Southside Estates

On Jacksonville, Florida's southside, one can find a cozy residential neighborhood situated between a bustling downtown and the Atlantic coast. Southside Estates is a neighborhood that benefits from both quiet subdivisions and active shopping districts. The community reaches from Southside Boulevard to Saint Johns Bluff Road, sandwiched between the lively Atlantic and Beach Boulevards. Southside Estates sits in the middle of the Arlington and Southside regions of the city. The land was developed primarily for housing from the 1950s to the 1970s after constructing the adjacent Sandalwood community.

In the 1960s, the Pearce-Uible Company, a prominent land development firm, purchased over 200 acres east of the downtown area. Southside Estates was planned in addition to several other nearby housing zones. Today, established subdivisions and apartment complexes can be found among more spacious single-household dwellings. Mid-century apartments, modest ranch-style rambler homes and bungalows are heavily featured, including clusters of tract housing. Versatile housing options that include driveways, green lawns and tall trees make Southside Estates an attractive option for future residents.

Retail districts align along Atlantic and Beach Boulevard in the north and southern section of Southside Estates. Big box stores and diverse small local businesses continue to stimulate this community. Fast food chains and local restaurants add even more variety to this multi-use neighborhood. The Beach Boulevard Flea Market, touted as Jacksonville's largest flea and farmer's market, sits in the southeastern corridor of Southside Estates. Here, locals find fresh fruit, house decor and other valuable treasures.

A few miles from Southside Estates is a collection of attractions that are frequently visited by Jacksonville residents. The Alahambra Theater, the oldest dinner theater in operation in the country, provides a fantastic dining and recreational experience. The nearby Hands-on Children's Museum is an exciting excursion for households with young members. The museum has encouraged learning through interactive sensory exhibits for over twenty years.

Southside Estates contains two parks with a combined 45 acres of park space within the city's extensive parks system. Although neither public spaces are considered Jacksonville's top parks, Brookview Park and Southside Estate Park have provided an outdoor escape to residents for decades.

Southside Estates Elementary School Park is a dedicated recreational green space celebrating an American pastime. Locally called "South Estates Ball Park," the park features four baseball diamonds that frequently host community-organized baseball games. Batting tunnels, bleachers and covered dugouts complete the park's baseball experience. Residents who enjoy watching and playing baseball can be found here cheering on their favorite team during game days. Concession stands are open during games, while bathroom facilities are always accessible. Past the baseball fields are lush walking trails that highlight north Florida's natural environment.

Brookview Park is just over seven acres of shared green space in Southside Estates. Positioned next to the Brookview subdivision and Brookview Elementary, the park opened in the 1960s. Brookview Park contains two baseball fields, a playground, and a basketball court available for public use. Picnic tables, park benches, and restrooms allow for comfort and relaxation during visits. Covered pavilions set the stage for long afternoons in the park on warm days.

Southside Estates Elementary School has taught prekindergarten to fifth-grade students for decades. The public school accommodates traditional classrooms as well as self-contained classrooms through the school's Communication and Social Skills Program. The elementary has an excellent selection of out-of-school clubs and activities for student involvement and leadership building.

Brookview Elementary is an enduring public schoolhouse with a large student body of kindergarten through fifth graders. Brookview's curriculum and quality extracurricular offerings assist in mental, physical, and social skills development. The elementary also provides an after-school arts program, free of charge, to enrolled students interested in creative pursuits.

Center Academy is a private school located within Southside Estates that boasts small class sizes for non-traditional classroom settings. Housing fifth through twelfth grade, Center Academy's vision is to provide a positive learning environment for students with learning differences. Pupils at Center Academy receive individually tailored academic experiences. Enrolled students can take advantage of the college preparatory curriculum, dual enrollment and frequent field trips.

Southside Estates is a perfect blend of a quiet residential community and a bustling coastal area. The land features clusters of dense, tall trees, ponds and retention basins. Along Southside Estate's primary boulevards and roadways is an abundance of small businesses and companies that employ local residents.

Southside Estates was developed as an optimal location between the beaches community and the downtown area. Residents enjoy an eight-mile commute from downtown and only ten miles from the beaches. Past the busy roadways that border the Southside Estates are the quaint residential tracts that offer local inhabitants the best of both worlds.

Photography Contributed By

Lori Smith

Video By

Brad Davis