Restoring a Legacy in Historic Durkeeville Neighborhood

Tucked into the heart of Jacksonville’s historic Durkeeville neighborhood, the duplex at 1254/1256 Hart Street stands as a quiet testament to endurance. Built in 1915, this two-unit home reflects the craftsmanship and vision of a transformative era in the city’s history — a time when Jacksonville’s African-American builders and entrepreneurs reshaped the urban landscape in the decades following the Great Fire of 1901.

Among those pioneers was Joseph Haygood Blodgett, one of Florida’s first Black millionaires and a master builder who designed and constructed hundreds of homes across the city. His architectural style — practical, symmetrical, and dignified — is clearly reflected in the Hart Street duplex. Its twin entry doors, broad front porch, and stucco-clad columns embody the hallmarks of early 20th-century Southern vernacular design: simple in form, yet built with permanence and pride.

Durkeeville itself emerged during the early 1900s as a thriving, self-sustaining Black community — home to business owners, educators, and tradesmen who built a strong cultural foundation amid segregation. Streets like Hart became symbols of enterprise and stability, lined with duplexes and bungalows that offered families an opportunity to own or rent within a supportive neighborhood network.

Over a century later, Trinity Enterprises of Florida has begun the careful process of restoring this duplex to its original stature while modernizing it for future residents. The structure still bears its original 1915 frame, brick foundation, and hand-laid craftsmanship. Years of wear and weathering have left their mark, but beneath the surface, the bones remain solid — a testament to the builders who understood both material and meaning.

The ongoing restoration will preserve defining architectural elements — including the dual front entrances, metal gabled roofline, and symmetrical porch façade — while introducing updated interiors and systems designed for 21st-century living. The project’s goal is not simply renovation, but revival: honoring the neighborhood’s legacy of independence and excellence by breathing new life into one of its enduring homes.

Much like the Union Baptist Chapel restoration in Hayes, Virginia, this project continues Trinity Enterprises’ broader mission: to restore, repurpose, and reimagine structures that carry the weight of community history. When complete, the Hart Street duplex will once again serve its original purpose — to provide a place of comfort, opportunity, and belonging — while standing as a tribute to Jacksonville’s Black builders and the neighborhoods they built by hand.

This project remains underway, but the vision is clear: preserve the past, sustain the present, and build a foundation for the future — one historic property at a time.

This property will be available for rent upon completion in January 2026 and will participate in the Housing Choice Voucher (Section 8) Program. All qualified applicants are welcome. (Apply Today) By providing well-maintained, historically significant homes within reach of working families, we continue our mission of preserving heritage while expanding opportunity.

The restoration of Hart Street is more than a construction project—it’s an act of stewardship. Each board and beam honors the builders who came before us and the neighborhood that shaped Jacksonville’s cultural identity. When completed, the home will stand not only as a place to live, but as a living monument to the city’s architectural and social heritage—built on history, restored with heart, and ready to serve a new generation.

Historical narrative prepared in partnership with AI research tools and the Trinity Enterprises of Florida restoration team. Sources include public archives, local history journals, and verified city property records.