May 27, 2020 | Ennis Davis, AICP
The vibrancy of cities comes in all shapes and sizes. Many believe that what works in internationally known cosmopolitan settings may not be applicable for cities in America that have...
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May 11, 2020 | Ennis Davis, AICP
The South is known for great barbecue and Jacksonville's restaurants are no exception. In honor of National Barbecue Month, here are nine Jacksonville BBQ joints that have been serving up...
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May 8, 2020 | Ennis Davis, AICP
Monterey is the area of Arlington bounded by the St. Johns River, Jacksonville University, University Boulevard and the Arlington Expressway. Although home to two historic communities dating back to the...
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April 22, 2020 | Ennis Davis, AICP
Modern Cities visits a city established as a strategic location for the Spanish conquest of the Americas during the 16th century: Havana, Cuba.
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April 20, 2020 | Ennis Davis, AICP
Despite being known for having some of Florida's longest commutes due to massive gridlock on its two main thoroughfares, the actual Town of Orange Park is much smaller and quaint...
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April 16, 2020 | Bill Delaney
The Jaxson shares the history of an independent town within the city limits of consolidated Jacksonville: Baldwin, Florida.
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March 3, 2020 | Ennis Davis, AICP
Modern Cities takes a visual walk through a revitalizing urban riverfront: The Detroit International Riverwalk
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February 14, 2020 | Bill Delaney
Jacksonville, the birthplace of Southern rock, is also the final resting place of many who defined the genre. Photographer Chris Soldt takes a tour of Jacksonville's Southern rock graves.
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February 11, 2020 | Ennis Davis, AICP
Surrounded by modern sprawl-based development, the Gullah Geechee community of Pine Forest is one of Jacksonville's oldest black neighborhoods.
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February 10, 2020 | Ennis Davis, AICP
A look at the Harlem of the West. Denver's Five Points
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January 13, 2020 | Ennis Davis, AICP
Situated in the heart of Gullah Geechee and South Carolina Lowcountry, Georgetown is the third-oldest city in South Carolina behind Charleston.
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January 6, 2020 | Ennis Davis, AICP
Located halfway between Jacksonville and Saint Augustine, Nocatee is one of America's most rapidly growing master planned communities.
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December 26, 2019 | Ennis Davis, AICP
Once known as Cow Town and now a SunRail commuter rail system destination, Kissimmee has grown to become the second largest city in the Orlando-Kissimmee-Sanford Metropolitan Statistical Area.
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December 17, 2019 | Ennis Davis, AICP
Originating as an early 19th century Creole French speaking suburb, Faubourg Marigny is a New Orleans neighborhood that has experienced significant gentrification post Hurricane Katrina.
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November 18, 2019 | Ennis Davis, AICP
Every great city is home to a great park. For the City of Orlando, that great space is known as Lake Eola Park. Today, Modern Cities takes a virtual walk...
Read moreOctober 30, 2019 | Ennis Davis, AICP
Chicago is a city that loves to celebrate Halloween. Today, Modern Cities explores 24 hours of the Loop, ending with Arts in the Dark: The Halloween parade celebrating Chicago's creative...
August 26, 2019 | Melissa Hege, AICP
This Miami Food Hall's Best Dish Isn't on the Menu: It's a Community Thing. Melissa Hege, AICP of South Florida-based Melissa Hege City Planning LLC. takes a look at Miami's...
August 19, 2019 | Bill Delaney
Downtown Jacksonville is loaded with potential, and there are plenty of opportunities for new attractions that make the most of our unique culture and history. From fresh seafood markets to...
August 15, 2019 | Ennis Davis, AICP
10 years after the completion of a $52 million downtown utility and streetscape improvement project, the visual results of clustering complementing development within a compact setting are beginning to pay...
June 26, 2019 | Ennis Davis, AICP
The clustering of sidewalk cafés and sidewalk dining is one of the most affordable and least time consuming ways to add life to the urban streetscape. Here is a street...
June 3, 2019 | Ennis Davis, AICP
The rapid transformation of Pensacola's Palafox Street serves as a revitalization example for other cities to follow.
May 4, 2019 | Ennis Davis, AICP
A look at the rapid transformation of Columbus Commons: from desolate mall to premier urban park
April 22, 2019 | Ennis Davis, AICP
The makeover of Giralda Avenue in the heart of Downtown Coral Gables serves as a visual example of the power of clustering, complementing uses within a compact urban setting and...
March 12, 2019 | Ennis Davis, AICP
Sights and scenes from a rainy February 2019 night in Downtown Houston.
March 6, 2019 | Ennis Davis, AICP
The power and elegance of adaptive reuse in urban settings comes in a variety of forms. Today, we take a look a rapidly growing craft brewery that has won numerous...
