` The Old Arlington Neighborhood Action Plan Mayor John Peyton District 7 Councilperson Pat Locket-Felder District 1 Councilperson Lake Ray District 2 Councilperson Lynette Self Planning & Development Department Acting Director Brad Thoburn J. M. Dickson, Inc. July 2007* Acknowledgements The Action Plan was a collaboration of the Planning and Development Department staff, the Consultant Team, and the Old Arlington Community. *Plan data was assembled in 2004, final document edits by the Planning and Development Department amended in May 2007. Client Team Jeannie Fewell, Planning & Development Former Director Jennifer Hewett-Apperson, Former Project Manager Consultant Team HDR APD, Inc. J.M. Dickson, Inc. Citizens Steering Committee Geraldine Atkinson John Balog Travis Beye Valerie Britt Ann Burt Mary DeFalco David Denney Kathleen Evans Dorothy Fant Deborah Garbade Alvah Hardy Lad Hawkins Paul Jordon Leiah Kerns-Car David LePage Marcella Lowe Gail Melton Darla Nichols Richard Silva Judy Stevens Roberta Thomas Johnny Wells Ted Wendler Pat Wilson The Old Arlington Neighborhood Action Plan TABLE OF CONTENTS A. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY 1 B. INTRODUCTION 1 C. HISTORICAL BACKGROUND 3 D. NEIGHBORHOOD PROFILE 6 1. Socio-Economic Trends 6 a. Demographics 7 b. Housing Types and Zoning 9 c. Housing and Ownership and Vacancy Rates 9 d. Property Values and Sales 12 e. Housing in Specific Block Groups 12 f. Socio-Economic Trends Summary 14 2. Crime 14 3. Land Use and Conditions 16 a. Existing Land Use 16 b. Zoning and Future Land Use 17 c. Conclusion 22 4. Residential and Commercial Building Conditions 22 5. Infrastructure and Services 25 a. Traffic 25 b. Public Transportation 27 c. Street Maintenance and Drainage 28 d. Water and Sewer 28 e. Community Facilities 31 i. Education 31 ii. Parks 31 iii. Other Facilities 31 f. Be-The-Light Christian Conference Center 32 g. Town Center Program 32 i. Rogero Road 34 ii. Arlington Road 34 iii. University Park 34 6. Commercial Market Analysis 34 ii The Old Arlington Neighborhood Action Plan a. Market Analysis Conclusions 36 7. Residential Analysis 37 E. COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT 37 1. Community Participation 37 2. Neighborhood Issues and Concerns 37 F. ACTION PLAN: ISSUES AND RECOMMENDATIONS 38 1. Historic and Cultural Resources 38 a. Norman Studios 39 b. Tree Hill Nature Center 39 c. Historic Homes, Sites and Cemeteries 39 d. “Crossroads” 40 e. Riverfront 40 f. Streetscape 40 2. Infill Opportunities 41 a. Town and Country Shopping Center 41 3. Economic Resources/Other Strategies 44 a. Jacksonville University and Jones College 44 b. Economic Development 44 c. Funding Sources 44 4. Marketing Old Arlington 45 5. Zoning and Land Use 46 a. Existing Land Use 46 b. Zoning and Future Land Use 46 6. Infrastructure 48 a. Water and Sewer 49 b. Overhead Utilities 49 c. Code Violations and Appearance 49 d. Dumpsters 49 7. Perception and Home Ownership 49 8. Design Principles 50 a. Streetscape 50 b. Site Planning 51 c. Architectural Theme 52 d. Building Design 52 iii The Old Arlington Neighborhood Action Plan e. Materials and Colors 53 9. Arlington Businesses 56 10. Conclusions and Next Steps 56 a. Historic and Cultural Resources 57 b. Infill Opportunities 57 c. Economic Resources/Other Resources 57 d. Marketing Arlington 57 e. Land Use and Zoning 57 f. Infrastructure 57 g. Perceptions and Home Ownership 57 G. APPENDIX 58 1. Market Analysis 2. Community Survey Data 4. Code Enforcement Criteria LIST OF TABLES Table 1: Median Age by Census Tract 8 Table 2: Percent Change of Educational Attainment 8 Table 3: Percent of Female-Head of Households 1980-2000 8 Table 4: Percentage Living Below Poverty Level, Unemployment, and Vacant Housing 9 Table 5: Housing Rental vs. Homeownership 1999-2002 9 Table 6: Justina Road Apartments 10 Table 7: Caliente Drive Apartments 10 Table 8: Assessed Value 12 Table 9: Property Sales 1998-2001 in Study Area 12 Table 10: Crime Data by Crime Analysis Zones 16 Table 11: Crime Data by Crime Analysis Zones 16 Table 12: Crime Data by Offense 16 Table 13: Existing Land Use Categories in Study Area 16 Table 14: Existing Land Use 17 Table 15: Residential Conditions 23 Table 16: Commercial / Industrial / Office Conditions 23 Table 17: Year Structure Built 23 Table 18: Community Facilities 32 iv The Old Arlington Neighborhood Action Plan LIST OF FIGURES Figure 1: US Census Tracts of The Old Arlington Study Area 6 Figure 2: The Old Arlington Study Area Boundaries, Zip Codes and Census Tracts as of 2000 7 Figure 3: Justina Road Apartments 10 Figure 4: Caliente Drive Apartments 10 Figure 5: Auto Related Businesses Arlington Road Corridor 17 Figure 6: Auto, Manufacturing and Warehouse Uses North and South of Arlington Road 17 Figure 7: Septic Tank Failure Funding 31 LIST OF CHARTS Chart 1: Population Change 1980-2000 7 LIST OF MAPS Map 1: Study Area 2 Map 2: Homesteaded Properties 11 Map 3: Assessed Value 13 Map 4: Crime Analysis Zones 15 Map 5: Existing Land Use 18 Map 6: Existing Zoning 19 Map 7: Future Land Use 20 Map 8: Existing Building Conditions 24 Map 9: Transportation 26 Map 10: JTA Bus Routes 29 Map 11: Water and Sewer Service 30 Map 12: Community Facilities 33 Map 13: “Opt-Out” Area 58 v The Old Arlington Neighborhood Action Plan further increase the desirability of Old A. