Five Ways To Activate The Northbank's Laura Street

Downtown Jacksonville’s Laura Street of Yesteryear - 204,275 (1950 city population estimate)

However, the Laura Street of 2018 was not always as quiet as it is today. Prior to the 1980s, Laura was one of several downtown streets that featured a continuous line of storefronts activating the pedestrian realm around the clock.

Window display at Mary Jane Shoes in Jacksonville in 1948 at 215-23 Laura Street. (State Archives of Florida)

Bird’s eye view looking north down Laura Street over the intersection with Adams Street in 1958. (State Archives of Florida)

Intersection of Laura and Forsyth Streets in 1949. (State Archives of Florida)

The intersection of Laura and Adams Streets in 1940. (State Archives of Florida)

Intersection of Laura and Adams streets in 1938. (State Archives of Florida)

Intersection of Laura and Forsyth streets in 1949. (State Archives of Florida)

The intersection of Laura and Duval streets. (State Archives of Florida)

Hemming Park during the 1950s was the retail epicenter of Downtown Jacksonville. (State Archives of Florida)

Next Page: Five Steps To Activate Laura Street In Less Than Four Years