Urban Neighborhoods: Springfield

[Springfielder]

Sure, if you take people to the "pretty places" it all seems fine. But don't let people think you can ride your bike around willy nilly in Springfield. Springfield also boasts some of the highest murder rates and crime rates in the city. I lived in the area briefly and had my gas siphoned out of my car several times. I know people have been shot, their dogs have been shot or stolen, houses get robbed frequently, all in the Springfield neighborhood. It's not a safe neighborhood yet, so don't make it out to be. It is very unfortunate though, because the houses are amazing and beautiful and have so much potential to make the neighborhood a swanky area.

I lived in Springfield for close to 15 years, and aside from when I first moved to the east side of the neighborhood, it was a bit scary in some areas....but overall, I never had my car broken into or stolen, my house was never burglarized (given that you can't rob a house, only a person....and I was never robbed either) The biggest thing was someone took my hose from the front yard, but never had another issue when I simply locked the gate at night. I don't know anyone who was shot, nor their dogs shot or stolen...so I haven't a clue where the hell you're getting your information.

Springfield is one of the safest areas of the city, and it's a real neighborhood, where people actually know one another and watch out for each other. I've ridden my bike around the neighborhood at all hours, day and night and again...never had an issue. There's simply no other neighborhood in Jax that I would live, but Springfield.

[John P]

laceyroszak
June 03, 2013, 11:37:09 AM
Sure, if you take people to the "pretty places" it all seems fine. But don't let people think you can ride your bike around willy nilly in Springfield. Springfield also boasts some of the highest murder rates and crime rates in the city. I lived in the area briefly and had my gas siphoned out of my car several times. I know people have been shot, their dogs have been shot or stolen, houses get robbed frequently, all in the Springfield neighborhood. It's not a safe neighborhood yet, so don't make it out to be. It is very unfortunate though, because the houses are amazing and beautiful and have so much potential to make the neighborhood a swanky area.

I hear they feed their young to lions in Riverside and San marco is like Mad Max. Battledome and all. But if you even dare speak the word "Mandarin you spontaneously combust into a pillar of salt.

[JayBird]

Sure, if you take people to the "pretty places" it all seems fine. But don't let people think you can ride your bike around willy nilly in Springfield. Springfield also boasts some of the highest murder rates and crime rates in the city. I lived in the area briefly and had my gas siphoned out of my car several times. I know people have been shot, their dogs have been shot or stolen, houses get robbed frequently, all in the Springfield neighborhood. It's not a safe neighborhood yet, so don't make it out to be. It is very unfortunate though, because the houses are amazing and beautiful and have so much potential to make the neighborhood a swanky area.

When I moved to Jacksonville from New Jersey for a job in 2002 (at the age of 22) I was working downtown and rented a house near Hubbard and 5th Avenue and then bought my very house in 2005 on Pearl just north of 6th Avenue and I never had any trouble.  I walked through the streets at all times and didn't have a car until I was here 8 months. EVERYONE was friendly, never did I experience crime personally and there were a few car break-ins that I remember from my neighbors.

In 2009 I rented my house and moved to Eagle Harbor on Fleming Island and I love it here as well. However, in the past month (May 1 - May 31, 2013) Eagle Harbor (only the development not including the school areas, the county boat ramp, or Fleming Island as a whole) has had 14 auto break ins, 4 auto thefts, 2 sexual battery crimes, 1 arson, 7 criminal mischief incidents (I don't fully understand what this charge is) and 5 DUI's.  So crime reports can be very misleading.  I felt just as safe in Springfield as I do here, looking at the above stats (courtesy of Eagle Harbor Neighborhood Watch) maybe more so.

[Springfield Chicken]

Springfield is by far, the best neighborhood I've ever lived in.  The architecture is beautiful and the people are amazing.  When I introduce someone new to the neighborhood I describe it as a Frank Capra neighborhood, like Bedford Falls in "It's a Wonderful Life", with an urban edge.  I feel safe here and in three years have had nothing happen to change that.  The only reason I don't bike around willy nilly is that there are too many people to talk to, so walking is easier!  Our daughter feels safe here in her rental and I've sold homes to young families and single professionals and they are all happy and secure and grateful they found such a wonderful place to call home.

