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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.
logo Perspectives The Jaxson on Jacksonville Today
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 “OPINION | 5 types of missing middle housing Jax should revive”
April 12, 2022

OPINION | 5 types of missing middle housing Jax should revive

Missing middle housing represents many types of residences ranging in scale between single-family homes and massive apartment buildings. From shotgun…

By Ennis Davis and Bill Delaney

Featured image for “THE JAXSON | 6 surviving Chitlin’ Circuit sites in Jacksonville”
April 5, 2022

THE JAXSON | 6 surviving Chitlin’ Circuit sites in Jacksonville

Home to the country’s largest concentration of Gullah Geechee descendants, Jacksonville emerged as Florida’s premier Chitlin’ Circuit destination during the…

By Ennis Davis

Featured image for “OPINION | 5 urban revitalization terms Jax should embrace”
March 29, 2022

OPINION | 5 urban revitalization terms Jax should embrace

Speaking to comparatively simple, cost-effective ways to revitalize Downtown Jacksonville and the Urban Core, these five terms should be in…

By Bill Delaney

Featured image for “THE JAXSON | Bronzeville: A revitalization example for Jacksonville”
March 22, 2022

THE JAXSON | Bronzeville: A revitalization example for Jacksonville

Those hoping to revitalize Jacksonville’s historic Black neighborhoods should take a look at Chicago’s Bronzeville. Located in the South Side,…

By Ennis Davis

Featured image for “THE JAXSON | 6 women’s history sites in Jacksonville”
March 15, 2022

THE JAXSON | 6 women’s history sites in Jacksonville

In honor of Women’s History Month, here are six sites associated with women who transformed our community and nation. Born…

By Ennis Davis

Featured image for “OPINION | Parking craters: A Downtown vibrancy killer”
March 8, 2022

OPINION | Parking craters: A Downtown vibrancy killer

Despite a common perception that parking is difficult in the city center, Downtown Jacksonville has more surface parking lots, garages…

By Bill Delaney

Featured image for “THE JAXSON | 5 female writers from Jacksonville”
March 1, 2022

THE JAXSON | 5 female writers from Jacksonville

In honor of the start of Women’s History Month, here are five women with ties to Jacksonville whose writing affected…

By Ennis Davis

Featured image for “THE JAXSON | 5 Gullah Geechee dishes to try in Jacksonville”
February 22, 2022

THE JAXSON | 5 Gullah Geechee dishes to try in Jacksonville

The Gullah Geechee descended from enslaved Central and West Africans who worked the plantations of the Lowcountry in the coastal…

By Ennis Davis

Featured image for “OPINION | 7 big projects that moved Downtown forward (and how they did it)”
February 15, 2022

OPINION | 7 big projects that moved Downtown forward (and how they did it)

Downtown Jacksonville has its fair share of “gamechanger” developments that have failed to deliver, but when done right, major projects…

By Bill Delaney

Featured image for “THE JAXSON | 6 Gullah Geechee communities in Jax”
February 8, 2022

THE JAXSON | 6 Gullah Geechee communities in Jax

Who are the Gullah Geechee? The Gullah Geechee people are the descendants of Central and West Africans who have traditionally…

By Ennis Davis

Featured image for “THE JAXSON | 5 Black history sites in Brooklyn”
February 1, 2022

THE JAXSON | 5 Black history sites in Brooklyn

In honor of the beginning of Black History Month, here’s a review of sites in the quickly changing neighborhood of…

By Ennis Davis and Bill Delaney

Featured image for “OPINION | A sad lesson from Broad Street’s past”
January 25, 2022

OPINION | A sad lesson from Broad Street’s past

If you travel down Broad Street in Downtown Jacksonville’s LaVilla neighborhood today, you won’t pass by much that’s open. In…

By Ennis Davis and Bill Delaney

Featured image for “OPINION | Rethinking Jacksonville’s convention center dilemma”
January 18, 2022

