San Jose
Born of the Florida land boom in 1925 on the eastern bank of the St. Johns River, San Jose Estates was the an ambitious land development in North Florida. Hotels, a yacht club, shopping center, schools, country club and hundreds of houses were planned. By late 1926, all construction had ceased because of the Great Depression. Only one hotel, the country club and 31 houses were built. Today, the San Jose Hotel is now the private Bolles School, the development's administration building has become San Jose Episcopal Church and the site of the never-built second hotel became Epping Forest, now a yacht club surrounded by upscale properties. Only San Jose Country Club still functions as it did then.
In 1985, the remaining San Jose Estates structures were listed on the National Register of Historic Places. Many other architectural styles have found a home in San Jose, giving it an eclectic appeal, with a wide range of residential sizes and prices, as well. Houses start at an average of $95,000 and can reach over $1 million. Contributing to the community's good looks and overall allure are its sweeping trees and many parks, some quite large. Because of the area's excellent schools, San Jose is an ideal neighborhood for young families with children. Still, many couples stay in their large houses even after the children are gone because of their attachment to the community. The centralized location is minutes from downtown or Southpoint and well within a half-hour of Jacksonville's beaches. Fine restaurants and good shopping, including several large antique malls, add to San Jose's appeal.
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