Featured image for “Clay County charts a path for next five years”
November 29, 2023

Clay County charts a path for next five years

The county is creating a long list of plans to improve health and safety, development, infrastructure, quality of life and more.

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Featured image for “OPINION | Jax should apply for the Reconnecting Communities grant”
September 6, 2022

OPINION | Jax should apply for the Reconnecting Communities grant

The new federal Reconnecting Communities Pilot Program offers cities funding for projects that restore neighborhoods split and disrupted by highways in the mid-20th Century. Several projects from Jacksonville would be a perfect fit for the grant, but the city would have to move quickly to meet the Oct. 13th deadline. Will Jacksonville apply, or will the city miss out on

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Featured image for “OPINION | Government can work. Here’s proof”
August 31, 2022

OPINION | Government can work. Here’s proof

Spend a lot of time browsing social media or watching Fox, CNN or MSNBC, and it would be easy to be cynical about the ability of government to succeed. There is a lot of negativity in our public discourse.  It’s time we take a look at what is working. Here in North Florida, there are examples of government doing its

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Featured image for “Black labor fuels Jacksonville’s maritime industry”
June 27, 2022

Black labor fuels Jacksonville’s maritime industry

JAXPORT is on pace for another record-setting year in container volume, a volume that would not be possible without its predominantly Black port workers.

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Featured image for “THE JAXSON | 7 historic Arab American sites in Jacksonville”
April 19, 2022

THE JAXSON | 7 historic Arab American sites in Jacksonville

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

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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 look at four new projects that have sprung up in the last month. The Northbank Renaissance We’ve spent much of the last year covering the explosion of development projects quietly happening in the Downtown Northbank. With at least 14 major

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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 is seeing a veritable renaissance of adaptive reuse developments. Looking forward to 2022, here are four trends that could permanently change urban Jacksonville for the better: 1. The Urban Core is growing again Released in August 2021, the results of

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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 play the biggest role: the Urban Core neighborhoods that historically sustained Downtown have seen their population plummet by 100,000 since 1950. Most takes on why Jacksonville’s Downtown continues to struggle while our peers are turning the corner tend to focus

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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 Jacksonville? Is downtown development really as complicated as we make it? Here are five widespread but false myths about urban development that have held Downtown Jacksonville back for years:  Myth 1: It’s easier to develop an empty lot than adapt

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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 various stages of planning, it’s time for Jacksonville to embrace the positive impacts these developments can have on the vibrancy of urban neighborhoods. Home2 Suites in Brooklyn When the new Home2 Suites in Brooklyn opens its doors, the six floor,

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