What to do with LaVilla?

[Metro Jacksonville]

What to do with LaVilla?



The recent scquabble between the Mayor's Office and Jerry Holland over the need to construct an $8 million Supervisor of Elections office/warehouse complex near the Ritz Theatre has overlooked the question of if such a project is even worthy for this historically significant area.  For those who question its significance, here is a brief summary behind the sites still standing in Florida's first urbanized African-American community.

Full Article
http://www.metrojacksonville.com/article/2012-dec-what-to-do-with-lavilla

[triclops i]

amazing....

[Noone]

Great history lesson Ennis. Thank you.
Was 2012-732 removing the chairs from Hemming Plaza introduced last night at the full meeting of the Jacksonville city council?
Today at 2pm 1st floor city hall our new DIA Board will hear a presentation about our future branding for our city and a last minute presentation about 2012-732.
2025 is 2012

[tufsu1]

great tour Ennis!

[ben says]

Tried to invest in that building in the first picture with the multicolored 'windows'--unfortunately, the agent was one of the worst I've ever dealt with.

[JFman00]

Any of these buildings up for sale?

[Adam W]

Looks like they've got a lot of great parking in Lavilla.

[gedo3]

That is a wonderful history lesson!  Thanks so much for all your hard work!!!

[jaxlore]

good stuff!

[ben says]

Any of these buildings up for sale?

Yes...2 or 3 I can think of off the top of my head. Like many agents in this city, the one I worked with was completely delusional

[jcjohnpaint]

wonderful Ennis.  Thanks

[Jack]

What a treasure of information! Thanks for all your hard work.

[vicupstate]

Is the Old Stanton School being used today?  It looks to be in good condition.

The Masonic Lodge is a beautiful building.  I wish someone would occupy it.   

[Cheshire Cat]

Great piece Ennis and I love the research and history you put together.  You know I have done a lot of work and research in La Villa as well and probably have original pictures you have never seen of some of the beautiful homes that were torn down that still had character and structural integrity.  All the homes as you have shown were not all row houses, not by a long shot.  What you also showed in the pictures is that LaVilla was very "uptown" In its day.  Men and women were well dressed when they visited local businesses and were themselves respectful, educated, talented and business minded individuals. 

Of course I was happy to see the "Historic Brewster Hospital" in the article as well.   I am very proud of that save in LaVilla.  Did you know that when the building was under restoration, we actually discovered that 1885 is not when it was built?  The original structure was older.  It began as a four room winter home with an offsite kitchen and outhouse.  The first building and smoke stack was uncovered during restoration.  The build date is believed to be around 1865 with the first "Italianate" features added in 1885, which is when the date in the porch trim was added.  Then some time later it underwent yet a third addition that was added early enough to still make it "historic".  Can't remember the date of that addition right off the bat.  Up in the rafters of the original structure and on a support beam there are the signatures of myself, Councilwoman Glorious Johnson and all the Brewster Nurses.  Now you all know a secret about the building as well.    The tale of the destruction of LaVilla is a long one and can only be fully understood when the background stories of race, developers, passing out of city money and private agenda's are discussed.  Fortunately, many of those influences have lost power and stature and perhaps it is a good time to do as you have done and revisit the issue and save what is left of the historic community of LaVilla.  I will add more info later if you like. 

[Debbie Thompson]

Absolutley, Cheshire.  It is incredibly sad what was lost, and so important to save the rest.  Ennis, thanks so much for the history of some of those old buildings I have so admired as I drive home up Broad Street every day.  Knowing the history makes them even more wonderful in my eyes.