Buying a home soon - thinking of Springfield...

[jbm32206]

First of all, yes..that did happen inside the historic Springfield area, on Walnut between 2nd and 3rd. There has not been a statement made that says it was drug related, though given the circumstances and the events that took place, it does appear to have been. There was also shots fired at 3rd and Ionia, which is just blocks away...nobody was injured in that and police feel this is directly related to the killing.

However, the majority of the time, when crimes are reported in the media, they call it Springfield and 9 out of 10 times, it's not and were in areas surrounding, like Brentwood.

This quote from the spar council website will explain the boundaries of Historic Springfield

The boundaries of Springfield are well defined. Hogan's Creek lies along its south edge, and railroad lines are found on the north and east. Boulevard defines the western limit of the district where a later commercial strip abuts the earlier residential area. Contemporary with the overall residential area are two commercial strips along Main and Eighth Streets which join at the heart of the district. The district contains 119 city blocks in an area of approximately 500 acres, or slightly less than one square mile. Hogan's Creek separates the residences of Springfield from the downtown business district. North of the creek few buildings rise above two stories and parks and tree lined streets are common.

http://www.sparcouncil.org/index.php?option=com_content&view=article&id=15:springfield-national-historic-district-a-history&catid=7:springfield-info&Itemid=25

[uptowngirl]

Blizz,

There is crime in Springfield like everywhere else. Most of the crime in Historic Springfield that actually impacts the residents, amounts to getting your stuff stolen (we most recently had a garden hose theif running the neighborhood). We have had a couple of shootings, but they are thug on thug shootings (drug dealers that need to work on thier anger management). I haven't heard of anyone walking down the main street getting robbed at gun point in a looooonnnnnggg time, like what just happened in Riverside. I also have not heard of an innocent DJ getting his eyeballs cut out after a show in Springfield, although we did have some enterprising thiefs use a frontloader to break into the pharmacy on 8th st to steal some oxycontin which most likely has already been sold over in Riverside 

The point is, if someone gets shot on the other side of 95 or up on 58th st, that really is not even close. It would be like contributing all the crime happening on the the other side of 10 to Riverside day after day. Worse crime happens in what is perceived by some to be "better neighborhoods" but no one just posts a freaking link to one story here....unless it is Springfield, and usually that person is a native. There IS a bias with natives, they almost seem to HATE our little slice of heaven.   It's OK though, they would not enjoy the neighborhood, neighbors, or events anyway it is better for them to stay in their gated community or whatever vanilla flavored neighborhood they are currently living in where they feel safe. 

[blizz01]

Nicely put (all) - thanks.

[downtownparks]

The problem is, people (Jax and everywhere else) hear about these nameless, faceless crimes. They fear these areas because they have this mental image of the wild wild west where you have black Bart and his band of crack dealers and pimps that randomly attack innocent civilians as they go peaceable about their day.

this is simply not whats happening, be it in Springfield, or even Durkeeville or Moncrief. Violent crime more often than not involves two people who have direct knowledge of each other, and are resultant from a personal conflict. Drug deal gone bad, misdealing's with girlfriends, theft of goods, ect.

The people of Jacksonville MUST reengage these communities. Help empower the good people that feel stuck and powerless in violent neighborhoods by supporting them, encouraging them, volunteering with them. There should NEVER be a reason for someone to live in fear, and for native Jaxsons to look down their nose at these communities, and even go so far to make derisive comments on the local news station websites is beyond disgusting to me.

[AlexS]

City Council also defines the boundaries of Springfield.

Sec. 656.367.  Boundaries and zoning overlay.

The Springfield Zoning Overlay generally follows the boundaries as depicted in the map (Figure 1) of the Springfield Action Plan, produced by the Jacksonville Planning and Development Department in May, 1997, as revised in August, 1998. Variations from the map in the Springfield Action Plan are reflected in the northern and southern boundaries of the overlay district. More specifically, the Springfield Zoning Overlay includes all parcels located within the following boundaries:

Beginning at the west side of North Main Street where it crosses Hogans Creek; thence north and west along Hogans Creek to Broad Street; thence north along the centerline of Broad Street and Boulevard to the abandoned Seaboard Coast Line railroad right-of-way to north of West 12th Street; thence east along the abandoned railroad right-of-way to North Pearl Street; thence south along the centerline of North Pearl Street to West 12th Street; thence east along the centerline of West 12th Street to North Main Street; thence north along the center of North Main Street to the abandoned Seaboard Coast Line railroad right-of-way north of Warren Street; thence east along the railroad right-of-way to Walnut Street; thence south along the centerline of Walnut Street to East 11th Street; thence east along the centerline of East 11th Street to the right-of-way of the St. Johns River Terminal Company railroad located just east of Ionia Street and Clark Street; thence south along said railroad right-of-way to East First Street; thence west along the centerline of East First Street to its intersection with Walnut Street; thence south along the centerline of Walnut Street to Phelps Street; thence west along the centerline of Phelps Street to North Market Street; thence south along the centerline of North Market Street to its crossing over Hogans Creek; thence west and north along Hogans Creek to the point of beginning.