[JayBird]

When I introduce someone new to the neighborhood I describe it as a Frank Capra neighborhood, like Bedford Falls in "It's a Wonderful Life", with an urban edge.

I love this description! Who do we have to talk to so that this can be the "unofficial" Springfield slogan?!!

[I-10east]

The magazine 'This Old House' has named Springfield "One of the best in the South for 2013". Notably This Old House also has a long time running PBS home improvement show.

www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/photos/0,,20728183_30007723,00.html

[jcjohnpaint]

Great find I 10.

[sheclown]

The magazine 'This Old House' has named Springfield "One of the best in the South for 2013". Notably This Old House also has a long time running PBS home improvement show.

www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/photos/0,,20728183_30007723,00.html

Springfield Neighborhood, Jacksonville, Florida

  Population: 4,674 in Springfield; 827,908 in the city of Jacksonville
House styles: Early-20th-century types, such as Colonial Revival, Prairie, and Craftsman predominate here; also Queen Anne and various vernacular styles
Expect to pay: As little as $40,000 for a fixer-upper; up-to-date houses cost about $250,000 to $275,000

In 1901, nearly 150 city blocks in downtown Jacksonville were consumed by a factory fire, and many displaced residents fled to Springfield. The community thrived through around 1925, but a combination of urban flight and the area's rezoning as a business district caused many houses in the neighborhood to decline. Thankfully, locals turned the tide and snagged the area a listing on the National Register of Historic Places in 1987. Today's buyers will find a charming mix of residences here from as early as the late 1800s, with some cafes and small businesses scattered within walking distance. "There's an incredible community spirit here," says resident Kathleen Carignan, who moved to Springfield in 2012. "I found out one of my neighbors had been mowing my lawn before I moved in just because he wanted it to look nice." City Kidz, a local ice-cream shop, holds after-school workshops to teach financial literacy and entrepreneurial skills, and a program at one of the neighborhood's two community gardens educates kids about sustainable-food and gardening practices. To us, it sounds like a great place to be a kid or a grown-up

[Bill Hoff]

The magazine 'This Old House' has named Springfield "One of the best in th  South for 2013". Notably This Old House also has a long time running PBS home improvement show.

www.thisoldhouse.com/toh/photos/0,,20728183_30007723,00.html

It's kind of odd how the magazine caragorized things, but a few dozen neighborhoods from across the country were chosen to be highlighted, then they tagged each with being especially appealling in specifc catagories.

Springfield was featured in the following catagories:

Walkability, Bargains, Gardens, Easy Commute, Fixer-Uppers, and The South.

You can find this, and a lot of other timely info about the neighborhood, in the 'Spar Scoop' eNewsletter sent out monthly.

Here's the current edition:
http://secure.campaigner.com/Campaigner/Public/t.show?5xwzr--333bf-cjjpoc1&_v=2

[strider]

While it is great that This Old House recognizes Historic Springfield as a cool place and important, too bad the city of Jacksonville keeps forgetting that it is even a historic district when it comes to spending that NSP money and likes to tear houses down so much.  Maybe we should by the city a subscription to This Old House so it can learn a thing or two.

[John P]

Is this in the magazine or just on the website? This Old House is one of my favorite magazines to pick up when I go to the mall. Quite frankly I'm surprised that more of this citys old neighborhoods have not been featured in the magazine in the past. Jacksonville has some of the best old neighborhoods in Florida.

[Cheshire Cat]

Here is what 3rd Street in Springfield looked like long ago.  Sorry, I don't have the year. 




The Jax Armory way back when.

[Cheshire Cat]

Springfield Park.



Below Sprinfield Park/ Cabin Bridge.  It was so lovely.