What to do with LaVilla?

[Cheshire Cat]

Apparently the city is now investigating commercial use for the property in LaVilla that the SOE is interested in.

http://jacksonville.com/news/metro/2012-12-12/story/jacksonville-downtown-agency-explore-commercial-use-possible-elections

[Mike D]

Great article filled with important history.  Excellent job of pulling it all together and reminding us of the forgotten history of this part of town.  I learned a lot in this one!

[Ocklawaha]

LaVilla's Railroad Row on West Bay Street during the early 20th century. Courtesy of the State Archives of Florida.

Fantastic tour Lakelander! 

I'm still trying to square this photo with the caption, the building on the right appears to be the massive A & EC Terminal Station, but that station was behind "railroad row" and not easily visible from Bay Street. The double track streetcar line DOES appear to be Bay Street, but there were several other lines in La Villa, a bunch of which were pulled up and moved around. Could this be another building that we haven't ID'ed?



Anybody have any ideas?

[thelakelander]

^That image is taken of Bay Street, looking west, in the vicinity of Madison Street (if it were extended to Bay).  Here is a sanborn map showing the general urban footprint:

[thelakelander]

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.

I'd love to hear more.  I'm taking you out for coffee when I get back to town after the Christmas.

[Ocklawaha]

LaVilla offers us a broad scope of destination sites. As stated the ethnic history is rich, and that is in addition to railroad history, streetcars, music, artists etc.

The first demolition of the neighborhood on a large scale was when they put the Jacksonville Expressway Authority's highway (the future I-95) right through the western quarter.  It would be nice to know the history of those buildings located just west of the 'expressway' in the vicinity of the 'old brickyard' or 'brick church.'

[Cheshire Cat]

I will look forward to that coffee Ennis. 

[heights unknown]

There is no more LaVilla; I mean, the real LaVilla that I knew when I was a child (age 8 to 11). Those of you who know me and have read my posts in the past know that I was raised, and lived in LaVilla from 1965 to 1968 (817 West Duval Street long torn down), before my Mom and I moved to Fort Myers. You can never recapture the taste, flair, flamboyance, history, and culture of what was LaVilla; so in my opinion, the best thing to do is leave that buried, at rest have you. But in respect to LaVilla, in and of itself, bring in developments that will make it notable, alive, and noteworthy with a definite identity to Jacksonvillians and those visitors from outside of the City. One thing I would like to see is LaVilla transformed into a business and residential district and culture, existing side by side in LaVilla...akin to what Miami did with Brickell but with a Jacksonville taste; yes, nice mid to high rise skyscrapers, both residential and commercial, with stores and other businesses lined around in support of the people who live and work not only around LaVilla, but also within the new neighborhood itself, and, I think this would greatly complement and support the new Train Station/Transportation Center, and also the new construction going on south of LaVilla in Brooklyn. If not this, then make LaVilla full of residential low to mid rise structures, along with apartment buildings, stores, gas stations, etc., where anyone of any race can live there.

[JFman00]

Medium-density neighborhood with 5-10 story mixed-use buildings on Broad St, Beaver St and Forsyth or Bay St with primarily residential (rowhouses/townhouses, 3-4 story apt buildings) filling in the rest, with a park/square on one of the currently vacant blocks around Adams and Lee or Lee/Church.

[BigBlackRod]

Who could have foreseen in our fervent wish to sit next to White folks in diners, we would lose our civic identity?

[Houseboat Mike]

Just walked past the Chili Bordello, and the building next to it. The building on the left (523 W Forsyth St) is getting all new glass, and it looks like something is happening at Joanne's. Anyone heard anything?

[thelakelander]

I noticed it too. However, the latest permit online I can find is one issued in 2016.