San Jose, San Marco, St. Nicholas

All the latest news relevant to the San Jose, San Marco and St. Nicholas areas.

JEA closer to revitalizing central business district

JEA closer to revitalizing central business district

This spring saw Downtown’s central business district come a step closer toward a chance for revitalization, with full-steam-ahead progress on JEA’s sleek new, pedestrian-friendly headquarters. Ryan Companies U.S. Inc., a Minneapolis-headquartered developer, is constructing the seven-story building at 225 Pearl Street, with an adjacent parking garage that will be used by both employees and the […]

Responding to need motivates donors

Carolyn Phanstiel doesn’t consider herself a philanthropist; instead, she describes her desire to help others as being like a child’s pinwheel with three spokes – a whoops-moments spoke, spreading-the-love spoke and a when-enough-is-enough spoke. Mariette Broduer, principal consultant for MTB Consulting, asked Phanstiel to share her thoughts about philanthropic giving, along with John Zell’s description […]

Public access to river challenges best and highest use in future development

Public access to river challenges best and highest use in future development

Plans to transform the former Landing site on the St. Johns River and install public artwork are underway and soon to be revealed. And a new coalition of nonprofits and public interest agencies hope those plans are but the first step toward a string of parks along the North and Southbank of the river. In […]

Baptist Medical Center celebrates opening of Chartrand Frisch Family Birth & Newborn Center

Baptist Medical Center celebrates opening of Chartrand Frisch Family Birth & Newborn Center

On April 12, leaders of Baptist Medical Center Jacksonville and Wolfson Children’s Hospital, along with donors Mark and Meredith (Chartrand) Frisch and their families, celebrated the dedication of the Chartrand Frisch Family Birth & Newborn Center. This project marks the completion of a $16 million renovation to the Baptist Jacksonville Maternal Evaluation, Delivery, Maternal Newborn, and High-Risk Units. […]

Downtown’s Laura Street Trio closer to being revived

Downtown’s Laura Street Trio closer to being revived

A cluster of Downtown’s most historic and visible buildings is a couple steps closer to a new life, one burgeoning with activity. Preservationists have described the Laura Street Trio as, collectively, the most endangered historical buildings in Jacksonville. The trio includes the Florida National Bank Building, the Bisbee Building and the Florida Life Building, built […]

Wine Down in the Parks a smash for grape lovers

Wine Down in the Parks a smash for grape lovers

The annual Wine Down in the Parks celebration, hosted annually by the San Marco Preservation Society, was a success for the local preservation group. Patrons, organizers, and volunteers survived an early threat of rain, as the skies opened with sunshine in the latter part of Saturday afternoon, March 24. Ticket purchasers were spared disappointment, and […]

Spring blooms in San Marco Square

Spring blooms in San Marco Square

It was a beautiful Sunday afternoon full of sunshine and cooler-than-usual breezes, as neighbors pulled together to dig in the dirt and look after their neighborhood. A beautification day was held in San Marco Square successfully on April 25, after the prior date was cancelled due to rain April 18. Organizers regrouped and knocked out […]

Jacksonville has a new local league of Stonewall Sports

Jacksonville has a new local league of Stonewall Sports

There’s a new league in the Greater Jacksonville area, Stonewall Sports Jax. This inaugural season’s registration brought in 290 players, divided into 15 teams. The season opener took place on Sunday, April 11 at Willowbranch Park. Stonewall Sports is an LGBTQ and Ally community-based, non-profit sports organization founded in 2010 that strives to raise funds […]