JACKSONVILLE, Fla. – If you live in the 32218 ZIP code, there’s a good chance you’ve noticed how the neighborhood is booming. As one local developer said, Northside growth is happening at breakneck speed.
Junior’s Seafood has been a neighborhood favorite on the Northside since 1999— with owner Abraham Hassan at the helm.
“We always say, you pull up a chair at Junior’s Seafood, you’re like family, and you have so many, so many loyal customers that have been coming here throughout the years. It’s great to see,” Hassan said.
That family feeling really came through a few years ago when a fire broke out, causing serious damage.
“Outreach was tremendous. We had customers come in, just checking on us, bringing us lunches, giving us money. We had our first responders, which we support well raise money for us the community was amazing,” Hassan said.
Something else pretty amazing is the booming development in the 32218 ZIP code— and it’s easy to understand why.
The River City Marketplace is a big attraction, as well as the airport and the Jacksonville Zoo and Gardens.
“In 2007, Mayor John Peyton said Jacksonville is the best place to live, work, and raise a family. And it tells me he was right, and we have it all,” Brian Small, a developer with Bird Dog, said.
Small said development started to pick up in 2012 to 2016.
He said Lem Turner alone has 2,000 homes right off Interstate 295, and added that another 3,000 are coming to the area.
In fact, News4JAX spoke with Small at a spot off Lem Turner that is scheduled to be developed.
“The Northside is the new Southside. Everything is going to be new, master plan communities. It’s going to look just like that, and now is the time to start looking up here,” Small said.
But like most things, fast development does come with challenges.
Hassan said is concerned about the infrastructure keeping up with the traffic.
“You go to New Berlin Road, airport center, Max Leggett. That’s where the congestion and all North or Yellow Bluff all to drive those. Those are where the roads really need to be widened to have a better impact for our community,” Hassan said.
Small said he understands the concerns people in the area may have.
“When we go to community meetings, we just try to hear, what are their concerns? Is it noise? Is it lighting? And we play by the rules that are set by city government,” Small said.
Hassan said at the end of the day, he’s excited for the neighborhood he’s proud to work in—and call home.
“Northside has many communities inside the Northside. We have North, Northside, we have Northwest. But 32218 is a great ZIP code to live in, have a business in. We’re going to continue to thrive in no matter what. I feel really confident in 32218,” Hassan said.
