When Jacksonville professional Josh Garrison began looking for a new home in Jacksonville, he knew he wanted to live at The John Gorrie a condominium.

“I spend a lot of time in Riverside and The John Gorrie is hard to miss,” said Garrison, who is the chief executive officer at Miranda Contracting. “I knew about the development and its renovation.”

Garrison’s company has been part of several construction projects near The John Gorrie including 220 Riverside, Unity Plaza and Brooklyn Station. Like many, he is enthusiastic about the revitalization and renewal underway that is helping to transform the urban core.

“I loved Delores Barr Weaver’s vision for the historic preservation of The John Gorrie,” said Garrison, who moved into his new home last September. “I was eager to be a part of the community.”

In 2009, Weaver and her husband purchased an abandoned school that had once been one of Jacksonville’s architectural gems. Designed by noted Jacksonville architects Roy A. Benjamin and Mellen C. Greeley, the school’s ornate design reflects Mediterranean Revival architecture popular in the early 1920s. The former John Gorrie Junior High School was built in 1923, listed in the National Register of Historic Places in 1987 and closed in 1997. After a dozen years of neglect and disrepair, Weaver began the meticulous restoration and renovation of the two buildings that housed the school, investing a substantial amount of her own time and money into the project.

“Mrs. Weaver is a well-known philanthropist and has done so much for the community,” Garrison said. “What she has accomplished at The John Gorrie is great.”

Weaver completed the extensive renovation and restoration in 2011, transforming the historic landmark school into 68 residences with luxurious contemporary amenities including 12-foot ceilings, expansive windows, stainless steel GE appliances, CaesarStone countertops and hardwood floors. Many of the residences include elements from its former use as a school.

“I love the aesthetics of the building, such as the cool brick walls and the great beauty surrounding the community,” Garrison said. “The streets have mature trees and a beautiful tree canopy.”

Garrison also appreciates the community’s convenient location and its low maintenance condominium lifestyle.

“I love being a part of the Riverside community and being so close to everything, such as restaurants, theaters and nice parks,” Garrison said. “I can ride my bike to the stadium and when I come home, I just relax and enjoy my place.”

The John Gorrie offers studios, one- and two-bedroom residences and two-story townhomes priced from the mid-$100,000s. Amenities include a custom fitness center, a private courtyard, elevators, private gated parking and a resident reading room with Wi-Fi Internet access. Owners at The John Gorrie a condominium receive an ad valorem tax abatement toward their homeowner’s tax bill through 2021.

For more information about The John Gorrie community, call (904) 383-3688 or visit www.TheJohnGorrie.com.