Heritage Publishing, Inc. © 2013
Town Center, which offers residents of both cities a variety of shopping and dining options. Atlantic Beach is mostly residential, with the majority of the developed areas being single-family homes. For non-coastline residents, there are 14 different access points along Atlantic Beach’s two miles of oceanfront.
One of the nation’s oldest fishing villages, Mayport, is
located just north of Atlantic Beach. Residents of this coastal village have access to freshly caught seafood (especially Mayport shrimp—a culinary staple on the First Coast), boat ramps and the St. Johns River Ferry. Since 1948, residents and visitors alike have used the ferry to commute between Mayport and Fort George Island. Mayport offers affordable housing and apartments, which is convenient for military personnel and civilians who work at nearby Naval Station Mayport.
Although the area is relatively small, the Intracoastal
community has seen an increase in residential and commercial development over the past few years. Bordered by the Intracoastal Waterway on the east and Hodges Boulevard on the west, the Intracoastal area features a multitude of apartments, condominiums, retirement communities and subdivisions. Residents enjoy accessibility to the beaches and Southside areas as well as major roadways, such as John Turner Butler Boulevard (JTB), Beach Boulevard and Atlantic Boulevard.
DOWNTOWN/RIVERFRONT Over the past few years, revitalization efforts in Downtown
Jacksonville have reinforced the area as an entertainment, business and cultural center. Downtown residents are within walking distance of restaurants, entertainment venues, nightclubs and bars. Additionally, river taxis are available to transport residents and visitors back and forth between the Northbank and Southbank of the St. Johns River. A variety of residential options are available for those seeking an urban lifestyle including riverfront condominiums, lofts and
_________________________________________________________________________ Bottom: San Marco Neighborhood, photo by Laura Hampton
townhomes. Furthermore, many of the loft apartments are found in renovated buildings dating back to the early 1920s.
Ortega lies on the peninsula just south of Riverside and
north of Naval Air Station Jacksonville, between the St. Johns and Ortega rivers. Originally an island, the area became a peninsula after a land bridge was built on the island’s southern end. One of the wealthiest neighborhoods in Jacksonville, the historic homes and riverfront mansions in Ortega are diverse in architectural style, but many reflect the Mediterranean and Tudor Revival styles. Old Ortega is east of Highway 17. A section of Old Ortega, north of Verona Boulevard, is listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Ortega Forest, the more recently developed area, is west of Highway 17.
The Riverside-Avondale neighborhood is located west of
the St. Johns River, east of Highway 17, and south of I-95. This neighborhood is one of the largest Historic Districts in the Southeast. Riverside-Avondale is a charming urban neighborhood that showcases oak tree-lined streets, several parks and various amenities. In 2010, Riverside-Avondale was designated as one of the nation’s 10 Great Neighborhoods by the American Planning Association, a not-for-profit community development organization. A number of homes have been restored through Riverside-Avondale Preservation to keep the diverse architecture and history alive. This desirable community also features brick quadruplexes and duplexes, as well as other multi-unit buildings.
The San Marco-Miramar area is south of Downtown
Jacksonville’s Southbank, west of Philips Highway and east of the St. Johns River. A diverse community, potential residents have an array of housing choices including small bungalows, riverfront mansions and brick apartment complexes. The San Marco Preservation Society ensures that the community’s historic properties are restored to their original splendor. San Marco Square is the center of the neighborhood and offers shopping, dining and entertainment. The historic San Marco Theatre and Theatre Jacksonville, the oldest continuously running community theatre in Florida, are also located within the square. Furthermore, Walk Score has listed San Marco as Jacksonville’s second most walkable neighborhood, allowing for a less car-dependent lifestyle.
Founded in 1869 as Jacksonville’s first subdivision,
Springfield has seen some rough times due to poor zoning, suburban flight and crime. However, the neighborhood has bounced back with great energy. In the January 2010 issue of Southern Living, Springfield was named one of the South’s best comeback neighborhoods. Bordered to the west by Boulevard Street, to the east and north by railroad tracks and to the south by Hogan’s Creek, historic Springfield features many renovated prairie-style and Queen Anne homes. In
First Coast Relocation GuideTM 2013
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