Hello! New to site. Considering a move to Riverside...

[Dog Walker]

Your neighbors here in Near 5 Points Riverside will include:  The Superintendent of Public Schools, his psychologist wife, a Senior Vice-President of JEA, various City of Jax Administrators, business owners, a handful of lawyers and realtors, some retired folk, lots of working folks and many of the servers, cooks, etc. who work in all of the restaurants in the area.

There have been lots of conversions from rentals to owner-occupied in the last several years.  Sounds like you might be one of them.

You will also have lots of interesting neighbors from other places.  I have counted at least a dozen languages spoken in this area.....13, I forgot Japanese.  You will also see people outside jogging, biking, walking their dogs, working on the yards or just sitting on one their front porches, one of the great amenities of Riverside houses.

Park your car.  There are four or five bus lines that run through this neighborhood and take ten minutes to get downtown.  Ride your bike to work down the Northbank Riverwalk.  Walk to the 5 Points theater.  There are at least a dozen restaurants within walking distance.

[Steve]

^Riverside is also home to an NFL Owner, don't forget

[A-Finnius]

Thanks for all the great reponses to my post.  Most of the information shared was very positive and I am feeling better about the area.  It appears that most of the neighbors try to watch out for each other. 

I've driven through the area several times and i've noticed that not many of the houses east of stockton and north or park are for sale.  I take it as a good sign that not many people are trying move out of the area.  I did see a lot of houses for rent though.

Since I work downtown I frequent five points often for lunch but I would like to check out the neighborhood night life.  Can anyone suggest a neighborhood bar that I could check out this weekend? Maybe something outside of five points?

[Steve]

Walkers or Kickbacks on King St are probably your best bet.  Wakers is at Post St, and Kickbacks is at College St.

BTW, you will always see a lot of houses for rent, since many of them are rentals.  Remember: a good mix of rent vs own is a good mix for a neighborhood.  It adds diversity to a neighborhood, and IMO, they are the ones that spend more money at the neighborhood bars and restaraunts.

[mtraininjax]

Riverside is also home to an NFL Owner, don't forget

So nice to see them behind the gates of Villa Riva.

[fsujax]

I have sat next to Wayne Weaver while getting our haircut, so he does leave the gates.

[vicupstate]

I have sat next to Wayne Weaver while getting our haircut, so he does leave the gates.

That begs the question, what hair salon is the Official Haircutter of the Jacksonville Jaguars? 

[Lucasjj]

I have seen him in Great Clips and Al's Pizza. He doesn't act reclusive and is very approachable.

[Shwaz]

Since I work downtown I frequent five points often for lunch but I would like to check out the neighborhood night life.  Can anyone suggest a neighborhood bar that I could check out this weekend? Maybe something outside of five points?

O"Brothers Irish Pub is great with live music most nights
Starlite is a decent dive bar with a rock-a-billy feel.
Whalebone has good eats & draft beers
Wall-Street is basically a smokey hallway and has mostly a middle aged crowd.

[BridgeTroll]

Whalebone has good eats & draft beers

This is Ragtime now isnt it?

[iluvolives]

If you want some places outside of the 5 points area you can try WestInn Cantina/Monty's, Casbah or The Brick in the Avondale Shopping area.

[Shwaz]

Whalebone has good eats & draft beers

This is Ragtime now isnt it?

You are correct... good call BT

[BridgeTroll]

I Love their eggplant fries...

[jason_contentdg]

I have seen him in Great Clips and Al's Pizza. He doesn't act reclusive and is very approachable.

Yeah, he was walking through the Riverside Publix just before last football season started and talked to everyone that went up to him about the upcoming season.

[David]

O"Brothers Irish Pub is great with live music most nights
Starlite is a decent dive bar with a rock-a-billy feel.
Whalebone has good eats & draft beers
Wall-Street is basically a smokey hallway and has mostly a middle aged crowd.

Yep Yep Raglands used to be called Whalebone. And one thing about Wall St: It's middle aged up until a certain time. Usually around 10pm it becomes hipster f**k central, which is a good thing because it looks rough if you go there straight after work.