Mayor, Community Partners to Launch National Register nomination for LaVilla

[thelakelander]

Nonprofit, government and business leaders investing in the future of LaVilla

Who:

The City of Jacksonville and Mayor Donna Deegan, LaVilla Preservation, Community First Credit Union, Corner Lot Development, Community Planning Collaborative, FaverGray, Gateway Jax, and the Brookins Brown Blodgett Corporation

What:

News conference to brief the community about plans to seek and secure designation of LaVilla’s remaining historic resources on the National Register of Historic Places.

When:

Tuesday, March 18, 2025

2 p.m.

Where: Prime F. Osborn, III Convention Center

1000 Water Street
Jacksonville, Florida  32204

Why:

Established in 1866, LaVilla is the oldest neighborhood in Jacksonville. The DNA of this community made significant contributions to the city’s early history and national history. LaVilla influenced American music, arts, culture and commerce. The National Register
Nomination is expected to be completed by Winter 2025.

The LaVilla Preservation organization has been working on raising needed funds and supporters for the pursuit, which includes the LaVilla Historic Resources Survey Update and Application for National Register in two phases. Phase I  provides an updated Historic Resources Survey for the neighborhood, which is nearly complete. The second phase is the development of a National Register nomination.

LaVilla was a significant cultural center for blues, jazz, and ragtime. It was home to the first public blues performance held at LaVilla’s Colored Airdome in 1910. It was home to the largest train station south of Washington, D.C. It was considered the Southern Headquarters of what became known as the Chitlin’ Circuit. LaVilla also played a foundational role in what became known as the Great Migration.

For more information about LaVilla Preservation visit https://lavillauptown.org/.

[Des]

It's too bad the old Kartouche building couldn't be saved. When it was demolished, it was still in relatively decent condition—way better condition than the Cadillac building and 324 Broad St.

[heights unknown]

Me and my Mom were residents of LaVilla, 817 West Duval Street, from 65 to 67. My Mom lived at 836 West Adams Street (also in LaVilla not far from the Train Station), above a Bakery on the 2nd floor, from about 1957 to 1964. She moved to Duval Street in 1964 and came and got me from my Grandma in May of 1965. I attended, 4th and 5th grades, at A. L. Lewis Elementary on the west section of LaVilla just west of I-95 and off of New Kings Road; there was, and still is a playground right across from where my school was that's still there. LaVilla was "abuzz" of and with activity in those days. You could always hear music blaring from the Bars, Taverns, Night Clubs, etc., and there were clothing stores, shoe shops, hat shops, restaurants, 2 movie theaters (Roosevelt and the Strand), Laundry Mats, yes, LaVilla was a thriving Community, and not all black; Hispanics and Jews also lived in LaVilla (I had a Jewish Girlfriend in 1967 and my Mother dated a Cuban guy back then). Almost every time I leave Suwannee and go to Jax on Business or to visit someone, I always go to my old Neighborhood and just drive around and re-live the memories. They really could have done a lot better with LaVilla.

[thelakelander]

^Unfortunately, we can save what was lost but we can be proactive at this point and attempt to save and rehabiliate the little that's left, while making sure all new infill is properly integrated into the neighborhood. Our biggest challenge with the new infill is density. Unlike the rest of the city, many want the properties put "back into service", meaning less new parts and more/higher infill density. YIMBYs not NIMBYs....unless its low density proposals like gas stations that sprawl a full city block.