April 2025 pictures of the redeveloped Union Terminal Warehouse. | Columbia Ventures
2013 pictures of the Union Terminal Warehouse. | Metrojacksonville.com
Though lengthy related to older industrial cities throughout the nation, this strategy is gaining traction regionally as builders more and more acknowledge the potential of early Twentieth-century industrial properties all through Jacksonville’s city core neighborhoods. Whereas the Union Terminal Warehouse is taken into account the town’s largest historic industrial property, it’s removed from the one web site providing a particular adaptive reuse alternative.
Beneath are 5 further early Twentieth-century buildings that mix architecturally distinctive options with deep connections to Jacksonville’s historical past.
Anchor Glass Container Company
2121 Huron Avenue
Whereas The Glass Manufacturing facility occasion venue within the Rail Yard District is broadly identified right now, the true coronary heart of Jacksonville’s glass-making heritage lies on the Westside, residence to a historic industrial landmark—the Anchor Glass Container Firm. Spanning over 624,000 sq. toes, this large facility was Florida’s solely glass bottle manufacturing plant and one of many Jacksonville Electrical Authority’s largest prospects, at one level incurring power prices of as much as $900,000 per 30 days.
Glass manufacturing on the location started in 1922, when a bunch of Pittsburgh traders led by Harry A. Neff established the Tidewater Glass Firm to fabricate milk and mushy drink bottles. Although Tidewater rapidly shuttered, the ability was acquired in 1926 by Antonio Scalise, who launched the Florida Glass Manufacturing Firm. Scalise later rebranded the enterprise as Tropical Glass and Field Firm in 1949. Amongst its early shoppers had been distinguished names similar to Pepsi-Cola of Florida, Dixie Lily Firm, Maxwell Home Espresso, and Frostie Root Beer. Embracing an idea akin to trendy industrial tourism, the manufacturing unit supplied public excursions each day from 10:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m.
By the mid-Fifties, the operation grew to become a subsidiary of Anchor Hocking Glass Company. In 1983, Anchor Glass Container emerged as a separate entity, carved out by Wesray Capital Company—a agency co-founded by William Simon, former U.S. Treasury Secretary underneath Presidents Nixon and Ford.
Within the early 2000s, the plant employed between 235 and 400 employees and was a key provider for the native Anheuser-Busch brewery, churning out 2.7 million beer bottles each day. After greater than a century of glass-making legacy, the manufacturing unit ceased operations in February 2025, marking the top of an period and ensuing within the layoff of 144 workers.
Jax Brewing Firm
1429 West sixteenth Avenue
The Jax Brewing Firm. Photograph courtesy of Ernie Oest through Bob Kay and Beercanhistory.com
William Ostner broke floor on the Jacksonville Brewing Firm in 1913 with help from his spouse’s household—the Schorrs of the Schorr-Kolkschneider Brewing Firm in St. Louis. With their backing, Ostner established a 30,000-barrel-a-year brewery, which launched its first brew on Might 16, 1914. By 1918, simply earlier than Prohibition arrived in Jacksonville, the brewery had grown to make use of 243 employees and had cleared all of its money owed.
Throughout Prohibition, the corporate rebranded because the Jax Ice and Chilly Storage Firm and tailored by producing Velvet Model ice cream, Florida Export and Previous Normal Darkish “close to beer,” together with bottled root beer and ginger ale. Demonstrating foresight, Ostner expanded brewing capability 4 months earlier than the twenty first Modification’s ratification in 1933, permitting him to swiftly resume full beer manufacturing after Prohibition’s repeal.
In 1935, the Jacksonville Brewing Firm discovered itself in a trademark dispute with Jackson Brewing Firm of New Orleans, as each marketed “Jax Beer.” A compromise allowed Jacksonville Brewing to promote in Florida, Georgia, and the Carolinas, whereas Jackson Brewing claimed markets to the west. By 1940, the Jacksonville firm formally adopted the identify Jax Brewing Firm, and by 1943, manufacturing had surged to over 100,000 barrels yearly.
All through the Fifties, Jax Beer—with its recognizable cockatoo mascot—grew to become a dominant model in Florida, Georgia, and South Carolina. The brewery additionally produced a variety of different labels, together with Ostner’s Lager Beer, Glowing Ale, and Stout; Hello Jax Beer; Jax Export Beer; Mecca Pale Beer; Jax Ale; Jax Bock; Royal Palm Beer; Effective’s Glowing Ale; Peninsula Ale; and Rhein King Beer.
