Southside Blvd History (Jacksonville, Kendall: military, beach, residential)

[lazy_d]

I am relative newcomer to Jacksonville and would appreciate any information on the history of Southside Blvd.

Basically, what sort of road was this before its present state? Specifically between Atlantic and Beach.

Was it a two lane road, did it even exist?

Did some sort of eminent domain happen to get all this land for the road, or did the residential properties on either side really have that much of a front yard?


Thanks!

Jacksonville, FL 32216, United States of America - Google Maps

[riveree]

Just a theory based on what exists there now......

A lot of the Regency area there was strip-mined. The last bit of it still visible is being developed right now over by Kendall Town/Southside Connector.

So it's possible that one company/one family owned that land and after the mining was finished, sold part or all of it to allow the city to run a road through it.

[lazy_d]

Yeah, thats a good thought. I remember reading in another thread about why those dunes are there. Thanks!

[Since 1972]

It's said the dunes were a titanium mine from possibly WWI until the late '60s. In the '70s the area was called "the dunes," and a company called Nutri-Gro pumped what I think was septic tank effluent into the ground. On old aeronautical charts it used to be labeled "Humphrey Gold Mine."

Southside Blvd. between Beach and Atlantic hasn't change much since 1972 when we moved here. I'd guess by the side streets to the east (named after WWII military commanders, and in alphabetical order) the area was developed post war.

[lazy_d]

Originally Posted by Since 1972

Southside Blvd. between Beach and Atlantic hasn't change much since 1972 when we moved here. I'd guess by the side streets to the east (named after WWII military commanders, and in alphabetical order) the area was developed post war.

From what you remember, since the 70's has Southside between Atlantic and Beach always been 4 divided lanes? Was it a two lane road orignally with large front yards for the hosues?

Thanks!

[Since 1972]

Originally Posted by lazy_d

From what you remember, since the 70's has Southside between Atlantic and Beach always been 4 divided lanes? Was it a two lane road orignally with large front yards for the hosues?

Thanks!

Yep, it was just like it is today. The service road and all. Truncated front yards do usually indicate a road was widened, so it may have been before '72.

In this picture from the Jacksonville GIS website, you can see the lots aren't particularly unusual. If I had to guess, I'd say the service road was added after the original Southside Blvd.