JACKSONVILLE, FL-The restoration is complete. What was once an historic high school is now a condominium project--and the units are available for sale.
Delores Barr Weaver, co-owner of the Jacksonville Jaguars NFL team and chair and CEO of the Jaguars Foundation, led the transformation of the historic Riverside-Avondale landmark into the John Gorrie. Weaver and her husband, J. Wayne, purchased the property, which is located at the corner of Stockton and College streets, in Feb. 2009.
“The attraction was, first and foremost, the character of the building and a desire to preserve it for present and future generations of Riverside-Avondale to enjoy and take pride in,” Weaver tells GlobeSt.com. “I was also pleased that for many decades the school provided educational excellence to the children of the Riverside neighborhood. We have met many alumni of John Gorrie during the two and a half years that we have owned it and worked to preserve it.”
The project features 68 residences including studios, one and two-bedroom condominiums and two-story townhomes ranging in size from 800 square feet to 1,800 square feet. Some residences highlight original architectural details including Palladian windows, soaring ceilings, a combination of old and new hardwood floors and exposed brick walls. Condos start in the low $100,000s for studios.
“We believe that the John Gorrie a condominium, has an appeal to those interested in living in a historic, walkable and vibrant community and those seeking the unique lifestyle that comes with that community,” Weaver says. “The John Gorrie a condominium, is not a cookie-cutter development, which I believe most people appreciate.”
Weaver says the condo underwent a meticulous restoration and renovation process that honors the historical and personal significance of the school to the people of Riverside-Avondale and their community. She believes the renovation is an important component of the revitalization of the Riverside-Avondale historic neighborhood. The building was listed on the National Register of Historic Places in 1987.
Waver is debuting the residences to the community at our historic tour on Saturday, August 13. The guided historic tour will highlight John Gorrie Junior High School’s long history in the Riverside-Avondale neighborhood. The event will be a fundraiser benefiting HabiJax and Riverside Avondale Preservation.
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