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY Arlington for homebuyers. The Old Arlington community is a relatively Two post-secondary institutions, Jacksonville stable, mature neighborhood with residential University and Jones College, are located in housing, commercial, and retail businesses. the study area and offer diverse two and four The Old Arlington Study Area ( Map 1 ) is year degree programs. Jacksonville bounded by Fort Caroline Road to the north, University also provides graduate programs in the St. Johns River, Arlington River, and business, education and nursing. Building Arlington Expressway to the south, the St. partnerships between the community and Johns River to the west and Rogero Road to these institutions, particularly the business the east. schools, could provide opportunities to tap local expertise and provide practical The purpose of this study is to develop a plan experience for students. Additionally, these with revitalization strategies to improve the institutions provide a potential market for local quality of life for residents. The approach retail and services. used to develop this plan was to first conduct a preliminary market study with the goal of Revitalization strategies include a focus on the identifying community assets and evaluating historic resources of the area. Commercial current conditions. This information was then and retail businesses that coexist with tourism used to identify potential opportunities to have the potential to develop around these capitalize on those community assets. The sites. Community groups should work with community provided input through attending realtors and business development groups to public meetings held during the study, holding market the area accordingly. Utilization of membership on the steering committee, and these techniques will serve to overcome participation in a neighborhood survey. unfavorable and often misguided perceptions of the area. The community has many intrinsic assets including its location on the St. Johns River The area’s proximity to the Regency Square and its proximity to downtown, the sports Mall is an amenity; however, smaller local complex, and the Jacksonville International businesses in the area have historically Airport. The rich history of the Old Arlington experienced difficulty competing with this large community is an additional asset. For regional shopping mall. New market analysis, example, The National Trust for Historic however, suggests that strong neighborhood Preservation identified the Norman Studios oriented specialty retail and service markets property on Arlington Road as having national can successfully coexist and could be significance. developed in the study area t Demographic analysis indicates a relatively While there are pockets of disinvestment, Old healthy neighborhood. A windshield survey of Arlington is generally a very stable and building conditions found that 91% of the total growing community. The recommendations of residential housing is in standard condition. this plan are designed to focus attention on The amount of single-family housing that is areas that need intervention, to renew pride in utilized as rental property has decreased and the neighborhood, and to address community while there has been an Increase in owner concerns of aesthetics, zoning, and economic occupied households. Housing values have revitalization. increased 7.5% per year on average. Commercial property conditions were evaluated as 81% standard in the visual B. INTRODUCTION survey. The Old Arlington Study Area (Map 1) is Planned street improvements through the bounded by Fort Caroline Road to the north, Town Center Programs for Rogero Road, the St. Johns River, Arlington River, and University Boulevard and Arlington Road will Arlington Expressway to the south, the St. aesthetically enhance the neighborhood and 1 The Old Arlington Neighborhood Action Plan 2 The Old Arlington Neighborhood Action Plan Johns River to the west, and Rogero Road to residential and commercial properties, the East. The Mathews Bridge serves as a describes the area’s infrastructure and major point of access as it connects the services, summarizes overall crime, and neighborhood to the west bank of the river and reviews the neighborhood indicators. The Downtown Jacksonville. Community Involvement section outlines how the residents provided input and summarizes The purpose of the study is to: neighborhood issues and concerns. The report’s Action Plan contains the issues and Explore and evaluate the recommendations for the entire study area. neighborhood to determine where it is in its life The report includes design options or cycle, suggestions for enhancing the character of the Identify neighborhood assets, neighborhood. The appendix provides strengths and opportunities, resources and more detailed information. Evaluate trends, potential issues and constraints, C.