Lavilla before

LaVilla before. Scroll down for the present day photo.

I came down with something nasty yesterday and I am in no condition to write anything coherent. Lucky for me the peeps over at Metro Jacksonville have done just that with their latest installment of Downtown Frankenstein: LaVilla Style.

La Villa was once known as the “Little Harlem of the South”. It was the home to a diverse collection of ethnic establishments, such as the Boston Chop House, a soul food joint known for its “trotters & swithes” (pigs feet and tail) and the Hollywood Music Store.

Its decline began with I-95 slicing through the heart of the communtiy, then with integration during the 1960s and failed urban renewal projects by the city, such as the Hogans Creek project and Blodgett Homes. However, the famed River City Renaissance would finally drive a stake through this once proud community’s heart.

Lavilla 2006

LaVilla 2006.

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This entry was posted on Wednesday, November 29th, 2006 at 8:44 pm and is filed under LaVilla. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.