The Underappreciated Side of Riverside - Part II

[Metro Jacksonville]

The Underappreciated Side of Riverside - Part II



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

[RainDoggie]

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.

[billy]

The Pharmacy would look even cooler with some neon.

[Lucasjj]

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.

[fsu813]

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.

[fsujax]

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.

[The Compound]

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 Compound]

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.

[fsu813]

fsujax,

was your principal Ed Pratt-Dannals then?

[fsujax]

yep. Then Mr Mitchell my senior year!

[RiversideLoki]

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.

[iluvolives]

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.

[fsu813]

http://www.universeofsuperheroes.com/

[vicupstate]

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?

[Steve]

^It is office space, and it is not vacant