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Analysis and original reporting from the team behind The Jaxson, which is dedicated to urbanism and culture on the First Coast. The Jaxson explores the big issues facing Jacksonville in the modern era of urban growth, with a look at today's development in the context of yesterday's history. The Jaxson is a partnership of Modern Cities and WJCT Public Media.
Featured image for “THE JAXSON | How the Jaguars stadium deal could support Historic Eastside revitalization”
June 12, 2024

THE JAXSON | How the Jaguars stadium deal could support Historic Eastside revitalization

Here’s how the stadium deal’s community benefits agreement could provide tangible benefit to its adjacent urban core neighborhood.…

Featured image for “THE JAXSON | 6 stories from Jacksonville’s LGBTQ history”
June 5, 2024

THE JAXSON | 6 stories from Jacksonville’s LGBTQ history

From Timucua two-spirits to bisexual blues musicians to today’s River City Pride, Jacksonville has a storied LGBTQ history.…

Featured image for “THE JAXSON | 6 major urban core adaptive reuse projects”
May 29, 2024

THE JAXSON | 6 major urban core adaptive reuse projects

In honor of National Preservation Month, here are six examples of adaptive reuse projects currently under construction in the city’s…

Featured image for “THE JAXSON | The Chitlin’ Circuit and barbecue in Jacksonville”
May 21, 2024

THE JAXSON | The Chitlin’ Circuit and barbecue in Jacksonville

While the Chitlin’ Circuit is generally recognized for its musical contributions to society, in honor of National Barbecue Month, barbecue…

Featured image for “THE JAXSON | Memory lane: Downtown’s Main Street in 1952”
May 15, 2024

THE JAXSON | Memory lane: Downtown’s Main Street in 1952

A visual trip back in time through Downtown Jacksonville’s Main Street in 1952.…

Featured image for “THE JAXSON | The year of the Downtown public space”
May 8, 2024

THE JAXSON | The year of the Downtown public space

At long last, several high-profile parks in Downtown Jacksonville have opened this year, with more on the way in the…

Featured image for “THE JAXSON | A ride on Brightline”
April 30, 2024

THE JAXSON | A ride on Brightline

Operating between Miami and Orlando with a goal of potentially expanding to Tampa and Jacksonville, Brightline is the first privately…

Featured image for “THE JAXSON | Neighborhoods: St. Nicholas”
April 23, 2024

THE JAXSON | Neighborhoods: St. Nicholas

A virtual tour of one of Jacksonville’s oldest urban neighborhoods: St. Nicholas. St. Nicholas History Located across the river from…

Featured image for “THE JAXSON | The drive-in theatres of Jacksonville”
April 16, 2024

THE JAXSON | The drive-in theatres of Jacksonville

For 69 years, drive-in movie theaters entertained generations of Jaxsons. Today, their remnants are hard to find in the city’s…

Featured image for “THE JAXSON | 5 Arab American historic sites in LaVilla”
April 9, 2024

THE JAXSON | 5 Arab American historic sites in LaVilla

Starting with the arrival of the first immigrants in the 1890s, Arab Americans have had a major impact on the…

Featured image for “THE JAXSON | What does ‘withintrification’ look like? Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard”
April 3, 2024

THE JAXSON | What does ‘withintrification’ look like? Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard

Oretha Castle Haley Boulevard in New Orleans is a model for withintrification that can be easily replicated along Jacksonville corridors…

Featured image for “THE JAXSON | 4 influential Jacksonville women of the 19th century”
March 26, 2024

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.…

Featured image for “THE JAXSON | The legacy of Eartha Mary Magdalene White”
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…

Featured image for “THE JAXSON | Women’s history: The Rathel houses”
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…

Featured image for “THE JAXSON | The madams of Jacksonville’s red light district”
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…

Featured image for “THE JAXSON | Gullah Geechee Cultural Heritage Corridor’s 5 largest metropolitan areas”
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…

Featured image for “OPINION | Southbank storage units are a bad deal”
February 20, 2024

OPINION | Southbank storage units are a bad deal

After repeated attempts, against significant community opposition, a self-storage proposal for a prime corner in Downtown’s Southbank is back.…

Featured image for “THE JAXSON | Neighborhoods: Barnett’s Subdivision”
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.…

Featured image for “THE JAXSON | 6 Black cultural heritage sites to visit in town”
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 “OPINION | James Weldon Johnson Park redesign must be informed by Bryant Park’s success”
January 30, 2024

OPINION | James Weldon Johnson Park redesign must be informed by Bryant Park’s success

We risk backing ourselves into another 50-year corner if we don’t learn from our past and our peers and again…

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.…

Featured image for “OPINION | Changing the urban landscape in 2024”
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.…

Featured image for “THE JAXSON | 6 historical facts about Lake Forest”
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…