As the city outgrew this center, a new central business district gradually moved westward along Bay Street, then branched out to the north off this main thoroughfare, while Bay Street aged and declined. In recent years, Bay Street has been transformed again. Both east of the Main Street bridge and west of it. The renovation extended down to the water's edge as City Hall and Court House replaced run down docks and buildings in the original old city, and on the west, Atlantic Coast Line building, Sears with it's parking lot, The Auditorium, Stockton Whatley Davin and Co, and now the new Federal Building enhance property values.
Between these east and west developments on the north bank of the St. Johns, a huge municipal pakring lot (filled every day by cars of the people who come to work in these new buildings) replaced old wharves and warehouses.
In just a few years, the new Commodores Point Bridge will funnel Beaches and Southside traffic into the heart of that original Jacksonville plat every morning. Large but run down old homes will be removed to make room for a continuing variety of architectural styles....many for the professional services natural around City Hall and Court House. Land is cheaper in this area, for the moment, because the decaying old homes have created low property values. Serious planning will be vital during the next five years to make the most of these drastic changes.
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