After decades of suffering from the ill effects of urban renewal, Jacksonville's 'Harlem of the South' has now become a hot spot for new infill development. Seeking to balance development opportunity within an area of significant black history, the Jacksonville Transportation Authority (JTA) and Downtown Investment Authority (DIA) have teamed up to host three community meetings regarding the LaVilla Neighborhood Development Strategy. Here's the details! Read More
Father Félix Varela (1788-1853), considered the grandfather of Cuban independence and the first Cuban-American writer, grew up here on the First Coast in St. Augustine. Years later, after his fervor for a Cuba Libre had forced him to spend most of his life exiled from his homeland, he returned to the ancient city to end his days. Varela’s two stints in St. Augustine bookended a remarkable life that saw him become a prominent writer and a respected Catholic priest now on track for sainthood. Read More
Today, the site of the recently completed Lofts at LaVilla represents a rebirth of a desolate area of Downtown Jacksonville. Nearby, construction crews are in the process of removing remnants of long demolished buildings for another multi-family development that will be known as the Lofts at Jefferson Station. However, a century ago this stretch of West Bay Street could have been easily described as a scene with international flair. Read More