OPINION | Rethinking Jacksonville’s convention center dilemma

A new convention center has been in Jacksonville’s long-term plans for decades, but the Downtown Investment Authority now says it…

By Ennis Davis and Bill Delaney

Featured image for “THE JAXSON | Northbank Renaissance continues with 4 new projects”
January 11, 2022

THE JAXSON | Northbank Renaissance continues with 4 new projects

Driven by adaptive reuse and historic incentives, Jacksonville’s Downtown Northbank is experiencing a veritable renaissance of new development. Here’s a…

By Ennis Davis and Bill Delaney

January 4, 2022

OPINION | Changing the urban landscape in 2022

Jacksonville’s Urban Core is growing again after decades of decline, the Emerald Trail has broken ground, and the Downtown Northbank…

By Bill Delaney and Ennis Davis

Featured image for “OPINION | What Shad Khan gets right – and wrong – about Downtown”
December 21, 2021

OPINION | What Shad Khan gets right – and wrong – about Downtown

Jaguars owner Shad Khan recently criticized the progress of Downtown revitalization in Jacksonville, saying the area has “gone downhill” over…

By Ennis Davis, Bill Delaney and Mike Field

Featured image for “OPINION | Duval Schools headquarters must stay Downtown”
December 14, 2021

OPINION | Duval Schools headquarters must stay Downtown

Duval County Public Schools’ announcement that it plans to sell its Southbank headquarters and relocate is welcome news for those…

By Bill Delaney and Ennis Davis

Featured image for “OPINION | The forgotten factor behind Downtown Jax’s struggles”
December 7, 2021

OPINION | The forgotten factor behind Downtown Jax’s struggles

Analyses of Downtown Jacksonville’s continued struggles typically focus on factors within Downtown’s boundaries. Though generally overlooked, one external factor may…

By Ennis Davis and Bill Delaney

Featured image for “OPINION | 5 development myths that hold Downtown Jax back”
November 30, 2021

OPINION | 5 development myths that hold Downtown Jax back

Does demolishing old buildings prime the pump for flashy ones? Is 10,000 residents the magic number necessary to enliven Downtown…

By Bill Delaney

Featured image for “OPINION | What hotels can do for Downtown vibrancy”
November 23, 2021

OPINION | What hotels can do for Downtown vibrancy

A new Home2 Suites in Brooklyn is the latest hotel project moving forward in Downtown Jacksonville. With more hotels in…

By Ennis Davis, Mike Field and Bill Delaney

Featured image for “OPINION | 5 infrastructure bill projects Jacksonville should pursue”
November 16, 2021

OPINION | 5 infrastructure bill projects Jacksonville should pursue

President Joe Biden finally signed his hard-fought $1 trillion Infrastructure Investment and Jobs Act into law on Monday, November 15.…

By Ennis Davis, Mike Field and Bill Delaney

Featured image for “THE JAXSON | These are the projects revitalizing Jacksonville’s Historic Eastside”
November 9, 2021

THE JAXSON | These are the projects revitalizing Jacksonville’s Historic Eastside

Many cities are looking for solutions to the issues caused by gentrification and displacement. One emerging strategy is “‘withintrification,” when…

By Ennis Davis

Featured image for “THE JAXSON | Can townhomes plug Jax housing’s ‘missing middle’?”
November 2, 2021

THE JAXSON | Can townhomes plug Jax housing’s ‘missing middle’?

Two new projects in LaVilla and San Marco are creating something in short supply in Jacksonville: urban townhomes. Can they…

By Ennis Davis, Mike Field and Bill Delaney

Featured image for “OPINION | Why Amtrak should be on Jacksonville’s radar”
October 26, 2021

OPINION | Why Amtrak should be on Jacksonville’s radar

Jacksonville stands to be a major beneficiary over the next 15 years as Amtrak plans to add service across the…

By Ennis Davis, Mike Field and Bill Delaney

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