Downtown Jacksonville

Neighborhood of Jacksonville, Florida

Downtown Jacksonville is the historic core and central business district (CBD) of Jacksonville, Florida. It comprises the earliest area of the city to be developed and is located in its geographic center along the narrowing point of the St. Johns River. Downtown Jacksonville is one of eight districts in the city. The other seven include: the Central Core (or Northbank), the Southbank, LaVilla, Brooklyn, the Working Waterfront, the Cathedral, the Church, and the Entertainment & Sports District. Downtown Jacksonville is the home to several major corporations, including CSX Corporation, Fidelity National Financial, TIAA Bank, Black Knight Financial, Rayonier Advanced Materials, Interline Brands, Haskell, FIS, and Stein Mart.

The site of modern Downtown Jacksonville originated at a crossing of the St. Johns River known to the Seminole as Wacca Pilatka, to the Spanish as the Pass de San Nicolas, and to later British settlers as the Cow Ford. Histories of the city report that there was once an Indian village at the site called Ossachite. White settlement in the area began during Florida's British period (1763–1783), when the East Florida government built the King's Road to connect St. Augustine with the British colonies to the north. A ferry and tavern were built, and when Spanish rule resumed in Florida, Fort San Nicolas was built beside the southern landing of the King's Road ferry. American farmer Robert Pritchard became the first white settler on the north bank of the Cow Ford when he received a 450 acre land grant from the Spanish government in 1791, however, he died shortly after and the area was abandoned. However, the City of Jacksonville and other entities use a wider definition that includes not only the Downtown Core (also known as the Northbank), but surrounding areas on both sides of the river. In this definition, the boundaries are State Street to the north, the St. Johns River to the east, and Interstate 95 to the south and west. This area covers Downtown Vision, Inc., which oversees Jacksonville's downtown improvement district, covers an even smaller area of about 90 blocks in the Downtown Core and Southbank, bounded by Church Street in the north, Market Street in the east, Prudential Drive in the south, and Broad Street in the west. A historic district encompassing a significant portion of downtown Jacksonville was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 2016. Its boundaries are roughly Beaver Street to the north, Catherine and Liberty Streets to the east, the St. Johns River to the south, and North Pearl Street to the west. This area is significant for its pre 1965 architecture, most of which post dates Jacksonville's great 1901 fire.

Also known as the Northbank, is Jacksonville's traditional city center and what most people associate with Downtown and Jacksonville in general. It is the location of many government offices, including City Hall, the Jacksonville Sheriff's Office headquarters, and the Bryan Simpson United States Courthouse, and amenities such as the Jacksonville Main Library, the Museum of Contemporary Art Jacksonville, and the Jacksonville Riverwalk. Several of the city's largest skyscrapers are located there, such as the Bank of America Tower, the Wells Fargo Center, TIAA Bank Center, and the SunTrust Tower, and are home to some of the city's major employers, such as TIAA Bank and CSX Corporation.

Located in the northeast corner, near Hogans Creek. The 36 block area encompasses 118 acres. It is currently being redeveloped into a leafy, green, vibrant neighborhood where a diverse array of residents can live, work, shop, eat, play and pray. The District extends north to south from State Street to Adams Street and east to west from Main Street to N. Liberty Street. This mixed used neighborhood is home to many of Jacksonville's landmark churches, including St. John's Episcopal Cathedral, the Mount Zion AME Church, Immaculate Conception Catholic Church, First Presbyterian Church, and the First United Methodist Church. Due to the area's close proximity to the former courthouse many of the residential structures have been converted into attorneys' offices.

also known as the East Bay Street District and other names, exists in the southwest corner of the Downtown Core, centered on East Bay Street. This area was historically industrial before the abandonment of the Jacksonville Shipyards and related industries. Committed to creating an authentic entertainment experience, The Elbow offers a wealth of diverse, walkable and award winning culinary, nightlife, live music and performance venues. Cultivated around the historic Florida Theatre, The Elbow is one destination that encompasses many diverse restaurants, bars, and breweries. The formal boundaries are Bay Street to Adams Street and Main Street to Liberty Street. The Sports District, also known as the Sports Complex, is located east of the Downtown Core, and contains Jacksonville's major sporting and entertainment venues. Historically part of Jacksonville's Eastside, it is home to TIAA Bank Field, the Baseball Grounds of Jacksonville, VyStar Veterans Memorial Arena, Daily's Place Amphitheater, Metropolitan Park, and the Greater Jacksonville Fair and Expo Center. TIAA Bank Field occupies the footprint of the old Gator Bowl Stadium, which was razed in 1994.

A mixed commercial and residential district on the southern shore of the St. Johns River, directly across from the Northbank. It is closely associated with (and sometimes considered part of) Jacksonville's San Marco neighborhood. It includes large office towers such as the Aetna Building, Riverplace Tower, and Baptist Medical Center. Residential towers include The Peninsula, The Strand, and San Marco Place. There are six major hotels on the Southbank as well as amenities such as the Museum of Science and History, Friendship Fountain and the Southbank Riverwalk. Though historically poorly designed for pedestrians, the city hopes to better integrate it with the rest of Downtown as well as San Marco.

A district immediately west of the Downtown Core. Jacksonville's first suburb, the predominantly African American neighborhood was an independent municipality until being annexed in 1887. The area of the neighborhood north of Adams Street emerged as a mecca of African American culture, and was home to many venues showcasing black performers, such as the Ritz Theatre. The southern part of the neighborhood was a major railroad hub and was also Jacksonville's chief red light district for a period. The neighborhood went into serious decline in the 1960s, and has not recovered. Urban renewal projects commenced in the 1980s, resulting in the loss of many buildings. More recent projects have aimed at bringing commercial development and public amenities to the area.

Located at the far southwestern corner of downtown, it comprises the area south of Lavilla and north and west of Interstate 95. Originally a residential suburb, it was annexed into Jacksonville in 1887. It is connected to Jacksonville's Riverside neighborhood by Riverside Avenue. It is home to Fidelity National Financial, TIAA Bank, and FIS corporate headquarters, and other offices. Commercial and industrial uses became prominent in the 20th century, and many commercial office buildings were constructed along the river. Subsequently, a rift emerged between the office centered part of the neighborhood on the river and the traditional neighborhood further inland. As a result, in the 21st century the city re introduced residential zoning and the neighborhood has become the site of mixed use developments.

Downtown Jacksonville transportation options include bus, JTA Skyway, water taxi, as well as major roadways.

Major roadways serving Downtown from the suburbs include (I 10) from Baldwin, (I 95) North from the airport area, (I 95) South from St. Augustine, Arlington Expressway from the Beaches, and the Hart Expressway from the Southside area. Other important roadways are U. S. Route 1, U. S. Route 17, and U. S. Route 90. Downtown is also the southern terminus of U. S. Route 23.