The first residents recently moved into the Johnson Commons Townhomes. They are the first new homeowners in LaVilla since the 1990s.
JACKSONVILLE, Fla. — The first new homeowners in LaVilla are moved in.
“We’re really happy to be downtown. It’s central, which is perfect for my wife’s job,” Austin Mackey said.
Mackey and his wife moved into their 1,400-square foot, 3-floor, 2-bed and 2-and-a-half bath townhome last month.
“We have our favorite restaurants down here Bellwether is down the street, which really is only about a 15-minute walk,” Mackey said.
He paid $320,000 for the home.
Johnson Commons is a 91-Townhome community located next to the soon to be opened Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing Park.
In the early 1900s LaVilla served as the blueprint for the Harlem Renaissance and was a hub for African American culture, business, and entertainment.
But highway construction in the 1950s set it on a decline. In the 1990s, in an effort to revitalize the neighborhood, the city uprooted neighbors and businesses including Jackson’s Uniform Man.
“We still claim ourselves to be LaVilla,” Malcolm Jackson said.
His father, Bruce, opened the store in LaVilla.
“LaVilla was a special place, and it still is a special place,” Jackson said.
The townhomes are the latest development in LaVilla. Next door is the soon to be finished Lift Ev’ry Voice and Sing Park.
Both are part of the Emerald Trail, which connects all of Downtown Jacksonville.
“I think the townhomes and new park is a good foundation,” Jackson said.
A good foundation for what Jackson hopes is a strong future.
“You want to continue to keep the charm of what it is and elevate that charm,” Jackson said.
“Making sure that we put the correct ecommerce and the right events and building the right things that we need to make the neighborhood thrive for everyone to be able to come to and celebrate, I think is the key to not just build and just to build and to kick people out,” Jackson said.
“Everybody has that clean slate. I think to be able to make this LaVilla of old to a degree,” Jackson said.
Mackey is looking forward to investing in his new community.
“Building up the community would be great,” he said.
Jackson is excited to see what’s to come and one day would like to be a part of it.
“It’s always been a goal to get back to LaVilla in any capacity. I like the direction that we’re going in and I just hope that we continue with that trajectory,” Jackson said.
The townhomes are still under construction, and some are still available for purchase. The entire community is expected to be complete in 2025.
