The Hartmore

Here's another of the "grand dames" of Jacksonville's historic Riverside neighborhood, an apartment house constructed because there was a need for, according to the Florida Times-Union, "an apartment deluxe, something exclusive, in the exclusive residential neighborhood."

The Hartmore Apartments, 2970 Riverside Avenue, Jacksonville, Florida, 1924, Roy Benjamin architect, H.F. McAden contractor.   This was one of several upscale apartment houses built by the Benjamin-McAden team in Riverside. 

The Hartmore contained eight apartments, which ranged in size from three to six rooms.  According to Jacksonville's Architectural Heritage, Landmarks for the Future, there was a built-in garbage burning system and a separate garage for each tenant's automobile.  Cast-stone ornamentation surrounds each of the two main Riverside Avenue entrances to the building. 

Ornamental wrought-iron showcases the arched entry and is mirrored in the arched fan-light over the front door.

Other interesting details include elaborate tile work on the floor of the entry and iron railings flanking the front steps leading to the doorway.

A peek inside reveals a vestibule at each entrance leading to two ground-floor apartments and the stairway to the two upstairs units. 

The doorways to the apartments are glassed at the top to allow light from the hallway into each apartment.

The building's windows are in groups of three with a brick lintel and keystone above.  The windows flanking the main entrances feature cast-stone window boxes.

A cast-stone title is centered on the building.  Though the name is a bit faded by the years, you can still read "Hartmore".

Time, in the form of nature, is creeping up on some parts of the facade, as here around one of the lights.

Parking for tenants is in back.  There are no longer any signs of the garage parking that was once part of life at the Hartmore.

The Hartmore was constructed by Mrs. Daisy Hart Smith, described by the Florida Times Union as one of "Jacksonville's wealthiest women."  It was Mrs. Smith who determined the city was in need of "an apartment deluxe." 

Daisy Hart Smith's desire for a high-class apartment house became a reality in 1924 and continues its life as a good citizen in this historic neighborhood.  This fine building is one block from the St. Johns River.

The Alcazar

Which came first...the Alcazar in St. Augustine or this namesake apartment building in Jacksonville's historic Riverside neighborhood?

I know, silly question.  Henry Flagler built the Alcazar Hotel in St. Augustine in 1889, inspired by the royal palace in Seville, Spain.  Flagler's hotel, which is now St. Augustine's City Hall and home of the Lightner Museum, pre-dates this humble house by at least three decades.

The Alcazar, 1645 Mallory Street, Jacksonville, circa 1925, is considerably less grand than the original or the St. Augustine hotel of the same name.  But isn't it a pleasant four-plex apartment house?  And in case you don't remember the name...just look up.

I took these pictures shortly after Christmas 2011.  You can see the decorations still in place for the holiday.  It was a beautiful, sunny day, the kind of day that showcases these wonderful old Mediterranean Revival buildings so nicely.  Note the handsome lights that flank the sidewalk leading up to the building.

There are the usual hallmarks of the era and this architectural style: archways, balconies and porches for each of the apartments (two up and two down), window boxes, and ironwork.

Here's a closer look at one of the upstairs terraces.

A resident assured me the building contains vintage features, and pointed to the spiral stairs in back as evidence.  Those, of course, are not original, but I didn't argue the point.  

As is common in older buildings in the neighborhood, the Alcazar includes garage parking for residents.  Unusual is the fact that in this case, there are two garages.  Each two-car garage is located at the back of the property opposite one another.  This view shows one of them.  A corresponding garage is located on the other side of the backyard.

The Alcazar is located on a very nice block, just a few houses away from Willow Branch Park.  The St. Johns River is an easy three block walk in the opposite direction.

The Alcazar is another of the historic buildings that made this walkable neighborhood such a treasure for Jacksonville.

A Nice Mediterranean Revival

What?  Another Mediterranean Revival apartment house?  Well, considering that there must be dozens, maybe even hundreds of these charming old buildings in Jacksonville's historic Riverside neighborhood, yes, here's another one.  I've presented many examples of the alternate vintage architecture that abounds in this area, but there's no getting around the fact that you can't go far without finding one of these familiar structures that are so much at home in Florida.

3201 Riverside Avenue, Jacksonville, Florida, built in 1926, architect unknown (at least to me).  As is usually the case, the building is constructed in an H-shape, with two apartments up and two down.
  

The front doors to the upstairs units are straight ahead.  The downstairs entrances are to the right and left off the front porch.  Overhead, a barrel-tile roof provides shade.  You'll note that one of the residents was studying me as I took my pictures.

He came out for a closer look, but was friendly enough.  A few minutes later his owner came out too.  She told me the apartments are one bedroom, one bath arrangements, and retain the architectural charm you hope for in a 1920's building.

Each apartment has a balcony or porch.  Upstairs, the enclosures are framed by columns and topped by an archway.

There's no archway or columns downstairs.  The cross-hatch brickwork allow for ventilation.

Here's a closer look at one of the downstairs units and details of the lighting, followed by a detail of the upstairs columns.

In this view of the back of the building you can see the other side of the "H" that allows for interior exposures and back stairs.

A small courtyard separates the building and the garage.  The garage (on the right) has been converted into another apartment and is occupied. 

3201 Riverside Avenue continues to provide interesting living space more than eighty-five years after it was built. 

All This and Covered Parking!

Here's a nice old building on Herschel Street at Aberdeen Street in Jacksonville's historic Riverside neighborhood. 

3205 Herschel Street, Jacksonville, Florida, built in 1925.  This Mediterranean Revival building contains eight one-bedroom apartments and appears fairly well kept.  An elaborate front door makes a handsome statement.

Up at the roof line, things get even more elaborate...

A line of red barrel tiles accents the top of the building.

Each apartment has a balcony.  Here's one of the downstairs units.

and upstairs...

A look inside the building...four apartments on each floor.

Transoms over the apartment entries provide additional light.  Residents have provided custom decorations in some of them.

In the main hallway is this vintage brass set of mailboxes.

Back outside, there are examples of cast stone decoration of the sort that was common in this era.  This is the side of the building.

And in back, here's that covered parking I mentioned in the headline.

Large trees provide lots of shade around this vintage building...and make it difficult to get clear views!  But they enhance the historic feel of the building and surrounding neighborhood.