Riverside, Avondale, Ortega, Murray Hill

All the latest news relevant to the Riverside, Avondale, Ortega and Murray Hill areas.

Endowment established to fund park maintenance

Following a successful Spirit of Victory capital campaign in 2018 to fund revitalization of Memorial Park and restoration to its original 1924 glory, the Memorial Park Association has established an endowment to ensure that maintenance and repairs of the nearly 100-year-old park in Riverside will continue in perpetuity.  “Memorial Park has a fond spot in […]

Memorial Park balustrade project awarded to local firm

Memorial Park balustrade project awarded to local firm

Intron Technologies, Inc. was selected by the City of Jacksonville as the contractor for the Memorial Park balustrade replacement project, according to a representative from the Memorial Park Association. The Jacksonville-based company will replace the 600-foot balustrade. It is certified by Cathedral Stone Projects Inc. for historical concrete, stone and masonry restoration projects using the […]

Fund set up to offset costs to rename schools

The Jacksonville Public Education Fund has created a special fund to allow community members to support the renaming of several public schools through tax-deductible donations. On June 16, the Duval County School Board voted unanimously, 7-0, to begin the renaming process for six public schools whose names honor Confederate leaders: Joseph Finegan Elementary, Stonewall Jackson […]

Riverside Village developer seeks zoning change

Riverside Village developer seeks zoning change

The plan to redevelop four parcels at Riverside Avenue near Memorial Park has been revised by the owner, who is seeking a zoning change to a Planned Unit Development. The revisions, which are part of a plan called Riverside Village, were presented to Riverside Avondale Preservation at a July 14 Zoom meeting by attorney Paul […]

Centennial Garden in Willowbranch Park

Centennial Garden in Willowbranch Park

Volunteers gathered on July 25 at Willowbranch Park in Riverside to bring to life an unattractive boggy drainage area with the installation of Centennial Garden.  Before then, stagnant water bred mosquitos. Trenches and tracks made by the tires of off-road bikes scarred the land. But thanks to a Jacksonville visionary, Richard Ceriello, the distressed domain […]

Craft beer scene takes a hit due to COVID-19

Craft beer scene takes  a hit due to COVID-19

Before the coronavirus hit, Jacksonville was getting a reputation as a great place for craft beer. “We’ve built tourism around our breweries,” said Brock Flores, owner of Fishweir Brewing Company in Murray Hill. “We have a great beer scene.” Make that “had” a great beer scene. Jacksonville’s breweries have become one of the casualties of […]

First link of Emerald Trail to break ground this fall

First link of Emerald Trail to break ground this fall

Groundwork Jacksonville unveiled the design of the Emerald Trail Model Project — the first segment of the Emerald Trail linking Brooklyn to the S-Line Rail Link through LaVilla on June 18. Construction of the project, named the “LaVilla Link,” will begin this fall and take a year to complete at an estimated construction cost of […]

Planning Commission okays site plan for new brewery on Post Street

Planning Commission okays site plan for new brewery on Post Street

A historic structure on Post Street is one step closer to being repurposed into anew brewery. In late July, the Jacksonville Planning Commission unanimously approved the site plan and standards to turn the property into a planned unit development (PUD). The zoning application is expected to be heard by the City Council’s Land Use and […]