The Conversation: Allison DeFoor
President/CEO North Florida Land Trust If North Florida’s natural lands disappeared tomorrow, what would people notice first and what would they lose that they might not expect? The first thing people would notice is water. North Florida’s forests, wetlands, and marshes filter and protect the water we drink every day. Without them, you would see declines in water quality and quantity almost immediately. What people might...
Publisher’s Note
Nature conservation is the ethical/moral philosophy and conservation movement focused on protecting species from extinction, maintaining and restoring habitats, enhancing ecosystem services, and protecting biological diversity. Florida is fortunate to have many reputable conservation organizations and areas tendered through careful maintenance and upkeep of natural resources to prevent them from disappearing for everything from...
A Reimagined Jacoby Symphony Hall
By Steven Libman The 2026/27 season of the Jacksonville Symphony will introduce new sounds, new faces, and a refreshed experience for our audiences. As I write this, Jacoby Symphony Hall is undergoing a significant transformation, with larger, more comfortable seating, new carpet, enhanced acoustic elements, and new speakers—all set to debut in time for the upcoming season. This project has been in development for more than two years...
Jax Rising From Ashes to Ambition: The Unfolding of an Architectural Renaissance
By Sheri Webber In Jacksonville, architecture has always told a story of resilience. From the devastation of the Great Fire of 1901 to the steady momentum of today’s redevelopment surge, the city has repeatedly reimagined itself through the built environment. Now, as cranes punctuate the skyline and long-envisioned projects rise along the St. Johns River and throughout the city, Jacksonville appears to be entering another defining...
The Haydon Burns Now The Jessie: Rebirth of a Welcoming Community Space
By Wayne W. Wood A century from now, when architectural historians come to visit Jacksonville, one of the four most important buildings they will want to see is the former Haydon Burns Library, aka The Jessie. (The other three would almost surely be the St. James Building, Gulf Life tower, and Chart House.) The fact that the old library building still exists is a miracle in itself. Like many of the buildings in downtown...


