May is recognized as Jewish American Heritage Month. Jacksonville has a long Jewish history, with a Jewish community dating as far back as the mid-19th Century. Paying tribute to the generations of individuals and families who helped shape the city’s history, culture and society, here are a few historic sites and businesses related to the contributions of the city’s Jewish
With a shortage of available homes and prices spiking dramatically, Jacksonville is the midst of a full-blown housing crisis. Fortunately, there’s much the city government can do to help in the fight. These four comparatively simple and affordable solutions could make an impact — if local leaders act now. Jacksonville’s housing crisis Across Florida, housing prices are up to crisis
Since 1990, May has been recognized as Asian American and Pacific Islander Heritage Month, celebrating the achievements, history, culture and contributions of Asian Americans and Pacific Islanders in the U.S. While Jacksonville can be a community where our unique and diverse cultural history is overlooked, Asian Americans have played a role in the city’s history for more than 100 years.
In honor of National Bike Month, The Jaxson has five Jacksonville bicycle history facts and sites: The beach cruiser Built in 1925 for E.L. Green’s Sunshine Potato Chip Company, this rusticated concrete block building on the Eastside became home to the Ambrosia Cake Bakeries Corp. in 1928. Operated by Earle P. Colby, the bakery’s business model consisted solely of the
Mayport shrimp All across Jacksonville and the First Coast, restaurants pride themselves in serving up fresh Mayport shrimp. This isn’t a particular species of shrimp; the designation “Mayport shrimp” refers to shrimp caught wild and unloaded in the Jacksonville area, especially the historic fishing village of Mayport. First Coast waters are a very fertile breeding region for shrimp, and the
Arab Americans have a long history in Jacksonville tracing back to the 19th century. Between 1890 and 1920, hundreds of immigrants arrived and settled in Jacksonville from an area of the Middle East that is now home to the countries of Syria, Lebanon, Israel, Palestine and other territories. Early settlers established themselves as grocers, peddlers and small-business operators, and dispersed
Missing middle housing represents many types of residences ranging in scale between single-family homes and massive apartment buildings. From shotgun homes to duplexes to bungalow courts, missing middle housing was once common in Jacksonville – and could be a weapon to fight the housing crisis. What is missing middle housing? It’s a modern term for an old phenomenon. Made up
Home to the country’s largest concentration of Gullah Geechee descendants, Jacksonville emerged as Florida’s premier Chitlin’ Circuit destination during the formative years of vaudeville, ragtime, jazz, and blues. The Chitlin’ Circuit was the collective name given to a series of Black-owned nightclubs, dance halls, juke joints and theaters that were safe and acceptable for African American entertainers to perform in
Speaking to comparatively simple, cost-effective ways to revitalize Downtown Jacksonville and the Urban Core, these five terms should be in every local leader’s lexicon. The “Three C’s” The Jaxson team has long advocated for the “Three C’s” of urban revitalization: the clustering of complementing uses within a compact setting. This is the simple idea that it doesn’t take big, expensive
Those hoping to revitalize Jacksonville’s historic Black neighborhoods should take a look at Chicago’s Bronzeville. Located in the South Side, Bronzeville rose to prominence as a national hub for blues music during the Great Migration. Today, the neighborhood is in the midst of revitalization while continuing to embrace its heritage and culture. The revitalization of Chicago’s Bronzeville South Side Chicago’s