January 14, 2019 | Ennis Davis, AICP
Considered a fisherman's dream, Mayport Village is an authentic old Florida working waterfront located on the St. Johns River two miles east of the Atlantic Ocean.
December 13, 2018 | Ennis Davis, AICP
Located just northeast of Downtown Pittsburgh, 'The Strip” is a narrow one-half mile strip of land sandwiched between the Allegheny River and a mountain of a hill.
October 23, 2018 | Ennis Davis, AICP
Over the last 20 years, Downtown Orlando has emerged as a diversified Central Florida hub for commerce, government and finance. While many cities continue to struggle to establish a flourishing...
October 11, 2018 | Ennis Davis, AICP
Founded in 1887 in Tallahassee and situated on the former plantation site of Duval County namesake Governor William Pope Duval, Florida A&M University (FAMU) is the fifth largest historically black...
October 5, 2018 | Ennis Davis, AICP
Jacksonville may be Northeast Florida's largest city and St. Augustine may be the nation's oldest, but if you're willing to explore, you'll discover the First Coast is filled with many...
September 28, 2018 | Sophee Payne
Cities vie for retiring baby boomers...that aren't moving.
September 5, 2018 | Ennis Davis
Located on the northwest end of Downtown San Diego and a few blocks from the Embarcadero, Little Italy originated as a predominately Italian fishing neighborhood during the late 19th century....
August 14, 2018 | Ennis Davis
Ranked in the past by Princeton Review as the most beautiful college campus in the country, Florida Southern College (FSC) is home to the world's largest single-site collection of Frank...
July 17, 2018 | Bill Delaney
St. Louis, Missouri is the Gateway to the West, known for breweries, baseball, and its imposing Gateway Arch. Join Modern Cities' Bill Delaney on a photo tour of some of...
July 10, 2018 | Ennis Davis
Food halls have become the sharing economy for restaurants. They're also one of the hottest trends in the restaurant business and retail right now.
May 11, 2018 | Mike Field
Kea Wilson of Strong Towns explores gentrification. No two people seem to quite agree on what the word “gentrification” means. If you’re at all interested in what shapes our cities,...
May 8, 2018 | Ennis Davis
A long time Jacksonville food desert could be going away if the Northwest Jacksonville Community Development Corporation (CDC) has it their way. Founded in 2001, the mission of the CDC...
April 18, 2018 | Ennis Davis
Modern Cities visits a city established as a strategic location for the Spanish conquest of the Americas during the 16th century: Havana, Cuba.
April 1, 2018 | Ennis Davis
Modern Cities' Ennis Davis takes readers on a photographic tour of Downtown San Diego.
March 21, 2018 | Mike Field
Chicago-based Foxtrot looks to expand their new convenience store concept with a nationwide roll-out.
February 28, 2018 | Ennis Davis
A before and after look at the recent transformation of Tirana, Albania's Pazari i Ri.
February 25, 2018 | Ennis Davis
As the globe becomes a much smaller place thanks to greatly improved transport and connections between locations in different continents, destinations around the world are competing fiercely for tourist dollars,...
February 22, 2018 | Mike Field
Landmark judgement results in $6.7 million in damages awarded to 21 graffiti artists for destroyed murals.
February 19, 2018 | Ennis Davis
Perched beneath a palm tree, feet buried in sparkling sand and a fruity concoction of a cocktail in your hand. And yes, there is a little pink umbrella in your...
February 15, 2018 | Mike Field
If electric vehicles are the future of transportation, can gas stations be re-imagined into centers promoting exercise and healthy eating?
February 6, 2018 | Ennis Davis
Melissa Hege, AICP of South Florida-based Melissa Hege City Planning LLC. shares her thoughts on what makes Beaufort, South Carolina a special place.
January 10, 2018 | Ennis Davis
Jacksonville may be Northeast Florida's largest city and St. Augustine may be the nation's oldest, but if you're willing to explore, you'll discover the First Coast is filled with many...
December 27, 2017 | Ennis Davis
In 1915, Claude E. Street produced his first bottle of Street's Grapefruit Juice in Haines City, Florida, becoming the first citrus juice processing manufacturer in America. Today, behind Brazil, Florida...
December 13, 2017 | Ennis Davis
Melissa Hege, AICP, LEED AP of South Florida-based Melissa Hege City Planning LLC. emphasizes how a distinctive and unique waterfront plaza has helped reshape Downtown West Palm Beach.
November 21, 2017 | Ennis Davis
Like many cities, Miami aspires to achieve greatness with its downtown. Judging from the amount of cranes dominating the skyline, Miami is well on its way. Today, Modern Cities shares...
October 12, 2017 | Ennis Davis
Sometimes called the City of the Eternal Spring, Medellín is a cosmopolitan city you rarely discussed in positive circles across the United States. During the 1980s, Medellín was once known...
