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Construction started on Interstate 10 in 1957. Opening in the early 1960s, the interstate and its interchanges not only severed established neighborhoods from one another, it created new travel patterns resulting in the rapid growth of new suburban neighborhoods and the stagnation and decline of established walkable districts.
Additional change came during the 1970s. This decade saw the 1971 opening of the Murray Hill Art Center, the 1975 completion of the six-story Florida Christian Home Apartments and the 1979 conversion of the Edgewood Theater into the West Campus of Jones College. Nevertheless, the most transformational project may have been the Normandy Mall, the city’s first fully enclosed shopping center. Opening in 1963 on the site of the Normandy Twin Drive-in Theatre, developer Edward J. DeBartolo claimed this new retail center would employ the newest concepts in suburban shopping facilities. Anchored by Montgomery Ward, P.H. Rose, Food Fair, a 1,000 seat twin theatre and 1800 parking spaces, the mall converted Normandy Boulevard into a major Westside commercial thoroughfare at the expense of Edgewood Avenue.
Between 1970 and 1980, Murray Hill’s population declined 14% as newer Westside neighborhoods rose to prominence. By the 1990s, the proliferation of regional malls and suburban growth had taken their toll on Murray Hill’s economy. During this decade, some long term businesses such as the Murray Hill Theater would close. Even Normandy Mall failed by 1994 as larger regional malls like Orange Park Mall dominated the Westside’s market. However, these sites would quickly be re-purposed into new uses, such as the theater becoming a Christian rock hall and a portion of the mall being demolished to make way for a Winn-Dixie anchored shopping center.
In any event, you can’t keep a good thing down for long. By the turn of the 21st century, due to its centralized location, unique collection of affordable brick bungalows, quality park system and public improvement projects, Murray Hill’s comeback had began to take shape. For example, from 2003 to 2004, the average rate of home appreciation increased 24% and a mix of established and new businesses along Edgewood Avenue had began to cluster.
The attractiveness and popularity of Murray Hill significantly increased in the previous decade as the neighborhood emerged as a go-to location for local entrepreneurs desiring to be in an up and coming walkable community where commercial leases were still affordable and opening a new business came with less heartache than what entrepreneurs had faced in other well known districts in the vicinity.
As we move into the third decade of the 21st century, Murray Hill’s renaissance will create new opportunities and challenges. In a community that does not have its own zoning overlay and that is not officially designated as a national or local historic district, buildings of character and historic significance may disappear as the pressures of new growth continue to present themselves.
In addition, new development is not bound to any guidelines strengthening or maintaining Murray Hill’s sense of place. Strong community involvement and guidance will be needed to ensure that every project adds to the neighborhood’s character as opposed to destroying it. At the same time, opportunities to enhance Murray Hill will continue to materialize. The City of Jacksonville’s proposed road diet of Edgewood Avenue is a great example of an opportunity that changes a poorly used space into one that increases walkability and pedestrian safety while adding bike infrastructure and on-street parking for new and existing businesses.
In conclusion, Murray Hill has evolved multiple times over the last two centuries. While that past has made the community what it is today, with continued community led organization and involvement, the best of Murray Hill is still yet to come.
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Presentation by Ennis Davis, AICP. Contact Ennis at edavis@moderncities.com