Originally constructed in 1952, the nearly 11,000 square foot, two-story building sits on a lot of slightly more than 20,000 square feet. Redevelopment of the site would include tearing down the dilapidated structure and replacing it with a modern, two-story, 8,950 square foot building that would include a first floor restaurant and 2nd floor office spaces. Preliminary renderings show that the site could accommodated up to 32 on-site parking spaces, pending successful rezoning.
1939 Hendricks Avenue today.
A concept rendering illustrating what the proposed redevelopment of the property could look like.
1939 Hendricks Avenue today.
A concept rendering illustrating what the proposed redevelopment of the property could look like.
The discreet and windowless building located across the street from Southside Baptist Church has been the subject of much neighborhood lore over the years. For over forty years, the building served as a bathhouse primarily serving a gay, bisexual and transgender clientele. It first opened in 1973 as Roman Spa, a spa and gym owned by the late Gary Causey, Fred Rhoden and Edward Olson. Charles Deskin purchased the spa in 1979 and the business became Club Jacksonville, which operated until earlier in 2019.
Communal bath houses were commonplace into the early 20th century, but fell out of favor among the larger population once showers and baths became standard features in American homes. Membership-only bath houses did remain popular social clubs within the LBGT communities throughout the 20th century. During its four decades of existence, Club Jacksonville served as a safe place for men to meet and hook up at a time when being out came with huge social stigma and even personal danger. Today, as societal acceptance of homosexuality has become more broad and the internet has made LGBT dating easier, institutions like the bath houses and so-called gay bars that once provided safe-haven for the LBGT communities have declined. Club Jacksonville fell victim to this trend; with its membership base declining, it finally closed down this year due to compounding code citations stemming from long-neglected deferred maintenance.
Above and Below: Images from Club Jacksonville via Yelp depict the past (above) and present (below) conditions inside the former bath house.
The Three Lions site is a few hundred feet from one of the most anticipated redevelopment projects in Jacksonville’s urban core, the Publix-anchored shopping center planned by local developer Regency Centers. After 17 years of starts and stops, the long-delayed project has applied for rezoning and marketing efforts have begun anew. The commercial project at the intersection of Atlantic Boulevard and Hendricks Avenue will feature a two-story grocery store, a mix of structured and surface parking and additional retail space.
A rendering illustrating the proposed East San Marco development at the intersection of Hendricks Avenue and Atlantic Boulevard.