The Ambassador Apartments, 2259 College Street, Jacksonville, built in 1923 according to city records. I have not been able to determine the architect for this 16 unit apartment house. The building has a front-facing U ground plan with a central courtyard entrance.
"Ambassador" is inscribed on a cast-stone nameplate on the center upper facade.
There is a profusion of doorways in the courtyard, some leading directly into apartments, others into hallways and stairwells. There are also entry doorways on the Osceola Street side of the building. Parking and rear entrances are in the back of the building.
There is a lush, tropical feeling in the front courtyard, especially on a sunny day. The yellow brick is warm and inviting in the sunlight. Yellow brick is not as common as red brick for construction in the neighborhood.
Among the first things you'll notice when approaching The Ambassador from the sidewalk are the stone lions, which seem to be everywhere. A pair flank the fountain in the courtyard and others can be found on the large planters which are scattered around the property.
Original doors and windows have been replaced. The doors are more Craftsman than Mediterranean-style, but are not inappropriate. Double hung or wooden casements would have been better than what appear to be awning windows.
There's lots of interesting brickwork all over this building.
In addition, numerous arched porches and balconies add visual interest to the building and reflect the 1920's style.
These are one bedroom, one bath apartments. Riverside Park and the 5 Points business district are within walking distance. The St. Johns River is about eight blocks south, also an easy walk.
The Ambassador Apartments blend in well with neighboring buildings, which are mostly duplex and triplex properties. I'd love to hear from anyone who has more information about this building, such as the architect, builder, etc.
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