Suburban Density: Bartram Park

About Bartram Park



Bartram Park is located on a peninsula formed by Julington and Durbin Creeks, just west of Interstate 95.  During the early 1990s, the property was considered as the site for what would become World Golf Village.  However, that project ended up in St. Johns County, partially due to the potential of an extensive permitting process.

The community is named after 18th century naturalist William Bartram. Born to Britain's Royal Botanist, John Bartram, William (1739-1823) was the United State's first native-born naturalist. In 1765, William accompanied his father on explorations of the St. Johns River. In 1766, he attempted to operate a 500-acre indigo plantation with six slaves near the present day location of the Shands Bridge.  That same year, Bartram abandoned the plantation. In 1773, Bartram embarked on a four year journey across several states, including a trip back down the St. Johns River. When Bartram published his adventures in 1791, the book quickly became an American classic.




Image of William Bartram courtesy of the Georgia Historical Society at http://www.georgiahistory.com/assets/0000/4117/Bartram_William.JPG

Plans for Bartram Park date back to 1999, when the Eastland Company, developers of Queen's Harbour,  announced their intentions for a massive 4,700-acre massive mixed-use community to take advantage of the city's rapid southward growth pattern. Eastland envisioned a $500 million, self-sustaining community that would be home to 12,000 residents and 1.2 million square feet of commercial space at buildout. Development would be clustered on half of the property, allowing the rest of the land to remain in a pristine undeveloped state.

Anticipating the future construction of State Road 9B, right-of-way for that highway was set aside.  Access from the development to Interstate 95 would be provided by a privately funded $22 million interchange at St. Augustine Road. Physical development of Bartram Park was coordinated with the summer 2004 opening of the Flagler Development funded interchange, whose overpass is known for its Jacksonville sign.  Bartram Park Boulevard was completed shortly after the interchange's opening.  Extended to Race Track Road in 2007, the road serves as Bartram Park's transportation spine and provides additional connectivity between Duval and Northern St. Johns County.


Bartram Park master site plan. Courtesy of http://bartramparkonline.com/ (click to enlarge)

Dubbed the "Southern Gateway" to Jacksonville, today Bartram Park is one of North Florida's fastest growing areas. 38,548 people live within a three mile radius of its main entrance. The daytime population Within a five mile radius is estimated to be 47,000. Despite being nearly 5,000 acres in size, Bartram Park is unique for suburban Jacksonville. Nearly half of the property (2,006 acres) was set aside for the Julington-Durbin Preserve, offering residents direct access to hiking, sightseeing, horseback riding and biking.  The remaining 2,600 acres is designed to feature 9,700 residential units, 1.3 million square feet of commercial space, 1.7 million square feet of office space and 300 hotel units.  It's marketed as a development where residents have the ability to work and shop with minimal commuting.  At such a density, one would typically expect a walkable urban environment as a result.  However, Bartram Park is built to accommodate density with the automobile as a mobility priority.

Here is a look at Bartram Park.