Bill Delaney
Bill Delaney is a writer whose work focuses on the history and culture of the First Coast. He currently serves as City Council liaison for Jacksonville Mayor Donna Deegan. He is co-owner and editor of The Jaxson, Modern Cities, and Edible Northeast Florida magazine, and author of the book Secret Jacksonville: A Guide to the Weird, Wonderful, and Obscure. He holds bachelor’s and master’s degrees in English from the University of North Florida. Reach Bill at wdelaney@moderncities.com.
Featured image for “THE JAXSON | The story of the Downtown Southbank”
August 1, 2023

THE JAXSON | The story of the Downtown Southbank

Now considered part of Downtown Jacksonville, the waterfront district between the St. Johns River and I-95 has a deceptively long history of its own. From a ferry landing to shipyards to skyscrapers, here’s a dive into the story of the ever-changing Southbank.

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Featured image for “OPINION | Downtown revival: Crafting a plan for city-owned properties”
July 11, 2023

OPINION | Downtown revival: Crafting a plan for city-owned properties

Here’s a look at a few key Downtown properties that, with a little vision, could serve as catalysts to boost Downtown’s vibrancy in the near future.

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Featured image for “THE JAXSON | 5 sites from LGBTQ history in Jax’s Urban Core”
June 27, 2023

THE JAXSON | 5 sites from LGBTQ history in Jax’s Urban Core

Jacksonville’s LGBTQ history has always been rich and colorful, if often overlooked. Here’s a tour of five sites across the Urban Core with ties to the city’s LGBTQ story.

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Featured image for “OPINION | 4 common-sense ways to revitalize Downtown Jacksonville”
June 6, 2023

OPINION | 4 common-sense ways to revitalize Downtown Jacksonville

Here are four proven, relatively simple, common-sense suggestions to spark revival without relying on huge budgets and massive new developments.

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Featured image for “THE JAXSON | 5 stories from Jacksonville’s hamburger history”
May 30, 2023

THE JAXSON | 5 stories from Jacksonville’s hamburger history

From the first ever Burger King to long-gone local chains, here’s a look at five burger facts from Jacksonville history.

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Featured image for “THE JAXSON | Jaxlore: The lost city of Ossachite”
May 16, 2023

THE JAXSON | Jaxlore: The lost city of Ossachite

Many books and articles on local history feature the Timucua town of Ossachite. There’s just one problem: It never existed.

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Featured image for “OPINION | The Ford plant demolition shows a dearth of vision”
May 2, 2023

OPINION | The Ford plant demolition shows a dearth of vision

The debate over demolishing the old Ford plant in Talleyrand missed a key point: It wasn’t demolish or reuse. It could have been both.

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Featured image for “6 lost towns within Jacksonville’s borders”
April 25, 2023

6 lost towns within Jacksonville’s borders

Some of the neighborhoods that now make Jacksonville were once towns in their own right. Here’s the story of 6 of them.

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Featured image for “THE JAXSON | The 10-year saga of the Fuller Warren pedestrian path”
April 4, 2023

THE JAXSON | The 10-year saga of the Fuller Warren pedestrian path

A decade ago, concerned residents demanded a better transportation solution. As a result, the Fuller Warren Bridge shared-use path opens this week.

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Featured image for “THE JAXSON | The YIMBY case for historic preservation”
March 28, 2023

THE JAXSON | The YIMBY case for historic preservation

In much writing about urban development, the pro-density Yes In My Backyard movement and historic preservation are often presented as opposing philosophies. In Jacksonville’s case, however, YIMBYs and preservationists are natural allies in the fight to revitalize struggling neighborhoods and resolve the housing crisis.  Yes in my backyard Standing for “Yes In My Backyard,” the YIMBY movement is the antithesis

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