September 26, 2017 | Mike Field
Company's pilot program seeks to reinvent stores into a neighborhood fast-casual dining destination.
September 20, 2017 | Mike Field
Want to buy a house but can't afford the down payment? This startup offers assistance... with a catch.
September 15, 2017 | Mike Field
New startup is either a disruptive technology that will forever change the corner store, or yet another example of Silicone Valley looking to gentrify neighborhoods- depending on who you ask....
August 30, 2017 | Ennis Davis
Despite well publicized excitement about downtown revitalization, young adults are fueling rapid growth in suburban areas like Bartram Park across the country. Is it by choice, or necessity?
August 1, 2017 | Ennis Davis
Melissa Hege, AICP of South Florida-based Melissa Hege City Planning LLC. highlights the power of placemaking.
July 20, 2017 | Ennis Davis
50 Years have passed since the 1967 Detroit riot. While the movie rehashing that pivotal moment in the city's history gets all the press over the next few weeks, Downtown...
June 29, 2017 | Ennis Davis
When it comes to our health, our zip code matters more than our genetic code. For many communities across the United States, easy access to healthy food options, parks for...
June 14, 2017 | Ennis Davis
Ennis Davis, AICP of Modern Cities provides a review of Next City's 2017 Vanguard Conference in Montréal and suggests what it could mean for cities of the future.
May 19, 2017 | Ennis Davis
Situated one hour south of Tampa, Sarasota is generally overlooked but continues to quietly retrofit itself into a bonafide walkable Sunbelt city. In fact, the city with 14.89 square miles...
April 24, 2017 | Ennis Davis
Raleigh: An In-Depth Look at One of America's Fastest Growing Downtowns
April 4, 2017 | Ennis Davis
Melissa Hege, AICP of South Florida-based Melissa Hege City Planning LLC. takes a trip to Venice Beach in Los Angeles, to provide other communities with a few urban planning tips...
March 28, 2017 | Ennis Davis
30 facts about one of the South's most historically walkable cities: Richmond, Virginia
March 24, 2017 | Ennis Davis
Sights and scenes from a sunset water taxi cruise along the St. Johns River in downtown Jacksonville.
March 9, 2017 | Mike Field
Popular millennial-focused chain plans to open up to 200 locations of a new urban-focused concept serving craft beer and fresh, upscale food.
February 28, 2017 | Ennis Davis
Melissa Hege, AICP of South Florida-based Melissa Hege City Planning LLC. shares her thoughts on the Miami Design District verses Beverly Hills.
January 15, 2017 | Mike Field
Walk up to the fifty best mobile kitchens in the US. These food truckers stand out by serving excellent food, curbside.
January 12, 2017 | Ennis Davis
A behind the scenes look into the repurposing of Charleston's Mendel Rivers Federal Building into a luxury boutique hotel called The Dewberry Charleston.
January 4, 2017 | Ennis Davis
31 facts about one of the largest cosmopolitian cities in the Caribbean: Santo Domingo
December 27, 2016 | Ennis Davis
Established in 1829, D. G. Yuengling & Son is the oldest operating brewing company in the United States. Based on volume of beer sold in 2015, it is also the...
December 16, 2016 | Ennis Davis
Is it possible to create a community combining the best elements of Lowcountry southern living, cuisine and architecture with industry and New Urbanism? This major timber company believes so.
December 8, 2016 | Ennis Davis
Atlanta is known for a lot of things but being a historically pedestrian scale city is not one of them. However, an explosion in growth since 1950, that has lead...
November 22, 2016 | Ennis Davis
Once considered to be down and out, Jacksonville's urban core is a place on the move. The resilience of the city is captured in the rapidly expanding conversion of once...
October 31, 2016 | Ennis Davis
A brief walking tour of one of Florida's most recent significant public waterfront investments: The Tampa Riverwalk
October 11, 2016 | Ennis Davis
Haven't been to New Orleans in a while? Don't worry, we have you covered. Here's a brief photo tour of the urban core of one of the country's most beautiful...
September 16, 2016 | Ennis Davis
Melissa Hege, AICP of South Florida-based Melissa Hege City Planning LLC. takes a trip to Asheville, NC and shares what she learned about implementing smart and subtle, yet affordable urban...
September 1, 2016 | Ennis Davis
Here's a list of the best food halls around, if you find yourself in the South and in need of a bite to eat.
August 28, 2016 | Ennis Davis
A major tourist destination and yachting center with 165 miles of canals, Fort Lauderdale is known for several things. Being called a walkable city is not one of them. In...
July 26, 2016 | Ennis Davis
Palo Alto is thought to be one of the most educated and expensive cities in the United States. It is a diverse community; with a mixture of old and new...
July 11, 2016 | Mike Field
Food halls have enjoyed a popular resurgence in popular food culture. While places like Philadelphia's Reading Terminal Market, Seattle's Pikes Place Market and San Francisco's Ferry Building have long been...
