my Dad and younger brother the home that I'm buying a couple days ago they were absolutely floored at how nice it is and were very impressed with the neighborhood overall. My Dad travels quite a bit to Europe for work and loves urban and walkable places, yet he had no idea how nice Springfield was and the things that are happening here. Clearly there is a perception issue in with the neighborhood.

I think Zoo's original post raises a lot of important questions and will follow up on some of those ideas when I get the time.

[fsu813]

ya know....having a great, all-inclusive neighborhood website would do wonders for "perception".

just saying.......=)

[redglittercoffin]

There are plenty of great historic, or nearly historic communities worth saving and talking about. Empire point, St Nicholas among them.

I'll give a thumbs up to St. Nicholas as well.  Another neighborhood I just stumbled upon a few years ago and thought it would be a nice quiet place to live. 

Maybe I am just blissfully ignorant.

[sheclown]

North Shore

[samiam]

OK we now have some outstanding press. Is there anything in the works to keep this going. what are your thoughts?

[samiam]

Springfield could try to became the poster child for the new cash for caulkers program once the feds put the details together. Maybe the president could recognize us for our efforts using the program.

[JaxNative68]

from what I remember from many decades ago, Springfield already had a cash for caulk program in place . . . but the spelling was different.

[Springfield Girl]

I used to take it personally until I realized people from Jacksonville think every area of town other than the one they live in, is the ghetto. My kids played soccer for years at different clubs including JYSC on St. Augustine road. The fields are blocks from San Marco and they had teammates there that lived in mansions on the river. My youngest wanted to play at the Westside Soccer Club with schoolmates and my husband and I found it hilarious when the boys from that side of town were afraid of playing at JYSC when we had games there and claimed that the Southside was "the ghetto".