[BridgeTroll]

 Might I suggest someone with graphics skills to create a "Springfield Boundary Map" for us...

[hooplady]

Map of Historic Springfield from the City of Jax website:
http://www.coj.net/NR/rdonlyres/eqkemg2gwgi23coso5fbthfym5nqybg4es26qwox7cwrmc67q7skswcsvafata324ywjsxymrtm5nuhvuxfuzvkw7xf/springfield_district_map.pdf

[BridgeTroll]

Bad link

[hooplady]

Perhaps this will work.  If not, ya'll can go to www.coj.net and search for "Springfield Historic."
http://www.coj.net/Departments/Regulatory+Boards+and+Commissions/Historic+Preservation+Commission/Springfield+Historic+District+.htm

[Southbanker]

I was considering Springfield too earlier this year.  I then decided to put my search on hold for a variety of reasons.  If I decide I am staying in Jax then I will look in SPR again as well as Riverside/Avondale/San Marco. 

The main drawback to SPR for me is that it is not a very walkable hood.  I mean walkable from the standpoint of places to WALK TO.  I know everyone is expecting things to come, but I am a little discouraged by the economy and the fact that the SPR revitalization has been going on for 10-20 years and while SPR is much better it is not as far along as I would have thought it would be.  I would hate to buy a house and have it be 10+ years before any retail/dining comes in.

But speaking of walkability, when you go to the other hoods I mentioned you typically see lots of people walking/jogging/cycling.  I do not see that in SPR when I am over there.  I have walked over from the Southbank on a few occasions and felt very alone.  I have also driven around A LOT and it is seldom I see people from my SES out enjoying the day by taking a walk or jog.  Is that just my perception or do others feel that way too?

Someone else said that you need to check the immediate surroundings of the house you are considering and you need to make sure you are not over-romanticizing what living in SPR will be like.  I think they hit the nail on the head because I think I have a tendency to romanticize it myself.  I can come up with logical reasons to NOT buy over there, but still can not get SPR out of my mind.  I guess it is the history of the hood and the style of houses that keeps me interested.

Those are my random thoughts on the subject.

[jbm32206]

I see people jogging in the early morning...and I also see people walking around as I'm walking the dog...so I'm not sure where you've been that you don't see others. I do, however agree that there's not a great deal (yet) to walk to, other than a few places...Three Layers being one of them

[uptowngirl]

SB I felt the same way when I was looking for a house. I came very, very close to buying a house in Avondale blocks away from the Fox, Brick, etc.... I felt it was a better fit for me, because while Springfield is walkable, where would I walk to, KFC?

But the houses and people won me over in Springfield. That may be "romantic", but I do not regret my decision. I may not have a the "Fox" to walk to, but I have "Tommy's", I may not have "Brick" but I have "Three layers", I may not have a fancy cafe, but dang my neighbors can cook, and did I mention they are from all over the world so the specialty dishes are delish?!!!! I may not have a great night club, but I do have "Shanty Town and the Pearl" or even better the many wonderful cocktail parties and wine events at neighbors houses. I may not have a movie theatre like 5 points, but I do have football, kickball, baseball, softball, and soccer games to attend right down the street, not to mention weekly bike rides. I may have to scoot over to Riverside and Avondale once in a while, for a few unique items, but I would not trade all of the above for those few items, I can deal with driving over the bridge for that. I know my neighbors names and numbers, I know the post mans name, not only on my street, but in every quadrant of the neighborhood, I know my trash guys name, and I know the name of the young man that comes and checks my meters every month. I haven't even mentioned all the gorumet treats i received this month, so much better than anything I have ever had at Peterbrookes....right here from kitchens in Springfield

[Southbanker]

I do agree that Three Layers ROCKS!

But I am not sure I should live too close to it with that dessert case. 

[lindab]

Uptown, that is one heck of a great description of what makes a real neighborhood. You are one lucky lady.

[jbm32206]

That's right...we are lucky, this is a fantastic neighborhood, with real neighbors...who just happen to become friends. I can't think of anywhere else in this city, I'd want to live.