July 4, 2016 | Mike Field
As farmers markets and food truck rallies now seemingly pop up everywhere, a new nocturnal trend has recharged the street food scene and illuminated the rich potential hidden in long-forgotten...
May 25, 2016 | Ennis Davis
Editorial by Ennis Davis, AICP
May 11, 2016 | Ennis Davis
Article and urban photo tour by Ennis Davis, AICP
March 29, 2016 | Ennis Davis
Article by Ennis Davis, AICP
May 29, 2020 | Ennis Davis, AICP
The Trust for Public Land has released its annual ParkScore list for...
May 22, 2020 | Ennis Davis, AICP
The vibrancy of cities comes in all shapes and sizes. Many believe...
May 20, 2020 | Bill Delaney
Converted from a brickyard claypit into a manmade lake during the construction...
May 6, 2020 | Bill Delaney
For over 20 years, Anne Wind has been hosting live music at...
April 24, 2020 | Guest editorial by Steve Lovett
A guest editorial highlighting how a Jacksonville planning, architecture, and landscape architecture...
April 8, 2020 | Ennis Davis, AICP
Originally called Africa or Little Africa, Lincolnville was settled by recently freed...
April 15, 2020 | Ennis Davis, AICP
During the late 1960s, Ribault Scenic Drive was once called the new,...
March 18, 2020 | Ennis Davis, AICP
Modern Cities takes a look at a popular urban trail system in...
November 15, 2019 | Erik Hamilton
Fed by dozens of springs and running through several public parks and...
October 7, 2019 | Ennis Davis, AICP
The vibrancy of cities comes in all shapes and sizes. Many believe...
September 30, 2019 | Ennis Davis, AICP
The Jaxson explores the remains of one of Jacksonville's forgotten ghost towns:...
September 21, 2019 | Ennis Davis, AICP
Who says the widening of an interstate through the heart of a...
May 4, 2020 | Ennis Davis, AICP
Now open, the Jacksonville Regional Transportation Center (JRTC) at LaVilla officially replaces...
March 24, 2020 | Ennis Davis, AICP
Modern Cities shares images of a congested South Florida arterial roadway corridor...
January 29, 2020 | Ennis Davis, AICP
Virgin Trains USA won't arrive for another two years but in Orlando,...
January 16, 2020 | Ennis Davis, AICP
Armed with the November 2018 approval of a one-cent sales transportation sales...
January 9, 2020 | John Cruz
Since the automobile became king of the road in modern civilization, traffic...
January 3, 2020 | Ennis Davis, AICP
The United States is home to 32 commuter rail systems. Here is...
April 10, 2020 | Ennis Davis, AICP
Between 2012 and 2017, the First Coast witnessed every local Kmart store...
March 12, 2020 | Ennis Davis, AICP
Facadism is a practice where the facade of a structure is preserved...
November 13, 2019 | Ennis Davis, AICP
Established in 1829, D. G. Yuengling & Son is the oldest continuously...
November 12, 2019 | Ennis Davis, AICP
Once a poster child for the negative impact of urban renewal, Uptown...
August 22, 2019 | Ennis Davis, AICP
Often drawing opposition when proposed, affordable and workforce housing projects can serve...
July 31, 2019 | Ennis Davis, AICP
Columbia, South Carolina once faced a problem many communities attempting downtown revitalization...
May 28, 2020 | Abandoned Florida
Abandoned Florida takes a look inside of Downtown Miami's former Burdines flagship...
May 25, 2020 | Ennis Davis, AICP
In honor of National Hamburger Month, Modern Cities and the Jaxson take...
April 21, 2020 | Bill Delaney
Harriet Beecher Stowe, author of the abolitionist novel Uncle Tom's Cabin, spent...
April 14, 2020 | Ennis Davis, AICP
Wherever slavery has existed, the enslaved have endeavored to escape to freedom....
April 7, 2020 | Bill Delaney
Bubbling up just off a busy Altamonte Springs road is one of...
March 31, 2020 | Ennis Davis, AICP
For the last day of Women's History Month, we pay homage to...
May 29, 2020 | Ennis Davis, AICP
The Trust for Public Land has released its annual ParkScore list for...
May 28, 2020 | Abandoned Florida
Abandoned Florida takes a look inside of Downtown Miami's former Burdines flagship...
May 27, 2020 | Ennis Davis, AICP
The vibrancy of cities comes in all shapes and sizes. Many believe...
May 25, 2020 | Ennis Davis, AICP
In honor of National Hamburger Month, Modern Cities and the Jaxson take...
May 22, 2020 | Ennis Davis, AICP
The vibrancy of cities comes in all shapes and sizes. Many believe...
May 20, 2020 | Bill Delaney
Converted from a brickyard claypit into a manmade lake during the construction...