In recent years, Jacksonville has seen several of its older, less glamorous neighborhoods experience something of a renaissance.
Once-struggling communities like Springfield, Murray Hill, and Oceanway have been reignited by renewed interest from businesses, developers, and their own residents. Springfield in particular has made quite the comeback, going from relatively derelict to a close-knit, local business-oriented neighborhood that is among the most desirable areas for investors within the city’s urban core.
But once those communities max out their potential, who’s next?
We’ve highlighted four other older local neighborhoods that could be next in line for revitalization, with details on what makes these areas ideal candidates for a renaissance.
Located just east of downtown Jax and Brooklyn, Mixon Town is an industrial area that also has a strong residential history.
Like Brooklyn, Mixon Town began as a predominantly Black neighborhood during the days of racial segregation in Jacksonville. In fact, early maps show two separate but similar neighborhoods, West Lewisville and Campbell Hill, that sprung up in what is now considered Mixon Town.
When segregation came to an end, many Black families opted to move into suburbs that were previously considered “off-limits.” Parts of the old neighborhoods were demolished and largely replaced by industrial facilities.
Today, Mixon Town remains largely industrial by use – but the potential is there for more, and some have already noticed. Recent newcomers to the neighborhood include breweries Lemonstreet and Tabula Rasa, as well as Jacksonville Classical Academy.
And Dennis + Ives, a mixed-use development set to include a restaurant, café, office space, an outdoor stage, and another brewery, is proposed off of Dennis Street.
The area is bisected by McCoy’s Creek, which is set to become a centerpiece of the proposed Emerald Trail network. When combined with the potential addition of a Brooklyn Skyway station and the promising Dennis + Ives project, the Mixon Town area could have a future as a creek-side entertainment destination.
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