As it does each year, Riverside Avondale Preservation (RAP) made an evening of celebrating community efforts in preservation and volunteerism at its Annual Meeting and Preservation Awards. The event was held at Riverside Church at Park and King on Thursday, Feb. 20 and Reverend Jules Heath welcomed guests to the historic church.
RAP Executive Director Shannon Blankinship thanked attendees for their continued support for RAP and the community.
“Having the opportunity to speak to all of you, having the opportunity to have so many in this room to share with you the work that RAP is doing is such a tremendous benefit to me,” Blankinship said.
Speakers also included new Riverside Arts Market Director Chloe Kuhn, who succeeded RAM icon John Silveira in the leadership position.
As Kuhn remarked, it has been a “season of change” for RAM, which include the “long-awaited” shift for RAM to become an invitation-only market.
“[As invitation-only] we can really be the crème de la crème, we can really be the premier market in Northeast Florida – or southeast, if you ask me,” Kuhn said.
This year’s annual meeting and award ceremony recognized five honorees:
2025 Volunteer of the Year: Jen Graham
Graham transformed a personal goal to repaint and refurbish the community’s historic street markers into a volunteer initiative that drew support from RAP and the community at large that saw the refurbishment of more than 50 street markers in the Riverside Avondale and Murray Hill areas.
2025 Outstanding Service: Ann Bianco
As a Yoga 4 Change member, Bianco funneled her passion for the practice into the record-breaking success of Riverside Arts Market’s morning yoga, with more than 250 yogis participating weekly. Bianco is as passionate about her community as she is about yoga and personally devoted more than 40 hours assembling luminary kits for last year’s Luminaria, helping to ensure a successful event.
2025 Riverside Arts Market Maker of the Year: Summa Salts
Summa Salts owner Sarah McElrea is a regular RAM vendor, infusing enthusiasm into patrons’ experiences at RAM when they visit the booth for her herb-infused salt business, which offers specialty rubs and salt blends. McElrea lifts up and collaborates with fellow RAM vendors and often streams live walk-throughs on her social media to help showcase the weekly market.
2025 Best New Construction: 3847 Boone Park Ave. Bold City Properties & Atomic Garden
Glenn Chandler and Matthew Jarvis of Bold City Properties and Atomic Garden built this modern Tudor-style new construction last year while remaining cognizant of the historical importance of the neighborhood, ensuring the exterior materials reflected and maintained the cultural value of the neighborhood.
2025 Residential Restoration Award: 3679 Riverside Ave. Centerbeam Construction
Centerbeam Construction carefully restored this bungalow-style Riverside home, maintaining the home’s architectural style and highlighting its contribution to the Riverside Avondale historic district, including its connections to historical events, while aligning with best practice in historic preservation.
