Irma delivered a staggering blow, epic wind and flood waters shock residents
“Still getting pounded hard with roaring winds barreling at us off the river. The pressure is intense. The St. Johns is in my lower yard like an angry ocean. Dock is gone next door. Lots of exterior damage. 3 a.m. was frighteningly intense. Barrel tiles hurling off the roof, light fixtures flying, branches falling. This […]
San Marco community comes together in wake of hurricane disaster
San Marco merchants are beginning to see the silver lining, even the hint of a rainbow, as the Hurricane Irma recovery effort turns into an experience in community building. It was evident as people gathered Sept. 23 for San Marco Strong, a fundraiser in a parking lot behind Beer:30, along with other businesses that were […]
Proposed landmark home addition requires approval
Neighbors worry about setting precedents The owner of a landmark home on Challen Avenue is seeking a Certificate of Appropriateness from the Jacksonville Historic Preservation Commission, but some nearby residents aren’t very happy about the proposed modifications. Virginia “Ginger” Harris requested a COA for a two-story rear addition which will attach to a newly-reconstructed garage. […]
Community rallies for landmark, plans underway for Memorial Park
Six months after Memorial Park re-opened following drainage and irrigation upgrades and installation of a new center lawn, Hurricane Irma swept through on Sept. 11, leaving downed branches all over the expansive greenspace and along the walkways. The park only lost one or two large trees, according to Michele Luthin, Memorial Park Association communications director. […]
Opposition to Southbank development gets second set-back
The proposed 13-story apartment project by Ventures Development Group cleared a big hurdle last month when the Downtown Investment Authority approved the final design for the riverfront project on Prudential Drive, rejecting an appeal against the Downtown Development Review Board’s approval in June. Baptist Health and the owners of the former Aetna building had objected […]
Pavers replaced around Navy Memorial on Southbank
The Jacksonville Navy Memorial, also known as the Lone Sailor, on the 4,000-foot Southbank Riverwalk has a new set of pavers with a somewhat different look, according to Sandra Fradd, co-founder of Downtown Dwellers. “The old pavers were deteriorating from an overspill of water. The circle around the fountain used to be yellow,” she said. “It […]
San Marco to be first neighborhood with complete bicycle lane
When the repaving of Hendricks Avenue is completed next year San Marco will be the first neighborhood in the city with a complete bike lane, running from Baymeadows Road to Prudential Drive. And when reconfiguration of traffic on Riverplace Boulevard is done, that bike lane will go all the way to downtown. Attorney Chris Burns, […]
Library budget cuts upset advocates
When Roxanne Henkle, president of Friends of the Willowbranch Library (FOWL), read through Jacksonville Mayor Lenny Curry’s 378-page 2017-2018 proposed budget, she got a sinking feeling when she saw what was slotted for the Jacksonville Public Libraries. While funding for “same level of service” (salaries, contracts with security, etc.) was approved with slight modifications to […]
