Avondale

Southward along the river is Avondale, part of the same National Historic District as Riverside. Avondale features even more stately mansions than its neighbor, many of these built in the prosperous 1920's reflecting the Mediterranean Revival style as well as Tudor, Norman and other European styles. Avondale has maintained a unique village atmosphere and family environment through the years.

The focal point of the neighborhood is the shops of Avondale featuring trendy gourmet restaurants and an array of specialty shops and boutiques. The lifestyle of its residents is enhanced with the presence of over a dozen parks, which provide tennis, softball fields, and plenty of paths for jogging, walking and hiking.

Residents of Avondale also enjoy close proximity to downtown Jacksonville. You'll find apartment buildings, condominiums, small bungalows,and large, stately homes in the area.

Ortega

Long considered home to "Old Jacksonville," Ortega is located on a peninsula between the Ortega and St. Johns Rivers, bordered on the west by Roosevelt Boulevard. The area is expericing an influx of young upper to middle-income professionals who are finding a wide selection of home styles and close proximity to boating and golfing as well as convenience to downtown offices. Stately oaks overhang the winding main thoroughfare, which still offers some of the most breathtaking views of the Jacksonville skyline the city has to offer.

Some larger estates have sold portions of real estate to make way for new homes; however, Ortega has been developed for many years. Families tend to stay in Ortega and as a result, fewer homes are sold on the open market than in newer areas.

San Jose

A prime residential area, San Jose is home to landmarks such as Epping Forest, San Jose Country Club, Bolles School and a number of churches and synagogues. It is located just minutes south of downtown on the east banks of the St. Johns River. Spanish-style architecture is the mainstay of homes built in the 1920s in this area. Most of the homes were built in the 1950s and 1960s and there are a few new developments in this area. One exception is Epping Forest Yacht Club. The former Alfred I. du Pont estate home and formal gardens overlooking the St. Johns River, it is a development of single-family homes and condominiums ranging in price from $325,000 to $1.5 million. Another is the Villages of San Jose, a secured community along San Jose Boulevard featuring patio homes and condominiums

San Marco

The San Marco area, located along the river and near downtown, was developed at the same time as Riverside/Avondale. Centered around the San Marco shopping district, homes in the area range from Mediterranean-style homes built in the 1920s to homes recently renovated or rebuilt. In addition to the shopping village featuring old-fashioned street lamps and an historic fountain and an array of unique and elegant shops, San Marco is home to Theatre Jacksonville, Southside Baptist Church and several beautiful parks. The neighborhood hosts a number of special activities and festivities during the year.

Riverside

In close proximity to downtown, this area on the Westside was part of the original city of Jacksonville and offers a picturesque setting of stately oaks and scenic river views. Situated between the St. Johns River and Roosevelt Boulevard, this area provides cultural diversity, historic architecture and an urban feel.

Riverside has become an attractive neighborhood to young professionals who want a short commute to downtown and are interested in renovating an old home. There are many homes to choose from, including modest bungalows, small duplexes, apartments and condominiums, elegantly restored homes and waterfront estates.

The Beaches

Beginning in the north at the mouth of the St. Johns River, you'll find Mayport, once a bustling fishing village now home to over 14,000 military personnel and civilians who work at the Mayport Naval Base. Mayport still has the charm of an old fishing village and features a number of fresh seafood restaurants and a commercial fishing district where shrimp boats can be seen daily heading out to or returning from sea. The only ferryboat operating in Florida makes numerous runs carrying cars and passangers from Mayport across the river to Heckscher Drive. If it's gambling you like, a cruise ship featuring dining and a number of Casino games departs from Mayport daily. Deep-sea charter boats are available for deep-sea fishing.

Southside

Beginning close to downtown with I-95 as its western boundary, extending to the east as far as St. Johns Bluff Road; extending from Atlantic Boulevard in the north, to the St. Johns County line in the south, Southside is such a large area and is composed of so many neighborhoods, retail areas and office parks, it defies description as its own residential entity.

Housing ranges from single family homes to apartment communities and condominiums in new and old developments offering something for everyone. Residents enjoy local golf courses, abundant restaurants and entertainment spots, and there is easy access to any part of town or the beaches via the many major routes including Beach Boulevard and J. Turner Butler, major east-west corridors, and the north-south corridor of Southside Boulevard, which continues northward into Arlington to the Dames Point Bridge. Churches representing many denominations call Southside home.

Mandarin

Just north of the St. Johns County line is the beginning of Mandarin. During the last decade, the Mandarin area has undergone the greatest growth of any community in Jacksonville. Located at the southern end of Duval County with the St. Johns River as its eastern boundary, Mandarin is also one of the oldest areas of Jacksonville, having been settled before Jacksonville was founded.

The community, home to almost every kind of business and service, had been a rural community until the end of the 1960s, when developers began building homes. Now throughout the area are many types of residential neighborhoods, including some of Jacksonville's most affluent. The area is marked by huge oaks and sizeable estates. Highway 13 leads through the heart of Mandarin, intersecting with I-295, making access to other areas of the city a breeze. In spite of rapid development, the Mandarin Community Club works diligently to maintain the integrity of the community. The entire community is viewed as maintaining or increasing its value.

Robin A. Snipes, Realtor

Norville Realty, Inc.

1938 Hamilton Street

Jacksonville, FL 32210

Off: 904.388-4400 Toll Free: 1.866-NORVILLE

Fax: 904.388-8888 Cell: 904.343-1653