In this evaluation I combined LaVilla and the Brooklyn neighborhoods as they are both neighborhoods with major urban renewal pasts sitting on the edge of Dwtn. In 1887 Brooklyn and LaVilla were annexed by Jacksonville. Brooklyn remained primarily residential into the 20th century, but it eventually developed into a commercial and industrial area with the increasing use of the railway. The neighborhood had a thriving African American community but it was LA Villa that during its height was considered the mecca for African American culture and heritage especially the part of LaVilla north of Adams Street. The area also became a transportation hub with rail service developed by Henry Flagler.
By In the 1950s, Interstate 95 was intentionally chosen to cut through the heart of these African American communities. In Brooklyn suburban office buildings surrounded by surfacing parking lots and strip malls lining Riverside Ave replaced the neighborhood’s waterfront properties The more interior part of the neighborhood was encouraged to fall blight and decay through redlining practices and neglect. In La Villa after the 1960s, the neighborhood entered a period of precipitous decline as the railroad industry restructured, I-95 chopped up the neighborhood, and active neglect by the City. During the 1980s the crack cocaine epidemic hit hard among struggling residents of LaVilla, resulting in an increase in crime and furthering the decline. By the 1990s the City finally turned its attention to reinvesting in LaVilla through blight removal and helping to renovate historical structures, such as the Ritz Theatre. More recently new urban in-fill projects are emerging helping the neighborhoods to reurbanize as a neighborhood just south of Dwtn should. But an immerse amount of vacant and underutilized space remain in both communities demonstrating the long road ahead to rebuilding these communities.
Given their great proximity to dwtn, great public transit access, in-tact urban grid, and access to the St. John’s river both neighborhoods are poised to return. I just hope that the redevelopment strategies are well throughout for how to bring back the neighborhood as a whole and deal with the wounds of intentional urban renewal that so harmed countless of African American families in the past.
Click here to view my Brooklyn and LaVilla Albums on Flickr
URBAN STRENGTHS:
- Excellent public transit and access to Dwtn. Even decent bike infrastructure to dwtn although the lines are very skinny and unprotected.
- Generally good sidewalk and ADA infrastructure.
- Good rental amenities with studios and 1-beds leasing in the low-mid 1Ks, 2-beds lease btwn the mid 1Ks to low 2Ks. Only a handful of 3-beds available.
- Decent parks including the unity plaza set around a ponk, a boardwalk and recreational trail along the river, and couple other small parks.
- Neighborhood is generally safe but is pretty empty is spots encouraging homeless to set up shop.
- Lots of dead space and autocentric arterial roads running through the neighborhood. The newer in-fill is starting to rectify this issue but it is still a long road ahead to urbanizing Brooklyn and LaVilla.
URBAN WEAKNESSES:
* Extremely low density for an urban district.
* An excellent middle school for the arts in LaVilla, not much else other than a couple small private schools dwtn.
* For sale housing product is very limited in the neighborhood. Only a handful of older homes and new townhomes that have sold.
* Tree canopy isn’t great.
* Cultural amenities are a bit limited including a handful of restaurants, bars, and cafes, the Ritz Theater, the Friday Music hall, a live music venue, a night club and good access to the cultural amenities in neighboring Dwtn and Riverside.
* Retail amenities are also pretty limited including a supermarket, several banks, a couple boutiques & salons, an ice cream shop, a couple gyms, and several doctor’s offices.
Evaluating our Urban Communities [with a focus on America] 