Nonetheless, rising competitors from nationwide brewers and the monetary burden of transitioning to aluminum cans strained the corporate. On the similar time, its chilly storage operations started producing elevated income. In 1956, Ostner’s son bought the Jax Beer trademark to Jackson Brewing Firm and refocused the enterprise totally on chilly storage, as soon as once more underneath the Jax Ice and Chilly Storage Firm identify.
In 1986, the corporate was bought to Industrial Chilly Storage, now generally known as ICS Logistics. Although operations have ceased, the unique 130,000-square-foot brewery nonetheless stands right now—one of many few early regional brewery buildings remaining in Florida.
The previous Jax Brewing Firm brewery in Durkeeville. | Daniel Herbin
Cadillac Motors Firm
924 Lane Avenue North
The location at 924 Lane Avenue North has a singular historical past that dates again to World Battle II. Initially developed by the U.S. Navy in early 1942, it served as Hart Discipline, an auxiliary airfield established to help navy flight coaching operations within the Jacksonville space. After simply 9 months of navy use, the Navy departed, and Hart Discipline was repurposed as a civilian airport, remaining in operation till 1952.
In 1961, a brand new chapter started with the development of a 61,715-square-foot warehouse on the location. Designed with a particular Mid-Century Trendy roof, the constructing was engineered to permit pure gentle to filter into the inside. Early tenants included distinguished firms such because the Cadillac Motor Automobile Firm, The Kelly Springfield Tire Firm, The Maytag Firm, and the Sou Lus Truss Company.
In more moderen years, the constructing has continued to draw a various combine of business tenants, together with Sizzling Field Enclosures and GBM. In Might 2022, the property was acquired by a New Orleans-based proprietor and underwent rehabilitation for continued industrial use. Immediately, it homes companies similar to Jacksonville Precision Manufacturing, Taylor Crew Companies, and Woodgrain, reflecting the constructing’s enduring adaptability and worth in Jacksonville’s architectural panorama.
Carolina Lumber Firm
575 Phelps Avenue
Established in 1902 because the Carolina Portland Cement Firm, the enterprise was considered one of a number of constructing supplies suppliers strategically positioned alongside the railroad strains forming the boundary between the Springfield and Eastside neighborhoods. Over time, it grew to become a key participant in Jacksonville’s industrial panorama.
The centerpiece of the property is a 20,056-square-foot brick warehouse, distinguished by an elaborately crafted wooden truss system. Accomplished in 1927, this construction changed the corporate’s authentic constructing, which was destroyed by fireplace in 1926. Reflecting its rising emphasis on lumber, the corporate rebranded because the Carolina Lumber Firm in 1946.
At its peak, the enterprise operated throughout 12 acres and served a five-county area, changing into an important a part of the town’s development financial system. When it ceased operations in 2018, it held the excellence of being Jacksonville’s oldest constantly working lumber yard.
Acknowledged for its architectural significance for instance of Industrial Vernacular design, the Carolina Lumber Firm warehouse was designated a contributing construction to the Eastside Nationwide Register Historic District in 2023. Immediately, the location represents one of many largest redevelopment alternatives within the space. The 4-acre lumberyard was acquired by Ecoliving Realty Inc. in February 2022 for $500,000.
Technical Excessive College #67
129 King Avenue
Opened in 1942, Technical Excessive College was established to supply specialised coaching in handbook and technical trades, together with woodworking, plane upkeep, and car restore. Designed by famous architect Max Worthley, the 20-acre campus encompasses a distinctive two-story classroom constructing overlooking McCoys Creek, together with two expansive warehouses characterised by saw-tooth roofs and clerestory home windows that enable pure gentle to fill the interiors.
Throughout World Battle II, the varsity performed a vital position in supporting the conflict effort by coaching college students in U.S. Navy plane restore. Following the conflict, it continued to function an important vocational training heart for Duval County highschool college students from 1947 till its closure in 1978.
Immediately, the location stays underneath the possession of the Duval County College Board and occupies a major location alongside the rising McCoys Creek Greenway. With its wealthy historical past, architectural significance, and strategic positioning, the previous Technical Excessive College presents a compelling alternative for adaptive reuse and revitalization.
Editorial by Ennis Davis. Contact Ennis at edavis@moderncities.com