The John Gorrie a condominium
A very limited number of homes remain available for sale at the historic and fully-renovated John Gorrie a condominium, located in popular Riverside where property costs are on the rise. A Federal Housing Administration (FHA) and Fannie Mae (FNMA) approved residence, qualified homebuyers at The John Gorrie can obtain a low down payment and fixed-rate mortgage at competitive rates, allowing them an opportunity to purchase a piece of history. Owners also receive an ad valorem tax abatement toward their homeowner’s tax bill through 2021.
“We had first toured The John Gorrie in February 2014 and absolutely fell in love with the space,” said Blythe Duckworth and Denys Zayets. Awaiting The John Gorrie’s FHA approval, the couple revisited in January 2015, hoping approval would be closer. “We selected the home we wanted and crossed our fingers it would still be available once the FHA approval came through. Lucky for us, it worked out.”
As the building’s ornate Mediterranean Revival architecture demonstrates, the former John Gorrie Junior High School was constructed in 1923 and was designed by noted Jacksonville architects Roy A. Benjamin and Mellen C. Greeley. Listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1987 before closing in 1997, community advocate Delores Barr Weaver and her husband purchased the former school with plans to renovate and restore the historic buildings, transforming them into what is now The John Gorrie a condominium.
The John Gorrie consists of 68 residences with luxurious contemporary amenities including 12-foot ceilings, expansive windows, stainless steel GE appliances, CaesarStone countertops and hardwood floors. The John Gorrie offers one- and two-bedroom residences and two-story townhomes priced from the upper-$100,000s. The community’s amenities include private gated parking, a private courtyard, custom fitness center, elevators, a resident reading room and Wi-Fi Internet access.
“Every home is unique because Mrs. Weaver was determined to retain as much of the historical aspect of the building as possible, yet each home has modern amenities,” said Valerie Williams, owner at The John Gorrie. “I was very impressed that the building still had the feeling of being a school. Original doors, window frames and radiators align the hallways and some of the homes even have original wooden floors from the former gymnasium and classrooms.”
The John Gorrie is home to young professionals, retirees and families alike, and to the owners’ delight, pet-friendly. Scheduled to break ground by December 2015, The John Gorrie Dog Park at Riverside Park will be located near the condominium in the northwest corner of Riverside Park. For more than three years, the Riverside Avondale Preservation (RAP) has been working in partnership with Weaver and community partners to establish the two-acre, off-leash dog park as a neighborhood amenity.
“One of my favorite things about life at The John Gorrie is the convenience of its location. On any given afternoon I can grab a cup of tea, stroll through Memorial Park, take in a matinee movie, eat Asian-inspired street fare and pick up some light reading at the book store – all without having to get in my car,” said homeowner at The John Gorrie, Mark Pariani.
Accolades that The John Gorrie a condominium has received include the Grand Aurora Award at the 2012 AURORA Awards in its “Remodeling, Rehabilitation or Historical Renovation” division; the Jacksonville Historic Preservation Commission’s 2012 Preservation Award for the restoration and renovation of the former John Gorrie Junior High School into condominium homes; an Outstanding Multi-Family Renovation award from RAP in 2012; and in 2013 Delores Barr Weaver was awarded the prestigious Urban Land Institute North Florida Award for Excellence in the Reuse/Repurpose category for her work on The John Gorrie’s transformation.
“Restoring a historic building as special as John Gorrie Junior High School and transforming it into a home for many was truly a labor of love,” said Weaver. “Thank you to the community for supporting the project and renovation process.”
For more information about how you can secure your piece of history and be part of The John Gorrie community, call (904) 383-3688 or visit www.TheJohnGorrie.com.
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