Ennis Davis
Ennis Davis, AICP, is an urban planner and member of the city of Jacksonville's Downtown Development Review Board. He is also co-owner of The Jaxson and Modern Cities. A civic activist dedicated to improving communities, Ennis is also vice president of membership services and outreach for the Florida Chapter of the American Planning Association, a Florida Trust for Historic Preservation trustee, Groundwork Jacksonville board member, and author of award-winning books Reclaiming JacksonvilleCohen Brothers: The Big Store and Images of Modern America: Jacksonville. He holds a bachelor’s of architecture degree from Florida A&M University. Reach Ennis at edavis@moderncities.com.
Featured image for “THE JAXSON | 4 influential Jacksonville women of the 19th century”
3 days ago

THE JAXSON | 4 influential Jacksonville women of the 19th century

In honor of Women’s History Month, here are four women who were influential in Jacksonville during the 19th century.…

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Eartha White with male patients and hospital staff on a ward at Mercy Hospital, 1449 Milnor Street, Jacksonville, Florida. May 1958? Handwritten on back: Mercy Hospital. Circa 1958. T2-598
March 20, 2024

THE JAXSON | The legacy of Eartha Mary Magdalene White

Born in Jacksonville in 1876, Eartha Mary Magdalene White dedicated her life to improving living conditions for the city’s poor…

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March 12, 2024

THE JAXSON | Women’s history: The Rathel houses

Marvel Funderburk Rathel and her husband designed and built some of the most distinctive homes in Jacksonville over a three-decade…

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March 5, 2024

THE JAXSON | The madams of Jacksonville’s red light district

In honor of Women’s History Month, here is a look at Jacksonville’s most well-known madams from LaVilla’s red light district…

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February 27, 2024

THE JAXSON | Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor’s 5 largest metropolitan areas

The Gullah Geechee are descended from African ancestors who arrived through the slave trade and settled from St. Augustine up…

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February 13, 2024

THE JAXSON | Neighborhoods: Barnett’s Subdivision

Barnett’s Subdivision is a small neighborhood within the larger Durkeeville community that has a very rich history.…

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February 6, 2024

THE JAXSON | 6 Black cultural heritage sites to visit in town

In honor of Black History Month, here are six historic African American cultural heritage destinations in Jacksonville to visit.…

Featured image for “THE JAXSON | 5 Jacksonville attractions that don’t exist anymore”
January 23, 2024

THE JAXSON | 5 Jacksonville attractions that don’t exist anymore

Here is a trip down memory lane, highlighting five major Jacksonville area attractions that don’t exist anymore.…

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January 16, 2024

OPINION | Changing the urban landscape in 2024

In 2024, here are four trends that could permanently change urban Jacksonville for the better.…

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January 9, 2024

THE JAXSON | 6 historical facts about Lake Forest

Located five miles northwest of Downtown, Lake Forest has a history and built environment shaped by housing booms, bubbles and…

Featured image for “THE JAXSON | Jacksonville’s oldest surviving skyscrapers”
January 2, 2024

THE JAXSON | Jacksonville’s oldest surviving skyscrapers

Atlantic National Bank Building (121 Atlantic Place), 121 W. Forsyth St. Year Completed: 1909 Height: 109 feet / 10 stories…

Featured image for “THE JAXSON | Cultural heritage trails increasing in popularity”
December 12, 2023

THE JAXSON | Cultural heritage trails increasing in popularity

With a cultural heritage trail proposed for Jacksonville’s LaVilla, here are how other cities have honored their historic African American…

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December 5, 2023

THE JAXSON | 5 stories from Riverside’s industrial history

Here are five stories connected to Riverside’s industrial sites and history.…

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November 28, 2023

THE JAXSON | 7 ‘Harlems of the South’ including LaVilla

Nearly every city of significant size in the South claims their version of Jacksonville’s LaVilla was the “Harlem of the…

Featured image for “THE JAXSON | The Ribault River’s history”
November 7, 2023

THE JAXSON | The Ribault River’s history

Located 5 miles northwest of Downtown, the scenic Ribault River is a waterway where one can experience the incremental development…

Featured image for “THE JAXSON | 5 restaurants coming to Downtown”
October 31, 2023

THE JAXSON | 5 restaurants coming to Downtown

Downtown’s culinary scene continues to grow. Here are five restaurant concepts headed to Jacksonville’s central business district.…

Featured image for “THE JAXSON | The history of Jacksonville’s Moncrief neighborhood”
October 17, 2023

THE JAXSON | The history of Jacksonville’s Moncrief neighborhood

Known as the District of Soul, Moncrief is a historic neighborhood located a few miles northwest of Downtown Jacksonville. Here…

Featured image for “THE JAXSON | 13 historic Eastside photographs”
October 10, 2023

THE JAXSON | 13 historic Eastside photographs

A photographic journey into the history of Jacksonville’s Eastside, one of its oldest urban neighborhoods and now home to the…

Featured image for “THE JAXSON | 6 major urban core housing developments coming outside of Downtown”
October 3, 2023

THE JAXSON | 6 major urban core housing developments coming outside of Downtown

Downtown isn’t the only urban core neighborhood in Jacksonville where large infill development projects are under construction.…

Featured image for “THE JAXSON | Getting to know the Edward Waters University historic district”
September 26, 2023

THE JAXSON | Getting to know the Edward Waters University historic district

Part of Edward Waters University was added to the National Register of Historic Places last year. These 6 buildings make…

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September 19, 2023

THE JAXSON | 9 Hispanic Jax history facts

here are nine stories that suggest Hispanic influence on the development and culture of Jacksonville is just as old as…

Featured image for “THE JAXSON | 4 mass transit projects comparable to the U2C in price”
September 12, 2023

THE JAXSON | 4 mass transit projects comparable to the U2C in price

Here are 4 mass transit projects that were recently completed for a similar cost per mile to Jacksonville’s proposed Skyway…

Featured image for “THE JAXSON | A trip down memory lane: LaVilla”
September 5, 2023

THE JAXSON | A trip down memory lane: LaVilla

For more than a century, the neighborhood of LaVilla was the epicenter of African American culture, entertainment and commerce in…

Featured image for “OPINION | Time to cut bait on JTA’s driverless Skyway replacement”
August 30, 2023

OPINION | Time to cut bait on JTA’s driverless Skyway replacement

There are other options for public transit that are cheaper, carry more passengers and are available right now. …