Coquina "hobbit houses" near Arlington

[Koula]

Do any of you folks know the history behind the hobbit-like small coquina houses located in the Spring Glen/Empire point area of town? I'm curious, as the neighborhood seems like an anomaly in Jacksonville. Then again, I've lived in Jacksonville since 2000 and still stumble upon places in the city I never knew existed. I am not even sure what that little area is called and so haven't found much info on the neighborhood or the homes in it.  Thanks!

[sheclown]

I've seen the houses.  I would like to know more about them as well.

[acme54321]

Where are they?

[thelakelander]

What street are the houses located on?  We have an Empire Point neighborhood tour set to run later this week.  I'd like to add the story behind them, if I can find them.

[undergroundgourmet]

The residents are pretty private and the houses are overgrown with plants. Here is an article .........

http://travelstwo.blogspot.com/2008/07/james-irvin-russell-theatrical-artist.html

[Koula]

Lakelander, I just sent you a message with the location. The street that they're on looks like a private drive and people live there, so I didn't feel comfortable putting the location in a searchable, public place if in fact it's a private compound vice a neighborhood. I'm not sure if the buildings have any kind of historical significance to our city, but figured if anyone knew about them it'd be someone here at MJ!

[mbwright]

Several years ago I went to an estate sale there.  They are really a hidden gem.  All of the cottages have a great design, and feel.  Yes, many are overgrown with plants, and some are in better condition than others.  The one I was in had lots of built-ins, small fireplaces, wood beam ceilings, and other neat alcoves, or other features.  They are very small and quaint by today's standards.  I would think they are pretty significant.   

[sandyshoes]

We've been back there several times for "estate sales", which oddly seem to occur at regular 3 month intervals...it's creepy, it smells (the whole place smells like death) and the buzzards often circle over it (we live close enough we can see them over the area).  I am serious, it's very odd.  We've heard it was a group of artists that started this place, and there are some artists still back there.  Just an uncomfortable vibe, for me - something just ain't right about the place.  (And the "estate sales" are mostly dirty old junk, soiled carpets, etc. that weren't worth driving in there for).   

[Koula]

Undergroundgourmet, thanks for that article.

Sandyshoes, I've only been there once, I saw it as I drove by and decided to turn in. I got the distinct feeling I wasn't supposed to be there, so left pretty quickly. Definitely an uncomfortable vibe.

[acme54321]

http://www.facebook.com/CoquinaGates/photos_stream

[Jumpinjack]

Coquina Gates is off Bartram Road south of Atlantic Blvd. and several blocks north of Bartram/Bolles school campus. My sister and her husband lived there for a few years in the 1960s. Yes, the houses are very unique. They were clustered to give a sort of village appearance.

At that time most of the houses had no updates and reflected only the architect's vision. But they were really awkward to live in. For example, the kitchen was the size of a closet. Washing dishes in the sink required one person to jam himself in a corner to reach the sink. Doors were heavy timbers almost hand-hewn looking. Rooms were small but because of the thick walls they were generally comfortable year round without ac.

Since then lots of changes have come to the homes to make them more liveable. Plus many of the large trees have been cut off the lots creating a open area. Still pretty cool in Jacksonville.

[Mike D]

When I went to Love Grove Elementary in the early 1960s I went to school with the daughter of the man profiled in these articles.  She was very nice...and I remember visiting her home in Coquina Gates.  They had a swimming pool which I thought was pretty great at the time!  I remember that her dad was an artist and once he asked my father if he wanted to go "beachcombing."  I think my dad didn't know quite what to make of that!  But it's a question that seemed to fit the profile of an artist.  I don't remember their house as being awkward at all, but I was just a kid so maybe I simply didn't notice.  I did recognize, even at that young age, that the house...and the cottages near it...were unique, certainly nothing like the houses in my neighborhood which was nearby but a world away from Coquina Gates.