Urban Neighborhoods: St. Johns Quarter

[Metro Jacksonville]

Urban Neighborhoods: St. Johns Quarter



The St. Johns Quarter is a six block, 18 acre section of Riverside that is locally designated historic district.  The local historic designation is intended to keep buildings from being demolished and incompatible buildings from being built.

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http://www.metrojacksonville.com/content/view/1020

[deathstar]

Is this the area where a house has tile on the outside of it? I saw it in middle school once, when we took a detour on a field trip. I haven't seen it in nearly 20 years now.

[billy]

Park Lane is so cool, especially seen from across the river.

[fsujax]

I wish someone would clean up the landscaping around the Fenimore Apts, it always looks so unkept. The Cheek residence "castle" as I used to refer to it as a kid is really cool!

[stug]

As far as I know, The Fenimore is owned/operated by a couple who is just too old to keep it in the condition in which such a beautiful old apartment building should be kept. It's really a shame that it's been allowed to deteriorate like it has, both inside and out. Hopefully an investor will come in and eventually restore it to some shade of its former glory.

[Shwaz]

I've walked these blocks oh so many times and never knew it was a defined area.



I lived in the carriage house next to the Hart house from 2002-2007.

I've always hoped the Fenmore would be purchased from the elderly couple that own / run it now. It's too much for them to handle. So many times I was leaving in the morning and those two were hard at work on the landscape out front... I would come home again in the evening and they were still there wheelbarrows and all.

The next day the yard just looked completely destroyed. All the grass torn up, bushes ripped out and dirt and leaves everywhere. Seriously, 12 hours of hard work just ended up looking like a half ass demolition before one would put in new landscaping. I can't imagine current state of upkeep on the interior of the building.
 

[James]

The Fenimore definitely has a lot of work that could be done to the landscaping, looks like too many places to hide, this stretch of Riverside is really nice in the spring

[konstantconsumer]

sadly, the fenimore needs  a lot more than just landscaping help.  i lived there from July of '07 until the end of January '09.  Moved out because the heat wasn't working, and a giant chunk of ceiling tile fell in my bathroom.  Ms. Sams, who owns the building, isn't able to keep up with the work that needs to be done, and her maintenance guy, Tommy, is pretty worthless.

[grimss]

Very nice job.  RAP is working on an hour-long MP3 tour of this area that you'll be able to download from RAP's website in the near future.  There is a ton of very interesting history behind the doors of these houses, and it's great fun to hear the stories.  One item you forgot to note in your photo essay above--the gray shingle house at the corner of Osceola and Riverside (presently a doctor's office) was the real estate office of Leonard Skinner, the former coach for whom the famous band was named.  Apparently he had great difficulty holding onto his real estate signs, which were favored collectibles for fans of the band.

[johnsantangelo]

I used to live in the River house. Has a lot of character. Its not in the best of shape though. Currently for sale - waiting to be restored. http://search2.realtyweb.net/full.php?listnum=448816

[grimss]

Did you ever see the ghost in the River House? I hear she lives on the third floor . . .

[Matt]

Jacksonville is gorgeous.

[tashi]

Nice article and photos! Thank you.

The lot right next to the Fenemore Apartments is a designated Wildlife Habitat. I think the landscaping is great in front and around the apartments, it makes for some interesting wildlife sightings. Right now there are the most beautiful orange flowers blooming around the building and at the right time of day, there are lots of butterflies.

Also having that much plant life and trees encourages biodiversity which is fantastic right next to the river. It also requires less chemicals and water to be applied to the ground.

[hillary supporter]

im moving up on oak two blocks from here i love my jax!

[sandyshoes]

Hey, fsujax - in my crazy high school days, we called it the Castle, too;  our favorite thing to do (especially with a good rainstorm brewing and the river whipping up) was drive up to the front, then everybody had to jump out of the car (Chinese fire drill style) and go kiss the gate and pile back into the car and scram.  (Our very nerdy way of paying homage to a fine house and the lucky owners).  Always heard there was a murder there in the 1930s (how Agatha Christie is that!) Any truth?